88 - The Light Shines Again - Antonerri - A Tale of Heroes

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Note: Because of the Christmas Holiday Season, and because this is the final scene in the second story, we will take a one-week break. The next scene will be posted on Jan 3, 2019! See you then!

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Antonerri picked up a small reed from the cup by the candles. He gently held it in the flame of a candle. Soon, it caught fire with a small tongue of its own flame. He brought it across the altar to light more candles. They were short and wide, each one in its own glass bowl. There were dozens of them, some fresh and stout, others burned hollow. The altar was long, with a soft velvet-covered kneeling stool running along it, all the way across the front of the chapel.

He lit twelve of them, then whisked out the flame, before it could burn his fingers. Five for the ones we rescued at the manor, three for the ones we brought back from the market, and four for the ones we couldn’t find.

Several days of rest, herbal ointments, and care had done much to ease the pains he had endured. Still, he felt the soreness as he knelt before the altar and bowed his head. His mind reflected back on the changes these few short weeks had brought. His future was still uncertain. I can’t go back to the Holy Guard. In Twynne Rivers, I am a heretic, an outcast. But, for now, the brothers here in the wooded abbey sheltered him and his friends, alongside the orphanage.

His mind flowed through thoughts of those he had fought next to. They were such strangers, but bonded together by circumstances. He felt the deep gratitude that comes with having good friends, a feeling he wasn’t accustomed to.

He heard a rustling of robes, and sensed someone kneeling beside him. He opened his eyes and looked, then smiled. “Brother Mathazar!”

“Forgive me for interrupting your prayers.”

“Are you visiting the abbey?”

The friar shifted and sat on the altar stool. “When I heard that you had all returned with the children, I wanted to come see you!”

Antonerri smiled. “I’m glad you did.”

Brother Mathazar smiled back. “That’s a much brighter visage than what I saw before. You must be feeling much better.” They embraced briefly. “You all placed your own lives in great danger for the lives of weak children. A few have returned to their parents, others are here in the orphanage. The slave market is in shambles. All of Dirae is talking about you.”

Antonerri turned his gaze back to the candles. He looked deep into a flame. “I have seen light in other people where I thought it was gone.” He remembered the feeling of warmth and brightness that had brought him out of the darkness in the manor house. “And I’ve seen the light inside of me again.”

Brother Mathazar nodded. “I knew it was there.”

Antonerri also nodded, and closed his eyes.

Light footsteps interrupted them, and they both looked back to see DeFrantis standing in the chapel aisle. The dress she wore was not as fancy or lacy as Thissraelle’s style, but certainly finer than her rough and ragged street shirt and leggings. Her dark hair, though nicely brushed, still hung down into her eyes. They shone with a peace and calm that Antonerri had only come to see in the last few days. Standing behind her hip, behind her dress, was Lilia, a young girl of about 8 winters. Since they came back from the manor in the woods, she was never far from DeFrantis’ side.

“The brothers in the kitchen have asked me to gather everyone for dinner...” She said, then waited for them. They stood and walked to her. She turned with them and they all stepped down the aisle together, with Lilia skipping ahead, her hair and dress swinging with each jump. The low afternoon sunlight shone through the tall stained glass windows, spreading heavenly vivid colors over the pews and onto the opposite wall.

“...And to remind you that we have scullery duty afterward.”


The End of Story Two

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox, Genevieve Springer!

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87 - Escape and Rest - DeFrantis - A Tale of Heroes

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Antonerri grunted as he lifted DeFrantis up into the wagon. Then, he climbed up in to the bed and shifted her over. He covered her in blankets and she welcomed the warmth. As she settled, she reached up and took hold of Antonerri’s arm. “Thank you,” she breathed. He smiled, and moved to help the others as they approached the wagon.

She grabbed him and pulled him back. She said with a whisper, “Where are the children? Are they safe?”

Antonerri’s face suddenly flooded with awareness and surprise. “I.. I don’t know...”

“Where are they?” She tried to sit up, “We have to find them! We’re not leaving without them! I left them with Karendle!”

Antonerri gently set her back. He tried to remember. “Maybe she gathered them as we were escaping. Maybe Thissraelle has them.” He tried to assure her, “I’ll go see.”

As he climbed out of the wagon, DeFrantis crawled to the back gate, looking out, but still too weak to get out. Karendle was approaching, limping, supported by Eddiwarth’s only partly steady step. Behind them, with an equally labored pace, came Granthurg and Thissraelle. Granthurg’s shirt was in bloody, tattered ruin, but his chest, arms, and torso were healed. Still, he was walking slowly and with stiffness.

“Where ar--” DeFrantis tried to shout, before lapsing into a fit of rasping and coughing.

“Where are the children?” Antonerri finished for her. “Did anyone see them? Did anyone get them?”

“Relax,” Karendle said, “I have them. I kept them safe.” She arrived at the wagon and leaned on it for support.

“Where are they?” Antonerri pressed, as DeFrantis gestured anxiously.

Karendle reached into her pouch and shook the oculi out into her hand. Two gray stones and one blue gem. She picked up one of the gray oculi and held it up, with a self-satisfied smile. “I told the kids there was going to be a big, dangerous fight, and that I wanted to keep them safe. There was one place they could go where I knew no one could get to them! They were - I mean - are... very brave.”

DeFrantis relaxed and nodded. She reached out and took the stone in her hand. She whispered the children’s names as she cradled it close to her and settled back into the wagon. We’ll let them out when we’re out of the forest. Out of danger.

“Wait!” Karendle interjected, startling DeFrantis. She held up the other gray stone. “Is this one the kids? Or is it the wizard?” She stepped forward and looked at them both very closely.

“That one’s the kids.” She pointed. “I’m sure.”

She looked at the one in her hand. “I think...”

Granthurg lifted Thissraelle up into the wagon bed, then moved toward the horses. Antonerri looked quizzically at Eddiwarth. “Who are you?” Eddiwarth’s fine shirt was covered in dirt and soot, and he held up a grimy hand in greeting. He took a breath to speak.

Karendle interrupted, “He’s with me.” Antonerri glanced back at her. “Really, he’s a good guy.” Antonerri looked at DeFrantis, pointing both at Eddiwarth and Karendle. DeFrantis smiled and nodded. Yeah, they’re with me. They’re with us.

The old wagon creaked hard with the added weight of the extra riders, but it lurched ahead, tossing back and forth as it rolled away from the manor and into the forest.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox, Genevieve Springer!

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86 - The Light Shines - Antonerri - A Tale of Heroes

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“DeFrantis!” Antonerri shouted, “Hold on!”

He shifted his sword and rushed toward the mage, who held her in a death grip in the air. Anger flowed through his arms. Rage drove his feet.

When he got only a few steps away, the wizard casually pointed and a blast of energy arced across the space between them. It hit Antonerri in the chest and shocked him, jolting him back from his trajectory. He rolled away, his legs twitching with the pain of the surge.

