Chapter 13 Twilights End Part 2 Donut Diplomacy

[Borg]

Chapter 13 Twilights End

Part 2 Donut Diplomacy

The Rescue team sat in the small grove to the west of The Sands Desert. Kalinaf set ablaze a pile of wood that Martok had gathered and Greg finished preparations for a snack. While the pot of oil boiled on the open fire the team discussed their journey and what they had discovered, while Greg was completely involved with his precious golden circles.

“You will love these my friends.’; Greg quipped proudly.

“I certainly hope so…….tis bee a day and a half……this place has no birds, just flying rats and I am not going to eat one of those vermin”; barked Steel Darknight.

The team had been in this new land for nearly a month and so far they had not found Dr. Codene or Anfalas. Their recon had determined the location of a massive pyramid which looked like it had been buried over time and The Sands Desert itself. There was scarring and various evidence of a thriving civilization once stood in its shadow. This must be the spiritual city that was destroyed by the Guardian they had read about in old books. The only thing now active in the area of the pyramid was ancient guards still on duty walking undead and mummified remains of the once proud culture. This was the civilization that forged the Book of the Dead and Eternal Life that once were in the hands of the Empire but now were back in the hands of their civilizations protectors. The race was now on to retrieve the books or block Lord Blackthorn from acquiring them. In the hands of Lord Blackthorn their power would be unleashed and he would raise a limitless army of undead to engulf the realm in complete chaos and destruction. At least now Lord Blackthorn was limited to his mechanics, Chaos Loyalists and a growing shaky Jukan alliance.

”Well here they are boys!”; announced Greg cheerfully.

Handing out the golden frosted and glazed donuts, Greg smiled as he nibbled on his precious golden circle.

"A bit of heaven itself is found when you bite into one of these loveleys."

The team enjoyed the donuts and the evening was almost perfect........almost.

"Did you hear something?"; asked Kalinaf

"Humh?"; mumbled Steel as he stuffed another golden circle into his mouth.

"Nope.......just another batch of my precious are done on the fire"l answered Greg.

"I heard it.........something is in the woods"; added Martok

"Gah...Gladiators......just a bit higher than Orcs in the food chain....stomachs rule their senses." ;quipped Kalinafas the two Warlocks moved into the grove.

"Eh?....more for us Greg."; chuckled Steel Darknight

"But before I do....methinks a little nature walk is in order first."; Steel added.

Preparing himself after choosing a tree, Steel lookd upward to the canopy of the trees and before he could finish a sentance the tree began to move away.

"Um........Greg?........GREG!!!"; Steel barked as he adjusted his kilt.

"Huh?.......geesh man I know these are good donuts but you have to....."; Greg responded as he turned with a plate of donuts......then dropped them to the ground.

Towering above him stood a tree which now looked deeply into the eyes of Greg, as if to look into his soul for an answer.

"Where is the dark one.......Where is the Taker."; the tree asked with a cracking rumbling voice.

"Taker?.......Dark one?"; Greg asked then added.

"I do not understand."

Steel slowly picked up his axe and positioned himself at the ready. Greg motioned him to stand down as he began to attempt to understand what this tree was asking for. Reknown for his ability as a diplomat, Greg did not wish to bring more enemies unto the Empire in this new land.

"WHERE IS THE TAKER!!!"; bellowed loudly by the tree.

Its voice echoed through the grove and Martok and Kalinaf summoned thier ethereal steeds and began a full charge back to camp. At camp Greg noticed the tree pointing to the fire and realized he ment the wood was what was taken ad that he must be searching for Martok. In a blur of energy the tree was ensnared with a paralize spell from Kalinaf and Martok followed it with a bolt of energy. As the bolt slammed into the hardend bark of the tree, the blast threw Greg and Steel to the ground. The tree pivoted and swung a low branch that unhorsed Martok, slamming him to the ground stunned for a moment.

"DARK ONE! TAKER! PAY FOR YOUR CRIME!!!"; bellowed the tree.

Lifting a giant leg the tree prepared to bury Martok into the ground but Greg dove and pushed Martok from harm. The tree stopped and stepped aside of crushing greg into the ground, then reaching with another branch clutched Martok firmly. The tree began to squeeze the life out of Martok and Steel stood and swung mightily his axe and severed off the limb that held Martok. Kalinaf bore down upon the tree with flamestrikes and fireballs; setting the tree ablaze. Steel swung again and took a massive chunk then another out of the leg of the tree.

