Reggie hovered above the staircase and revelled in the smell that was emanating from down below. ‘Reminds me of home’ he thought to himself with a twinge of sadness as he watched first Grumpy, then Slobba begin their descent. Alyse paused at the top of the staircase before taking a deep breath then plunging downward, closely followed by her wolf Nancy.
‘I hate that wolf, its bloody useless’ thought Reggie. ‘Does it ever scout ahead? No. Can it pick up a rope? No. Can it gather wood to build a fire? No. Can it talk? No. It’s not even toilet trained!’ He fumed ‘This group isn’t big enough for the both of us.’ He said to himself ominously as he followed Shyne down the stairs.
Grumpy waited for his eyes to fully adjust to the gloom before he moved off the bottom step and into the room beyond. Even in the darkness he could see nearly 60 feet and it was obvious that the room extended beyond that distance. The room itself was around 40 feet in width, the same distance as the tower above him, but there was one difference; every 10 feet or so on each wall there was an alcove containing what appeared to be a marble statue.
Grumpy turned to Slobba and motioned for him to move to the left while he, in turn, went to the right. At that moment Elvis started his descent and light began to creep down the staircase with him. With his dark vision now useless, Grumpy moved to the statue that was closest to him and began to examine it. That statue was of a human male that was obviously a practitioner of arcane magic. He was dressed in long flowing robes and was holding a staff in his left hand and an open book in his right. His stone facial features were relatively non-descript, although his brow was furrowed in a look of thoughtfulness or perhaps anger? Understanding that he’d never know what the Wizard was thinking as he had posed for the artist that carved the statue, Grumpy dismissed it from his thoughts and continued his search. At the base of the statue he discovered a metal plate with an unknown script stamped into it.
‘Most probably his name’ the Dwarf thought to himself before moving on towards the next statue. This one was again clearly a Wizard, but unlike the first statue it was an Elven female that stood before him. Like her comrade she was clad in flowing robes but held a wand in one hand and a stone ball in the other. Her long hair flowed down her back and a circlet sat upon her brow. A name plate was affixed to the base of the statue with the same unknown script.
“Shyne!” Grumpy whispered over his shoulder “Can you see if you can read this?”
“Coming” Shyne said in a low voice as he made his way over to the Dwarf.
“It’s too dark; I can’t make out the symbols. Elvis bring the light over here” said Shyne.
Just as Elvis began to walk over to Shyne and Grumpy, Nancy let out a yelp of pain and began to snap at the air around her.
“Keep that flea bitten mongrel quiet!” Llona hissed to Alyse.
“Nancy, heel” said Alyse before she crouched down to sooth the troubled wolf.
“Stupid bloody thing” Elvis heard Llona mutter under her breath.
‘Yep, definitely a bit of PM Tension there’ the Bard thought to himself.
“Here’s the light” he said to Shyne “at least the smell is starting to dissipate.”
“Yes thank the Gods” replied the Warrior Wizard “I think that there is a breeze coming from the other end of the room and it’s helping with the ventilation.”
“Enough of the chit chat” said Grumpy impatiently, “What do the words say?”
“Lienyal Stargazer The Seer, Ministry of Winds Year 1 to Year 53” said Shyne.
“Well we know that this tower was built over 300 years ago, which was around 50 years before Van Drewmans Port was settled” said Elvis. “She was obviously one of the original members of the Ministry of Winds.”
Shyne moved to the first statue that Grumpy had searched and read the name plate at its base.
“Joneil The Watcher, Ministry of Winds Year 1 to Year 29” he read aloud. “Obviously another founder of the Ministry” he said.
Grumpy waited for his eyes to fully adjust to the gloom before he moved off the bottom step and into the room beyond. Even in the darkness he could see nearly 60 feet and it was obvious that the room extended beyond that distance. The room itself was around 40 feet in width, the same distance as the tower above him, but there was one difference; every 10 feet or so on each wall there was an alcove containing what appeared to be a marble statue.