“You are all pathetic! What do you think you’re doing? You ruin my market, attack my home, and kill my people...” The mage snarled, and stepped toward DeFrantis. She struggled, gasping for breath, her eyes widened with fear. “For what?”

He lowered DeFrantis until she was just a few feet off the ground and drew her forward to him. “For what? What is it you’re trying to take from me? Street kids? Vermin? You should thank me for cleaning them out of the cities.”

His gaze narrowed as his stare dug into DeFrantis’ eyes. “They’re nothing. NOTHING! Just to be meals for Dragons!” DeFrantis’ eyes suddenly widened as the horror of the understanding struck her.

Don’t touch her. Antonerri struggled against the pain in his limbs. He knelt, then stood. I will save her. We will save them. You will not hurt them any more.

The wizard broke his stare and raised his hand toward Antonerri again. “Stop!”

Antonerri stepped forward, and brought his sword up before him.

“You’re determined, I can see,” The mage said with tight lips. “Let me introduce you to PAIN!”  More lightning surged from his outstretched palm, striking Antonerri. The energy shot through his limbs, driving him to his knees. Again and again, the mage blasted, tearing screams of anguish from Antonerri’s throat.

Finally, he stopped, and Antonerri collapsed.

His body felt the pain, the familiar pain. I took the blasts for you once before, and I lived.

A new sensation rippled through his shoulders and down his spine, along with the pain. I lived, and later, I chose to live. He lifted himself up, and picked up his sword again, as the warm feeling grew in him. I choose to live, now. I will defend the weak. I will fight for the poor. I will fight for you!  

Antonerri stood and straightened his back.

The mage’s blast struck again. Antonerri felt the jolt, felt the pain, but didn’t scream. The warm glow strengthened with the blast.

I will fight for the children.

The wizard shouted in rage and tossed DeFrantis, gasping, to the side. He stepped toward Antonerri and threw shocking blasts at him with both hands. “You will die! Feel the Pain! Feel the Pain!”

Antonerri felt it coursing through his body. Pain wracked his limbs, but he stood. The light around him supported him, strengthened him, enlightened him.

The mage raged and blasted again, but it was much weaker. His will was fading. “Feel the Pain! Why don’t you die?”

Antonerri coughed, then spoke. “Pain and I are old friends.”  He raised his sword. A familiar power welled up inside him, a light he had not felt in a long time. He focused this will into the blade. It burst into a bright radiance, with rays of light flowing off of it into the smoky air. He stepped forward, moving through the ache.

“You will not...”  He stepped again. “You will not hurt anyone...”

The wizard took a step back, and fear rushed over him. He held his hands out before him, but no powers came.

“... EVER AGAIN!” Antonerri lunged forward in two deep strides and thrust his sword before him. He drove the bright flaming blade deep into the mage’s chest. The wizard gasped for breath, flailing his arms, grasping at Antonerri’s shoulders. The sword’s light burned through him. The wizard’s eyes rolled up, his head dropped back, his legs failed, and he fell to the floor.

Antonerri turned around to see his companions staring at him. Granthurg sat up, and Karendle moved out from under him. Thissraelle stood, supporting Granthurg.

Antonerri looked down at his glowing sword and hands. As he straightened up, he saw DeFrantis where she lay on the floor. He rushed to her and held her head up. She was still drawing very heavy breaths, but her eyes were full of relief and tears. He slid his slowly dimming sword under his belt, and reached under her, lifting her up. He could feel her tension face as the light absorbed into her. He called out to the others, “Gather everyone! Let’s get out of here before it all burns down.”

DeFrantis nodded and buried her head into Antonerri’s shoulder. “Gather the children...” she mumbled with what breath she could muster.

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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85 - Into the Heart of the Stone - Karendle - A Tale of Heroes

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The explosion ripped through the smoky air of the room, shaking the floor and bouncing back and forth between the walls. The flash was harsh and blinding. Karendle was jolted off her feet, and fell. Something large and heavy fell on top of her, twisting her leg and pinning her to the floor.

She called out in pain, and tried to squirm free, but it held her pinned. She shook her head and tried to see.  Quickly, her vision cleared, and she saw Granthurg’s bloody shoulder over her hip. To her left was his warhammer, quietly resting on the ground. Just beyond that, the floor burned.

“Granthurg! Granthurg” She heard Thissraelle’s frightened voice, and saw her run up to the other side of him. Her eyes reflected her fear and worry in the firelight. “Granthurg! You’re hurt!”

Again, she tried to squirm away, to turn her body, but his weight was too much for her. She was finally able to shift so her hip hurt less. Thissraelle moved her hands over Granthurg, frantically trying to summon the the last of her will to heal him.

Beyond Thissraelle, she saw DeFrantis heft her sword, and rush forward. Karendle lay back and looked up to see the other mage floating above the fires. He was swirling his arms over the flames, using his striking powers to stoke them higher. She felt the heat growing, and saw him start to move the blaze forward toward her and Grathurg.

“Eddiwarll!” She called out, “Can you stop him?”

She heard no response.

“Eddiwarth!”

What can I do? Fear started her heart racing, making sweat bead up on her face. I can’t move! We’re going to die!

She reached to her chest to steady her heartbeat, and felt the pouch. She had hung it around her neck, thinking that it would be more secure than at her waist. She opened it quickly and and dug inside. What can I do?

She pulled out the stones. Two round and gray, one a sapphire gem. He’s a wizard, isn’t he? Am I not supposed to catch wizards? She smiled.

Wait, which one is it? This one? She held it up, studying it in the firelight. Yeah. This one!

She stretched out the stone toward the flying wizard, and focused deep. The intensity of the fear and the pain drove her will, and the silvery light came to the stone quickly. It shone brightly, even by the fire, and leapt forward to engulf the mage, pulling him down and out of the air. He struggled, shouting.

No! She gritted her teeth, and squinted against flame’s heat. You’re not hurting my friends any more!

The mage’s shape twisted, distorted, and swirled around the stone, until the light dissolved into it. Karendle dropped her exhausted arm.

“I got another one!”

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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“Put the Hammer Down” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 84: Granthurg

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Granthurg stepped through the portal, ducking low as it grew.

The room was large and well lit by flames dancing on the floor and running up the formerly elaborate tapestries on the wall. Right away, he saw his friends in trouble. To the right was Karendle trying desperately to fend off blows from a man grappling on top of her. To his left was DeFrantis, obviously exhausted. Antonerri had come through the portal first, and immediately engaged the man attacking DeFrantis.  Their swords shimmered with reflected firelight.

The heat from the fires was uncomfortable, as was the smoke they were creating. Granthurg turned the other direction, strode toward Karendle and, with a grunt, kicked the attacker off of her. The impact of a booted giant’s foot rolled him away, coughing and gasping. He stumbled to get up, just as Granthurg's upward swinging warhammer caught him straight in the gut. The impact lifted him and dropped him to the floor, unmoving.