Crashing to the ground, engulfed in fire the tree seemed to hiss;"Dark Onessss......Takerssss."

Greg stood over the burning tree now motionless and began to think of why would Martok be considered a dark one.....then it hit him. Martok had a dark side, his karma reputation was not stellar....most magistrates of the Emperor are devils advocates more times than not and for good reasons. The tree had spared doing harm to Greg and never lifted a limb against those that did not do him harm at first.

"Odd fellow...."; remarked Martok

"This is an odd place Tok.; added Steel

"Agreed.......Tok you stay away from the woods for now brother"; offered Kalinaf

"Fine by me....but I think a few ribs are broken and my magic will not heal them"; Martok replied grimmacing.

The rest of the night went on without incident and when morning broke, the team decided that Greg and Steel would try and find another Treefellow and Greg would attempt to seek further understanding and help for Martok. They decided to move Martok away from the treeline and though closer to The Sands Desert, at least there the open ground would allow sight of any danger approaching. Kalinaf stood and patrolled the new camp while Greg and Steel moved Northward along the shoreline.

A forrest lay ahead of them and the two remarked at how this treefellow was similar to the old story that Colin Mor tells to young at campfires. It seems it was not just a story afterall. As the two ventured through the the forrest an odor faintly familiar but still different the two began to smell ahead.

"Orcs?";a puzzled Steel asked.

"Nay....similar but not the same brother"; answered Greg.

Echoing a familiar word came across the air.

Takers.....Dark Ones......aarrrrrrrrrrrggghhhh"

Greg and Steel began to push toward the edge of the forrest and in the open they could see a Treefellow being cut down and hacked into logs by what seemed to be Orcs.

"Those are not Orcs Greg"; whispered Steel.

"Nay....similar but smaller and dark skinned they are......smelling of ash as well"; hushed Greg back.

*Twig Snap*

Steel spun around and parried off a sword and then burried his sword into a black skinned form as it then yelled out a high pitched scream.

Greg could see the other four in the open take notice and begin to move away from the dead Treefellow. Greg and Steel then charged into the open.

"Time to dance brother."; Greg remarked.

"For HONOR and EMPIRE!!!"; Steel yelled.

Engaging the foursome, the pair spun and parried, struck and recoled and one by one the four dark smelly foes fell. Examining the slain, the two agreed that these were not Orcs too quick for an Orc and definetly smaller in stature.

"Takers......Dark Ones"; a voice beind them spoke as it walked out of the treeline.

Turning thier heads the two saw a Treefellow then another walk into the open. The one moved over to the fallen Treefellow and began to absorb the remains of the fallen one. Greg stood and greeted the other while Steel kept a good grip on his sword.

"You are not Dark Ones"; the Treefellow said as he peered deeply into the pair.

"Nay we are not......we are Guardians of HONOR....from a distant land"; Greg responded and began to in essence put his diplomacy hat on.

"Close they are....always Dark Ones take.....and Takers are Dark Ones....you are Light Ones"; stated the Treefellow.

Greg spoke at length with the Treefellow and discussed the previous evenings occurance. The Treefellows led the pair westward within the forrest until they could see a vast fortress and on the horizon a massive mountain chain. The Treefellows instructed them that in that mountain a cave they would find that would take them to the city of light. Once thier forrest stretched all the way to the mountains but it had been cut down to build that massive fortress. Inside that fortress were these dark skinned orcish and in great numbers. From the southern wall of the mountain, Greg and Steel decided to make for the cave. The Treefellows bid farewell to the pair and they reminded them that all dark ones would not be safe within the forrests but those of light would fear nothing and could tend the woods for harvests.

Back at The Sands border, Kalinaf and Martok awaited patiently.....well as patiently as a Warlock could. Kalinaf would venture out and around the edge of the mountains and return every so often, making sure no patrols of the Army of The Sands were approaching.

"Odd isnt it......this land has milions of little stars acting as one, dimming during the night and brilliant during the day"; remarked Martok as he leaned against the warming stone of the mountainside.