Granthurg planted his stance and shouted, “Who's next?”

A taller, more muscular man rushed at him, thrusting with a sword. Granthurg stepped aside and turned the handle of his hammer to parry the blade. He was large, but not as massive as Granthurg, who braced himself low and used his leverage and hammer's mass to push the assailant back.

He saw a motion behind him, and glanced over his left shoulder to see. It was Karendle rushing over to support Antonerri.

The man before him used that second’s hesitation to take another swing. Granthurg had to twist and step back to avoid it.

Granthurg caught the man's eye. He saw rage and aggression under his furrowed brow. Is there a bit of fear there, too?

He stepped back again, parried, and maintained the eye contact. His opponent's lips raised in a smirk. Once more should do it...

He used his giant legs to retreat back in a large stride. The man lunged ahead, shouting, eager to take advantage. His confidence turned to surprise as Granthurg leaned back into his assault and swung his hammer in a low arc, sweeping the man's forward leg. Cracking, it fell out from under him, and he collapsed in pain on the floor. Granthurg brought the Hammer around, up, and finally crashing down onto his chest.

Standing straight, he looked left to see the others. Antonerri had driven his opponent back to the fire on the floor, and Karendle was locking swords with another fighter. A thinner man, an elf, was behind him, and Granthurg saw something small and silver flash in his hand as he rushed forward, sticking into her attacker’s back. He stepped away and the man dropped his sword and collapsed.

“This ends NOW!” Granthurg heard a voice shout from across the other side of the room. He saw two men as they entered the room from a hallway. They wore dark robes and cloaks. One of them drifted up over the flaming floor. The other crossed opposite him and stood ready, in a commanding stance. Granthurg recognized the dragon and flame icon stitched into the front of their tunics. He smiled as he hefted his hammer and stepped toward the leader.

The other, from the air, extended his hand toward him. “Not so fast!” he shouted before pushing out a pulse of orange red power. It hit Granthurg square in the chest and exploded in a overwhelming flash of bright, noise, and pain.

When he opened his eyes, he was flat on the ground, several yards from where he had stood before. His head hurt and his ears were ringing. He heard a distant woman’s voice shouting, “Granthurg! Granthurg!”

Mom? Is that you, mom?

He looked at his hands and arms, now bloodied. Something was moving beneath him on his left side. He looked and saw a girl struggling to get out from under his back. Who are you? What’s happening?

He felt hands on his other shoulder and turned his head. A pretty elf girl looked down on him with fear and worry in her face. “Granthurg! You’re hurt!”

Thissraelle! I know you!

As his awareness rushed back to him, and his head suddenly cleared, the pain in his arms and chest overwhelmed him as well. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to move. It hurt to be. He lifted his head and saw DeFrantis rush toward the mages with her sword drawn. The mage lifted his hand, dripping with blue light, and DeFrantis surged up into the air, kicking and choking.

I have to help her! Granthurg tried to move, to get up, to reach his hammer. His head spun before he fell back into blackness.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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“Stepping Through the Door” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 83: DeFrantis

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DeFrantis’ arm was getting tired as she struggled to block and dodge the relentless sword swipes of her attacker. She stepped backward from his press, trying to catch her breath and control her fear.

He swung in from the side and she leapt backward with a forward parry, barely glancing his blade away from her torso. As he swept his follow-through, she took the opportunity to reset her stance, regain her balance and ready her blade. She could see the doorway. On either side were windows showing the open night air. If we can just get to them, we can be out!

The heat from the fire and her own exertion was making her sweat, and she wiped her forehead with her free hand, gritting her teeth for the next strike.

He swung back, but she misjudged the angle and his blade glanced off of hers and slashed into her shoulder. She shrieked in pain, and her own sword clattered to the floor. Her other hand clutched at her shoulder and felt the warmth of the blood as she stepped further back, away from escape. He smiled as drew back for a thrust.

An angry yell erupted from her left, and Karendle smashed into the man’s side, toppling them both with a grunt to the floor. In the impact, he lost his grip on his own sword and it spun to DeFrantis’ feet.

She looked on in amazement as Karendle shouted and began swinging fists at the man’s surprised face. DeFrantis looked up. Eddiwarth was struggling to maintain the firewall, and it was beginning to catch onto the wooden floor, and the tapestries on the wall. She saw a man running around it, and rushing toward her.

She crouched down, scooped up the sword, and brought it up in a sweeping block. This one’s much better balanced! I can swing this one!

She stood and counterattacked, but he easily stepped away. He pressed forward, with aggression and vigor. Even with the better sword, she was still on the defensive, and her shoulder weakened her.

“I can’t hold this flame any longer!” Eddiwarth called out and collapsed to his knees.

DeFrantis couldn’t respond. As she fought she saw the man on the ground toss Karendle off of him and rise up over her.

“Just save the kids!” She shouted. We’ll do what we can.

She coughed as she blocked. Smoke was starting to fill the room. Her attacker knocked her back and she stumbled down to one knee.

We’ll do what we can.

To her right, a flash of silvery light appeared, and both she and the man stepped back to glance at it. A glowing ring grew in the open space of room, and she could see through it, like an opening into another place. A portal? Oh, no! They’re porting in more fighters! We have to run! She struggled to rise, but her legs were tired. This is it. I can’t move. We’re done.

Someone stepped through the widening ring. As he entered the room, he shouted, “DeFrantis!”

Antonerri! She skipped a breath!

He rushed forward and immediately swung his sword at her attacker. The man quickly stepped back and blocked his slash.

Antonerri! You found me!

As she stood, a large, more imposing figure stepped through the gate. “Granthurg!”

Without Eddiwarth’s focus, the firewall had subsided, even though it was spreading across the floor. Three men stepped quickly through the fire and began running toward them.

She stood and reached out with her will. Shadows swelled up from the floor and grew into tendrils tangling around their feet. One of them fell, struggling, but the others managed to step away and avoid them.

Granthurg plunged in, swinging his hammer.

DeFrantis felt hands on her shoulder, and winced. “You’re hurt!” It was Thissraelle’s voice.

We’ll do what we can. She gasped in exhaustion, then coughed.

But now we can do more! Now we can do anything!

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox!

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“A Burning Wall of Fire” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 82: Karendle

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They moved quickly down the darkened hallway. DeFrantis, determined, and surprisingly forceful, was in front. Behind her was Eddiwarth. Karendle was last, herding the five children in front of her.

DeFrantis called out from ahead, “I’m trying to find a doorway to get us out of the building quickly. Then, we’ll be in a place to hide and possibly escape.”

Karendle glanced down at the sword in her hand. She hefted it, feeling its balance. She had picked it up from the men they had just fought. DeFrantis had gotten the other one, and handed off the rondel dagger to Eddiwarth. There’s gonna be a fight. We don’t have much to fight with, but we’ll have to make do.

She was struggling to keep the kids moving. They’re scared, I get it. But we can’t sit down and cry, here! Her mind focused on the hallway and Eddiwarth’s back to keep her own fear and tears down. I just wanted to learn to be a mage. That’s not too crazy to ask, is it? Just learn a few tricks? Now here I am chasing kids and running for my life!

They rushed through an opening into a large hall. DeFrantis and Eddiwarth took in the space quickly, but Karendle couldn’t see as well from the hallway’s end. She could see some candelabras and tapestries on the far wall, and it looks like the ceiling was quite high. Maybe in its day, it was a grand ballroom.

“There’s the door!”  DeFrantis called out. Just as she started to move toward it, Karendle heard heavy footsteps and shouting burst into the room. She nervously shifted the sword from one hand to the other. She could see past Eddiwarth’s shoulders into the room, where four or five armed men stood. It was dark, and she couldn’t get a good look, but the threat was as heavy in the air as the mage’s bane smoke had been.

The hushed moment when the two groups surprised each other was really only a matter of a second or two, but it seemed to suspend time. It broke when DeFrantis said, “Karendle, save the kids!”, and the men rushed forward, swords drawn.

She saw Eddiwarth crouch down low and sweep his hand in front of him. Halfway across the room, flames leapt up from the floor making a high infernal wall. Half of the men were surprised, and backed away from its heat, but others quickly started to turn around it. DeFrantis lunged forward.

Karendle backed the kids into the hallway and stepped between them and the opening to the room. What to do? I can’t just stand here and let the others get killed, but I have to guard the kids, too!

Eddiwarth shifted forward and Karendle moved to the hallway opening to see what was happening. DeFrantis had engaged with one of the men. She was struggling to block his sword blows. Another stepped toward her, and Eddiwarth thrust his hand forward. The man was suddenly in the air, swinging his feet, and flew backward into the wall. DeFrantis slipped and lost her footing on a rug, stumbling backward, then regained her balance. She isn’t doing well! She’s probably saving her powers.

Karendle turned back and looked at the frightened faces hiding in the shadows. Maybe I can help from here, like Eddiword. She dropped to her knees and set her sword down, then reached into her pouch and grabbed for the blue sapphire. Her hands shook as she felt in the bag. She grabbed it and pulled it out, and another oculus fell out and clattered onto the floor. She ignored it, but gripped the blue gem in her hands. Her eyes suddenly focused into the face of the oldest girl. She stood, hopeful, holding out the fallen stone. Her tiny voice bravely spoke, “Here. You dropped this.”

Karendle reached out and took the dull grey stone from the girl. Maybe... That might work!

She looked up at the kids, who were all huddled together in fear. She smiled at them and said, “I have an idea, but I don’t want you to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. Can you all be brave for me?”  The oldest girl looked at the others, and then back up at Karendle as they all nodded. Their hopeful, dirty, and tear-streaked faces hit Karendle deep, like a punch to the gut.

“Alright, then!”

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox!

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“A Fork in the Road” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 81: Thissraelle

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Thissraelle had thought to rest in the back of the wagon as they traveled, hoping to restore a bit of her spent magical will, but the shaking and rocking of the wheels wouldn’t let her. Finally, she gave up and sat, braced, against the side of the wagon bed, just trying to keep herself steady as she flipped and slid from side to side. She imagined the kids getting bounced around and felt bad for them.  Suddenly with a jerk, the wagon stopped, and then rocked back a few inches. The creaking and rattling stopped, and all she could hear were the sounds of the forest birds and the horses nickering and stepping in place.

She crawled over the edge of the bed to look out between Antonerri and Granthurg. “What happened? Are we there?” She squinted out into the night, illuminated by the lanterns before the horses.  She saw the road ahead split off into two directions.

“Which way?” She said

Granthurg shrugged. “I’m not sure. The horses seemed to know the way before, but now, they aren’t moving ahead, either.”

Antonerri asked, “Do we have that map?”

“No, it’s back at the cathedral. They wouldn’t let a book like that out of the house. Besides, the map wasn’t that detailed. It didn’t show every path or even every turn of this one.”

One of the horses shook its harness, as if it were asking for direction. It stamped back and forth a little, but didn’t pull to one side or the other. Antonerri stepped off the wagon and walked forward, unhitching one of the lanterns. He stood in the triangle of wheel ruts, inspecting them.

“None of them seem any more or less worn than any others.” He took a few strides in one direction, trying to shine the light up the path a bit further. Then he came back and scouted up the other a ways, his lantern light disappearing behind the trees.

“Can you try to reach out to Karendle and see where they are?” Granthurg asked

“I can.” She replied quietly. “Although I had been planning on saving my strength for the portal, or for the fight that follows.”

Antonerri came back into view, shrugging. He reattached the light. The wagon shook a bit as he lifted himself up by the toeboard and climbed back onto the bench.

Thissraelle leaned back and found a place in the center of the wagon bed to sit. She closed her eyes and focused. She reached down inside of herself and felt her will surging. With a push, she sent it outward, forward, like a shock wave of soft blue rippling away before her. Her awareness stretched out between the trees, over the ridges, past the brush. Then she sat, waiting, motionless, as Antonerri and Granthurg looked on, wondering.

A few moments later, she felt a small surge return back to her. It wasn’t forceful, but when it hit her, it snapped her eyes back open and her shoulders jerked. She pointed down the left fork.

“That way. It’s not far, now!”

<<<>>>

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“Reunited, For the Moment” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 80: Eddiwarth

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<<<>>>

Eddiwarth steeled his shoulder and threw himself at the door. It banged loudly and he bounced off of it like coins tossed against a wall. “Ow! That hurt!” They heard muffled cursing and children’s shrieks.

Karendle rolled her eyes. “Just blast it!”

He took a breath and pointed his hand at the door. With a loud crackle, bright lines of flashing electricity sparked between his fingers and the handle, shattering it into bits of metal and a thousand shards of wood. What remained spun inwards into the room. Instantly Karendle and DeFrantis ran into the darkness.

Eddiwarth could hear them as they stumbled, but the shroud of darkness hid everything. Karendle shouted, grunted, then he heard a crash. That would be the table, I’d bet. He heard a sword rapidly being drawn.

A man shouted, “What’s going on? Where are you?”

What do I do? I can’t see anything! He heard Kaendle’s voice shouting, “I’ve got one! You’re going down!”

Just as suddenly, the shroud of darkness dissipated into the shadows of the room, and he could suddenly see in the lanternlight. The table was upturned, and Karendle was struggling with one of the men. She was behind him, her arm around him in a choke hold. The other man stood by the downed table, swinging his sword in confusion. Just as Eddiwarth was about to react, he saw something flash in DeFrantis’ hand. The dagger! She ducked low, underneath the man’s flailing arm, and lunged upward, plunging the blade deep into the man’s chest. He gasped twice, then stumbled backward.