You are just odd Tok, and I do not like this place...not one single bit of it."; answered Kalinaf

As Kalinaf peered across The Sands Desert, in the distance either a sandstorm was brewing or something big was stirring up the sands. Summoning his ethereal steed he informed Martok he would be right back.

"Ok...be careful...I cant save your arse again if you get in trouble remember."; Martok said jestfully.

yeah........Sure.....just like always......heheh..........FOR HONOR AND EMPIRE!!!"; Kalinaf said as he rode away.

Martok threw a blessing upon his brethren and leaned back to again enjoy the warmth of the stone and stars. Little did he know he would never see Kalinaf again.......alive that is. Across the sand and unbeknown to Martok the waters' surface rippled and something beneath it settled again.

Martok was not alone.

Greg and Steel had made thier way along the mountain and Greg asked Steel if he had ever learned to the spell of changing. Steel nodded and the two cast polymorph and changed into Orcs. Moving a small boulder Greg then began to cover Steel with dark mud and after they finished they began to move toward the cave. Near the cave was a guardpost and utop it stood one of the dark skinned archers while a handful of the others seemed to be fighting over parts of a great boar. The deception worked as though larger than the guard, he only nodded to them as they passed into the cave. Traveling through the cave the pair fell out of the spell and the dirt collapsed off of them. Soon they found themselves looking out across what seemed to be broken pieces of land connected by large bridges. At different heights they seemed to work thier way toward the North.....and along a road they both began to journey.

Soon they found a large building and on its sign was the name "Hanse Hostel"; upon entering they found it full of accomodations but not a soul to be seen. Greg began to search the rooms while Steel poked around the desk. Looking out a window, Steel could see a man tending some goats.

"GREG.........outside........out back."; Steel shouted.

Greg turned and left the one remaining room door unopened and as he left to join Steel, the door opened and only a shadow existed.

Outside the two greeted the man and politely asked if a meal was available. Parker the innkeeper welcomed them and began to usher them back into the Inn. As they began to go into the Inn, the doorway was filled with the form of a Wraith. Steel and Greg instictually drew thier swords, but Parker stood as a shield for the Wraith.

"Nay nay strangers........this is Vendis Stark, he is a Necromancer...a patron here like you are"; urged Parker.

"Um......Greg?"; asked a puzzled Steel.

Thining and slowly lowering his blade, Greg pointed toward the Wraith and asked; "Necromancer....a Dark One?"

At that moment a cloud of smoke engulfed Vendis and as it cleard stood a form with a fleshless skull whose empty eye sockets seemed to peer deeply into the souls of Steel and Greg.

"You are not Paladins......if not Paladins or Necromancers.......what sould guides your blood?"; Vendis asked.

"We are guardians of HONOR from the HONOR Empire, I am Gregory Meridus and this is Steel Darknight.....we are from Britannia, the Illyceum Province.'; answered Greg.

"Virtue Guardians aye.......hehehe you come from the lost lands where man sacrifices his fellow man for the sake of wealth, glory or political gain."; Vendis replied in disgust.

With the calming influence of Parker the group moved into the Inn and a meal was prepared. Greg could not help but offer his precious golden circles recepie to Parker. Again putting his diplomacy hat on, Greg explained thier reason for being here and the plight of Martok and his injuries.

"The compassion and aid you seek will be found in the Paladin city of Luna, I cannot help your friend.....heheh only after he died would I be one who could aid him.......but then again if he was dead then it would be he who would aid me"; Vendis said coldly as he sipped down an ale.

As a plateful of donuts were presented, even Vendis commented at thier splendid taste and took a few with him as he left the Inn and headed for his home city of Darkness......Umbra. Upon leaving themselves, Greg was asked by Parker if he could use the Donuts on his menu and Greg graciously agreed. Parker bid them farewell but remarked that the owner of the Inn would surely enjoy these wonderful treats. It seems that Hanse works in the mountains clearing land that would be safe from the Goblin Raiders. The dark skinned orcish they had encountered were Goblins actually, once the race who lived in Wrong dungeon and were then scattered to the wilds by the Trolls long ago. The Locusts had hunted them down and a few found thier way here to this land where they have rebuilt a formidible clan again.

"If you see his sachel here then he is nearby......it is his means of magical travel to his safe lands"; finished Parker as he waved off the Greg and Steel as they headed for Luna.