She hissed, “Stay away from my kids!” and pushed him down. He didn’t get up.

Karendle pulled tighter on the man’s neck as he thrashed on the floor, trying to dislodge her. He quickly succumbed to unconsciousness and Karendle shoved him aside. She looked up at Eddiwarth, “Thanks for the help!”

Eddiwarth was stunned and unsure what to say or do. The entire fight had just flashed past him like leaves in the wind. The crying children brought his attention to focus again.

DeFrantis spun around and rushed to kneel with the children. “Andrina, Marisee!” She swooped her arms to embrace them, and they lept into her arms. “DeFrantis! You’ve come!”

“It’s OK. It’s all going to be OK, now.” She held them each and stroked their hair as they sobbed and climbed over her. “I’m here now. I’m here.”

She leaned back and touched each one as she looked them over. “Where’s Leyonne? And Toolie?”

The oldest girl shrugged. “We don’t know. Someone took them away a few days ago!” DeFrantis dropped her head and reached around again to hold these five children close.

Eddiwarth and Karendle looked on at the scene before them. They glanced at each other, and that glance carried a loneliness, a sense of distance from their own parents.

A distant door slam and shouts shattered their reverie.

Eddiwarth ventured, “I thought this was a bit too easy.”

<<<>>>

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“Scrybabies” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 79: Karendle

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<<<>>>

“That’s right!” The tall man said, “You keep quiet and stop that crying!” Even hunched over, he towered over the small children huddled together on the pile of straw on the floor. His wrinkled and stubbly face was distorted into an angry scowl and his hair flopped down into his harsh and forceful eyes. The children cowered against the wall. Their shirts and faces were dirty, and the breeze through the window above them whisped their tangled hair.

The one that had been crying was trying hard not to burst out a second time. An older girl held him closer as he shook. She said, “We’ll be quiet!”  There were five of them, the oldest of which was the girl, with 10 winters at the most.

The man stood. “That’s better. Now get to sleeping!” He backed away from them and returned to his chair. It was a wobbly wooden assembly, next to a slightly sturdier table. The table held a lantern, well-lit, a sword in a sheath, and a few half-drunk tankards of ale. On the other side of the table sat another man, not as tall or broad-shouldered. He had a full beard and and a rag tied tightly around his bald head. He grabbed some black and white knuckle bones off the table and rolled them between his hands.

“It’s my turn, right?”

The taller man sighed, “I’m not gonna toss lots all night. I’m not giving you any more of my money!” He grabbed his tankard and drew a long swallow.

The other man ignored him and tossed the bones from his palms. They rattled across the tabletop and came to rest. “That’s three! The smaller man shouted. “I win again!”

Next to the straw that the children huddled on was another, smaller table, with a second lantern. It sat in the corner between two walls. In the second wall, next to the table, was a large, wooden door, with a latch and metal bands.

Karendle leaned up against the other side of that door, her eyes closed, her mind focused. Tightly clutched in both hands, directly before her face was a glowing blue stone. “I see two men, sitting at a table.”

Eddiwarth stood directly behind her. He was not tall, but Karendle’s half-dwarven stature made him hover over her. “Good, good...”

“This is working!” She whispered, excited, “It’s working!”

“Yes, keep it down.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “Now, project your mind’s eye further into the room. Turn it around. What else do you see?”

“Oh, by the Creator! I see them!”

DeFrantis stepped up behind them. “Who? Where are they?”

Eddiwarth shushed them.

Karendle whispered, “Four... No, five kids. They’re huddled on a straw mat across from the men.”

“Which ones? Who are they?”

“How should I know? Should I ask them their names?”

“Quiet!”

They all looked at each other for a moment. Finally, DeFrantis spoke. “You’re right. Let’s figure out how to take the men down.” She took a breath.

“We only have the one dagger for weapons, so we’ll have to use our power,” Eddiwarth noticed.

“Yes, but we don’t know what we’re up against, so we’ll have to be cautious using our will. I can fill the room with shadow. That will give us a few moments of surprise.” She looked at Eddiwarth. “If we need to, can you take down the door?” He nodded. “Karendle, you rush them. Grab for the sword.”

“Alright, then.” She held out her hand and focused her mind in the space beyond the door. She could feel the shadows swelling around her. They heard shouts from beyond the door.

“Let’s go!”

<<<>>>

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“I Just Need a Little Air” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 78: DeFrantis

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<<<>>>

“What are you looking for?” DeFrantis asked, twisting painfully against the pillar she was leaning on.

Eddiwarth stood near the dark window, inspecting it. “I don’t know. The glass looks pretty thick. It might be hard to break.”

She wriggled some more and tried to use the tension on the chains around her wrist to straighten herself. “Come here.”

Eddiwarth tapped on the pane. “Even if we break it, I’m not sure the opening would be large enough for us to get out.” He looked back at  DeFrantis. “Besides, we have to figure out how to get you out of your chains first.”

Karendle added from across the room. “That’s what we’re trying to do. That’s why we got you out.”

DeFrantis added, “Come over here. I think this will help.”

Eddiwarth stepped over to the pillar DeFrantis was chained to. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at.” He grabbed the ring holding the wrist chains tight up above her head and tugged on them. “These feel pretty solid.”

That’s not what I’m talking about. Just focus on what I’m saying. She leaned forward, away from pillar, and arched her back. The position stretched her arms back behind her neck and she winced in pain. “Under my shirt, across my back, there’s a small dagger. That will help you break the window.”

“What?”

Just pay attention and focus! She sighed, then coughed. She leaned her head as far forward and down as she could. “Just reach down my collar, and find the small dagger that I hid there. It’s not that hard.”

“Reach down your shirt?”

Really? This is not that complicated! “Yes, and quickly. This hurts!”.  She hissed, “And don’t think of grabbing anything but the dagger!”

He hesitated and slid his hand down her neck under her collar. His hands felt cold and the invasion was awkward. She felt his arm and hand inch closer to the steel that she had hidden there.

“Got it?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s not easy to grip.”  He slid his hand out slowly and pulled back. It was a small stiletto, more of roundel dagger. The blade was thin and triangular and came to a sharp point. It had a small metal handle, about as long as the blade, with a T-cross guard. The entire length was crusted with dried and smeared blood.  DeFrantis flexed her back, shifting on the floor. Ah! That’s much better! That’s been poking me ever since I hid it there.

“Ok. Now take that, and use the blade to break the windows.”

He still looked a bit confused, but he started walking over anyway. “Why do we want to break the windows?”

Oh, by the Creator, give me patience! “We need relief from the mage’s bane smoke. If we can get some fresh air, maybe we can muster up the will to break out of these chains!”

“Just trust us and do it!” Karendle added. “But try to do it as quietly as possible....”

DeFrantis heard a few light taps as he nipped at the glass with the blade. Then there was a harder hit, and another harder one that, with a crackling and tinkling, told her that he had done it. Immediately, she felt a slight and cool breeze dust across her legs. “Yes! That’s it! Do another pane!”

There was another crack and tinkling of glass on the floor. “How’s that?” Eddiwarth called out.

Karendle said, “Now do one on the other end of the room, so the air blows through!”

As he moved, a bit of wind blew across DeFrantis’ face, and she breathed deep, sucking in the cool air. She coughed as she got some of the dense smog in her lungs along with it. “I can... feel it! That’s what we need!”

A moment later another crackle sounded and suddenly a more steady draft was coming into the room. As the smog grew thinner, DeFrantis breathed deep and felt that familiar surge as her head cleared and her will returned. She could hear Karendle taking in air as well.

She brought her hands forward, focusing her attention and her will on the shackles. Her will was weak, but growing, as she surrounded the shackles in shadow. She pulled on them, tensing them against the pillar. She jerked and felt them cut into her wrists. These chains that bind me will no longer hold me down. Now, I am their master! Now, they set me free!

She felt her arms and wrists relax and drop down into her lap as the shackles that held them dissolved into shadow. She looked at them, and rubbed the soreness with her hands, her face in a smile of satisfaction. She hurried to her feet, and strode over to Karendle.  “I’m out! Hold your hands up! Now it’s your turn!” Karendle smiled and raised her shackles.

DeFrantis knelt next to her. As she started to focus on the chains, she heard the wind coming through the broken windows. The wind carried with it the sound of a child crying.

<<<>>>

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“Am I Dead?” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 77: Eddiwarth

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<<<>>>

Eddiwarth raked his hair out of his eyes and tried to blink away the burning. Something was irritating them. He coughed again, then twice more. Smoke. That’s what’s making my eyes hurt. He coughed again, though not as hard, and was finally able to see, albeit with a bit of a blur.  His head hurt.

He turned his head toward the voice he had just heard. He squinted, and saw the shadowy form of a person sitting by a pillar.  “Who are you?”

“I’m DeFrantis.” It was a feminine voice, fairly young. He blinked and wiped his eyes clear. His elvish vision helped him see a bit better in the dark, too. It was a young lady, wearing dark clothes, and her hands were chained to the pillar. “We need your help.”

“Who is ‘we’?” His voice was still rough from the thick incense in the room. The smell was a sickly sweet note, and it made it hard for him to breathe, and hard to think.

“That would be me. My name is Karendle.” The voice from behind his back startled him, and he quickly spun around. Defensively, he raised his hand, and raised thoughts of fire in his mind. He tried to channel those through his fingers, but there was nothing there. The thoughts and will were weak and empty. No flames, no magic. Nothing.

He looked at his hand and his fingers. Why didn’t that work? Maybe I’m dead. I’ve been killed, and I’m dead.

“Did you just try to blast me?” Karendle’s voice continued, “I can’t say that I’d blame you. But it won’t work here.”

“What?”

The other voice, DeFrantis, said, “Yeah, that smoke you’re breathing is choking off more than your voice. Your magic’s gone, too.”

These voices sound familiar. I’ve heard them, but I don’t remember where. Where have I been? He coughed a few more times, then rasped to clear his throat. He crawled aside, so that he wasn’t trapped in between the two women.

Memories started coming back to him. I was with Hamrisonn in the city. We were looking for someone. I don’t remember who. 

I was on a river barge. He and I were after something, or someone. It was there. I floated down to get it, and suddenly everything went black. I must be dead.

DeFrantis spoke again, “I imagine it’s all kinda confusing. I’m not sure who you are, or why you first attacked us, either. A lot of that can be sorted out later...”

“I attacked you?”

“Yeah, but...”

“Somehow it all went blank. I’ve been out of it for a while, haven’t I?”

“Yeah, a few days, but, like I said, right now...”

“I attacked you? Why? What happened to me?”

Karendle interrupted, “Well, there were people on the barge fighting, then you jumped in, then I jumped in, then people got hurt, and you got trapped, and right now we just need to have you help us get unchained.”

Eddiwarth took all this in. I attacked? I got trapped? 

“We can sort all of that out some other time, though. We need to get out of here and find the children before anyone else comes back and tries to kill us. So, we’d really like for you to help.” DeFrantis said, trying to smile in the dark. “Please?”

“So, I’m not dead?”  This made Karendle laugh. I guess not.

I don’t know. Sure. I can help, I guess. I don’t know what’s going on, but I guess I can help a couple of fair damsels in distress... He stood, then reached his hand out toward DeFrantis, and stopped, remembering. “Wait. How can I help if I can’t use magic?”

DeFrantis sighed. “Yeah, that will make things difficult. But I think you can help us get our magic back.”  She shifted in place, shaking her chains, and pointed to the wall behind her. “Do you think you could break one of those windows?”

<<<>>>

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“Am I Evil?” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 76: Karendle

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<<<>>>

“What? Who?” DeFrantis asked, then gasped with realization, “The wizard you caught on the barge!”

Karendle just nodded, not really thinking that DeFrantis probably couldn’t see her. She was lost in her thoughts as she held the polished stone in her hands. Her dwarven eyes could see a bit in the dark, and she looked at it.

This was to be my new life. Wizard hunter. I was going to get back at the Wizard’s Guild. They were going to pay me well for him. I was going to be able to prove myself. This stone holds all of my opportunity, my future. Should I set all of that free? Should I let it go?

“Can you loose him? Give it a try!”

It also holds a person. A person I trapped. A person I don’t even know. He’s a wizard, and one of the Guild, even! Wizards are evil, right? Like DeFrantis. She’s a wizard, of sorts. But she saved me. And she’s just trying to save the kids. She’s been trying to save them their whole life. How can that be evil? 

She felt the smooth, polished surface under her fingers. It was round and gray, like a stone out of a river. I caught him. I reached out with this stone, and caught him, just like an animal in a trap. I was going to sell him. I would have taken him and sold him to my own connection, in my own little dark market, just like the slavers and thieves were doing. Selling people. Real people. And children!

Does that make me evil? As that thought hit her, she recoiled. I’m not evil! Am I?

“Karendle? Are you alright?”

Karendle took a breath before she said, “Why did I let myself get trapped in their game?” DeFrantis didn’t respond, and Karendle didn’t honestly expect a response.

No more! I choose the game, now. I choose the moves! 

She clenched her eyes and gripped the oculus tight in her determined fist. She stretched out the hand holding the oculus and focused on it. Even using the will embedded in the oculus was difficult with the mage’s bane, but after a moment she felt a shiver, and the stone began to glow with a silvery light. The light grew, and Karendle opened her eyes. She could see across the room, into DeFrantis’ delighted face.

The silvery glow leapt from the stone, in the direction of Karendle’s point, and settled on the floor, surrounding a reclining body. He was wearing the same dark pants and loose shirt he had on the day of the fight on the barge. He lay still until the glow subsided, when he began groaning and rolled over. He breathed, then coughed, hard. He gasped for breath, rasping and finally crawling up on his hands and knees.

“By the Creator!” he wheezed. He tried to look around, sat back on his heels, and finally said, “Where am I?”

DeFrantis just giggled. “We’re not entirely sure, either!”

<<<>>>

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“Oh, To Breathe Again” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 75: DeFrantis

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<<<>>>

Part 7

Reunion

DeFrantis is trying to find the street children she's been caring for. They'd been taken from her and sold off as slaves. Now, the slavers have captured her and Karendle and are holding them captive. They have managed to magically contact Thissraelle, Antonerri, and Granthurg, in hopes that they'll come to the rescue. But who is The Dragon's Flame?


“I wish I wasn’t so hungry,” DeFrantis heard Karendle say, across the darkness, “Because this gruel tastes absolutely horrible.”

I’ve had worse. DeFrantis thought about that for a moment. Actually, I’m not so sure of that. She carefully held the bowl close to her face, partly because the chains holding her wrist high wouldn’t let her hold it any other way, and partly because that was the only way to use fingers from her other chained hand to scoop the meal into her mouth.

“Is it really this bad,” Karendle continued, “Or is it the mage’s bane smoke that makes it taste like this?”

DeFrantis carefully wiped the last of the gruel from the wooden bowl with her fingers and then licked them clean. Disgusting. But having something in my stomach is a good thing. Something. Anything. 

I wish I’d had a bit of time to prepare. If I’d known when they were going to feed us, I might have been able to figure out a way to snatch a key from the guard. The last time that had happened, with the Confessor Priest and his guard, it was kind of improvised. Maybe it was her hunger and her bane-addled mind, but she hadn’t seen an opportunity to move on this time.

“You’re very quiet.”

DeFrantis raised her gaze. Even though the rain had stopped, the sun had also set, shrouding the entire room in darkness. She squinted to try and see where Karendle had been, where the voice was coming from. There was only shadow and smoke. She dropped the bowl to her lap, and it rolled off and clattered onto the floor.

“So, you’re awake? You’re done eating? Are you lost in thought?”

DeFrantis shifted her aching back, breathed deep, and then coughed. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

“...About...?”

“I’m just trying to think of a way to get us out of these chains.”

“That would be nice.” Karendle agreed. “I hope they can find us soon.”

“Yes, well, that really would be nice. But, honestly,” DeFrantis tensed her chains, “I’m getting a bit tired of waiting. If I could just use my shadow power, I could make short work of these locks. If I could just clear my head!”

“This smoke is just so thick. It’s hard to breathe, much less to think!”

“Well, that’s how the incense works. It makes your head all foggy, and suppresses your will. It makes you despair, if you let it.” DeFrantis crossed her arms and held her shoulders, as if to comfort herself.

“Yeah. I get it. What I wouldn’t give for one breath of fresh air.”

Yeah. Fresh air. To breathe deep and feel alive.

Fresh air.

Fresh Air!

“Fresh air!”

“What?”

“If we can somehow break a window or open a door, that might bring in enough air to restore even a part of our will!” That’s what happened the minute we opened the door to the holding rooms in the guard tower back in Twynne Rivers! The moment I got good breath in my lungs, I felt my will return! “Help me, Karendle! Help me think of something! Is there something we can throw at a window? Maybe someway to wedge the door open when they come in. Anything?”

There was silence as they both tried to think. DeFrantis began to twist and squirm against the chains, trying to see if she could reach where she had hidden the dagger.

Karendle said, “What about the oculi? Can you use any of them? Can you use their will?”

“Are any of them onyx? For shadow?”

“No, and I only know how to use the sapphire for connection. I don’t know if it can be used to move things.”

“Too bad you lost the red one. You could just blow up the chains.”

“Yes, but...” Karendle’s voice trailed off in the dark.

DeFrantis stopped struggling. “...But what?”

“What if someone else broke the window, or opened the door?”

DeFrantis squinted. “What are you talking about.”

“I just remembered that I have someone trapped in this stone...”

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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“Over the River and Through The Wood” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 74: Antonerri

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<<<>>>

Thankfully, the rain had stopped by the time they were ready to travel. It was still overcast, and dark, and the rain had made the ruts of the wagon’s path very muddy. Still the horses were strong and pulled them forward.

“This must be a path they’ve traveled many times. They seem familiar with it.” Antonerri commented. Granthurg nodded.

Getting across the Wynne had been a fairly simple task as well, using Granthurg’s barge. Clearing off the ransacked rubble to make room for the wagon was not as easy and had taken much of the rest of the morning. Then they began the journey into the southern deep of the Umbrawood Forest.

It was dark inside the forest, partly because of the overcast skies, and partly because of the thick canopy of trees which gave the forest its name. The leaves had just come on to the trees about a month before, and were thick and strong. It was clear that this path was used, but not used very much. There was some underbrush, much of it new growth, but it wasn’t high enough to impede movement. Even so, the ground below was uneven, and full of old tree roots and it made travel bumpy and a bit noisy. A thick layer of last winter’s dead leaves, now wet from the spring rains, was helping the wagon get through the mud. It gave a musty smell to the trail.

“I don’t understand.” Antonerri asked, “What is the significance of the Dragons? Who is this ‘Dragon’s Flame’ we’re hearing about?”

Granthurg was thoughtful before responding, “Yeah, I don’t know, either. I’m trying to put it all together in my mind. There are some histories I remember. Some I read, and some I was told as a kid. They say that the Dragons used to rule this land.”

Antonerri was surprised at this. Thissraelle stirred in the back of the wagon and leaned forward between them to hear the story.

“Even before the Mage Kings of the High Elves. The story goes that they were quite oppressive and enslaved the humans for generations. Then they started dying off, and nobody knew why. The humans and the elves finally overthrew them, and that’s when the elven Mage Kings began ruling Wynne. Now, of course, it’s all fractured. It’s like each group has divided up into its own space.”

He paused and thought. “I’m not sure what the ‘Dragon’s Flame’ is. The man who attacked me said they were cultists that worship dragons. There are still dragons in Wynne, but not many live, and few ever see them.”

Thissraelle took this in. Antonerri looked at his companions then down at the horses and the trail before them.

“I’m so grateful to know you two. Your knowledge, and,” He gestured to Thisraelle, “Your magic has been a great help. I hope we can get to DeFrantis before...” His voice trailed off.

Granthurg smiled and put a huge hand on Antonerri’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, friend. We’re here.”

Thissraelle added, “We take care of each other. We’ll find them. Once we’re closer, I’ll be able to place them and hopefully I can open a dimensional portal straight to them.”  She paused, and sighed. “That may, however, take most of my will. I’m not sure how useful I’ll be in a fight after that.”

Granthurg gave Antonerri’s shoulder a friendly shove. “Getting us there will be a great help. Leave the fighting to us. That will be our job!”

“Once we find DeFrantis, hopefully then we’ll be able to find the children she’s looking for.” He smiled at his new friends. Isn’t this what I always wanted? Why I joined the church guard? To fight for those that could not fight for themselves? 

But there was a fear inside him as well. A fear of the unknown. What are we getting into? What’s waiting for us? Am I up to this? We’ll need the blessings of the Creator for this, and I’m not yet sure I deserve that.

The wagon rumbled and creaked along the dark, hidden path.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox!

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“There They Are!” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 73: Granthurg

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<<<>>>

Antonerri pushed the plates, dishes, and food aside to clear a space on the table. He wasn’t too gentle about it, as plates clanked and bits of flatware clattered onto the floor. With a thump and a slight grunt, Granthurg dropped an armload of books and half-loose scrolls onto the table. He began rustling through them as everyone gathered behind him.

After a moment, Granthurg found the particular scroll he was looking for and laid it onto the table, rolling one end out. He paused, then rolled the other end up, and scooted the scroll back to do it again.

“There we go!” He stood up, looking down at the drawing on the table. It was a map, and fairly detailed.  “So, this is Wynne. It’s a really old map, but it’ll help. This is Twynne Rivers, and here are the two branches of the Greater and Lesser Wynne Rivers. All over this area, you can see that land dotted with manors and villages. Over here is the southern part of the Umbrawood forest. If you follow the northern Wynne River along here, you’ll get to Dirae. That’s where we are right now.”

He spun around, trying to orient himself, and mumbled, “Which way is East?”

Antonerri jumped up, too, and pointed, “Well, that door leads into the main sanctuary, so, the front door would be--” He turned a little, “--there.  Then--” He turned a little back the other way, “That would be East.”

Granthurg nodded agreement, and leaned back over the maps. He took the two scroll sticks, lifted the map, and oriented it on the tabletop to line the map’s Eastern direction to the way Antonerri had been pointing.

Antonerri joined him at the table. “Thissraelle! Which way to DeFrantis again?”

Everyone looked at Thisraelle as she pointed out the south window of the hall, toward the river, and the forest. Then he she closed her eyes and took deep breaths. After a moment, she adjusted her arm slightly. “That way.”

“Hold that!” Granthurg said, and began tracing a line from Dirae that followed the general direction of Thissraelle’s arm.

“Just a minute.” Antonerri drew his sword and laid the straight edge of the blade at Dirae. He turned it, glancing up to match the direction as close a he could to Thissraelle’s arm. “Like this?”

Thissraelle looked down and nodded.

They all looked as Granthurg’s finger followed the edge of the blade across the river and into the forest. Soon it touched a spot marked with a shield and some small writing. Granthurg squinted close and read, “Barony of Westwood.”

“What’s that?” Thissraelle asked. Everyone looked at each other, but nobody, including the friars, had ever heard of it.

“Hold on...” Granthurg moved a few of the scrolls and grabbed a tome he’d been reading. It was labelled “Wynne”. “This is where I found out about the dagger!” He began flipping the pages.

Antonerri glanced over at Thissraelle with a hopeful look. “Is this where DeFrantis is?” Thissraelle just shrugged, but smiled, anyway.

“THERE! Oh, by the Creator!” Granthurg called out, and pointed at the page. It was full of shields, coats of arms, and at the top was the title “Heraldry of House Twynnham of Wynne”. Granthurg was pointing to a crest. The others looked at the page, at his insistent finger, then up at Granthurg. They didn’t share his moment of clarity. “That crest was carved into the side of the wagon we took from the slave market! I didn’t think much of it at the time, because the wood planks were weathered and it was hard to recognize the charge. I assumed it was a gryphon or a lion or something. But I’ve figured it out! I know where they are!”

Antonerri glanced back down at the page, at the crest under Granthurg’s large tapping finger.  “It’s a dragon!”

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox!

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Start the whole story from the beginning. Start from where this current story arc begins.

“They Went That Way” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 72: Thissraelle

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<<<>>>

“What are you waiting for, child?” Brother Mathazar’s question interrupted her thoughts. “Eat! Eat!”

She startled then looked back down at her bowl of stew. The smell of the rich brown broth wafted up into her face, and the meat and vegetables looked appetizing as well.  Beside her steaming bowl was a torn half-loaf of bread. She picked up her spoon and smiled. “Thank you!”

“What has your mind so enraptured?”

She looked over at him, then at the others. Next to him were two other monks each dipping into their own bowls, and across from them sat Antonerri and Granthurg. The giant was, at least, eagerly slurping on his stew, alternating mouthfuls with the bread. The sight of him stuffing his mouth made Thissraelle giggle.

He stopped for only a moment. “What?”

She smiled and took a spoonful of stew. It was delicious and full of savory flavors. She swallowed and reached for her bread.

“I’ve just been thinking of all that’s happened to us. How we all came to be in this place, and now all that we are finding out about the Dragon’s Flame.” She raised the bread. “It’s kind of overwhelming.” She took a bite.

“True. You’ll no doubt be wanting to find your other friends as well.”

Antonerri raised his gaze as he heard that, and Thissraelle nodded. She lifted her spoon again.

“Are you there?”

Thissraelle’s head jumped up and looked around, confused.

“Are you there? Can you hear me?”

She dropped her spoon with a clatter and stood up from the table. She looked frantically around the room.

Granthurg said, “Thissraelle! What’s wrong?”

“I know that voice!” She whispered. “Where is she?”

“You CAN hear me! Talk to me!”

Thisraelle shook her head and closed her eyes. She’s in my head.

“Yes! I am!”

Where are you? Are you well?

“DeFrantis is with me! We’re captured! We need your he--”

“Where are you?” The others at the table stared at her outburst. Her mind fell silent. Frantically, she cleared her thoughts and opened herself up. She looked around the table, trying to find support. “Where ARE YOU?” She shouted again.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorr--”

No! Come back! Talk to me! Where are you? Her mind, her thoughts were silent. The connection was gone.

She stepped away from the table and closed her eyes. She raised her hands out to her side and began slowly turning.

Granthurg stood. “Thissraelle, are you OK?”

“They reached out to me. They contacted me.”

“Who?” All eyes were on her as she slowly turned. Her hands and head began to slowly glow with an azure halo.

“Karendle.” She kept turning, then stopped. “And DeFrantis.”

Antonerri jumped to his feet. “DeFrantis! Where?”

Thissraelle moved one arm before her to point. “That way. I don’t know how far, but they’re that way.” They all looked where she pointed, out the rain-spattered window into the cloudy dark beyond.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox!

Previous Scene, Next Scene
Start the whole story from the beginning. Start from where this current story arc begins.