Grumpy turned to Slobba and motioned for him to move to the left while he, in turn, went to the right. At that moment Elvis started his descent and light began to creep down the staircase with him. With his dark vision now useless, Grumpy moved to the statue that was closest to him and began to examine it. That statue was of a human male that was obviously a practitioner of arcane magic. He was dressed in long flowing robes and was holding a staff in his left hand and an open book in his right. His stone facial features were relatively non-descript, although his brow was furrowed in a look of thoughtfulness or perhaps anger? Understanding that he’d never know what the Wizard was thinking as he had posed for the artist that carved the statue, Grumpy dismissed it from his thoughts and continued his search. At the base of the statue he discovered a metal plate with an unknown script stamped into it.
‘Most probably his name’ the Dwarf thought to himself before moving on towards the next statue. This one was again clearly a Wizard, but unlike the first statue it was an Elven female that stood before him. Like her comrade she was clad in flowing robes but held a wand in one hand and a stone ball in the other. Her long hair flowed down her back and a circlet sat upon her brow. A name plate was affixed to the base of the statue with the same unknown script.
“Shyne!” Grumpy whispered over his shoulder “Can you see if you can read this?”
“Coming” Shyne said in a low voice as he made his way over to the Dwarf.
“It’s too dark; I can’t make out the symbols. Elvis bring the light over here” said Shyne.
Just as Elvis began to walk over to Shyne and Grumpy, Nancy let out a yelp of pain and began to snap at the air around her.
“Keep that flea bitten mongrel quiet!” Llona hissed to Alyse.
“Nancy, heel” said Alyse before she crouched down to sooth the troubled wolf.
“Stupid bloody thing” Elvis heard Llona mutter under her breath.
‘Yep, definitely a bit of PM Tension there’ the Bard thought to himself.
“Here’s the light” he said to Shyne “at least the smell is starting to dissipate.”
“Yes thank the Gods” replied the Warrior Wizard “I think that there is a breeze coming from the other end of the room and it’s helping with the ventilation.”
“Enough of the chit chat” said Grumpy impatiently, “What do the words say?”
“Lienyal Stargazer The Seer, Ministry of Winds Year 1 to Year 53” said Shyne.
“Well we know that this tower was built over 300 years ago, which was around 50 years before Van Drewmans Port was settled” said Elvis. “She was obviously one of the original members of the Ministry of Winds.”
Shyne moved to the first statue that Grumpy had searched and read the name plate at its base.
“Joneil The Watcher, Ministry of Winds Year 1 to Year 29” he read aloud. “Obviously another founder of the Ministry” he said.
Slobba joined them from the other side of the room.
"The statues are of people that have been members of the Ministry of Winds" he said.
"Yes we just figured that out ourselves" replied Shyne.
"Let’s see how big this room is shall we. Llona scout up ahead and see what you can find, we'll follow behind you” said Elvis as he covered his sun rod until only a dim light could be seen.
"Gladly" said Llona darkly before she moved stealthily out of range of the light.
As she disappeared into the darkness Grumpy took up position on the right side of the room while Slobba stood 10 feet to his left. Alyse stood with Nancy about 10 feet behind Slobba while Shyne stood the same distance behind Grumpy. Elvis, as was his want, brought up the rear.
"Let’s move out" said Slobba before he started to creep forward as quietly as his armour would allow him to.
In the distance Llona grimaced as she heard the party start walking after her.
'They sound like a heard of mammoths' she thought to herself.
The room continued to stretch out before her for another 60 feet, with alcoves containing statues every 10. As she continued to hug the left wall she thought she saw movement up ahead so she froze in place. After a few seconds she shook her head and once again began to creep forward. As she neared the end of the room she could make out the silhouette of a set of double doors set into the wall.
She smelt the attack before she saw it; a repulsive odour hit her senses and caused her stomach to recoil in protest just as large creature shambled out of one of the alcoves and swung a club at her head. It was instinct that saved her as the sword in her left hand flashed up and caught the club, deflecting it from hitting her head and onto her shoulder instead. She shrieked in agony as she was driven to the ground by the force of the blow. Once again instinct kicked in and she used the momentum of her fall to roll across the floor and out of harm’s way.
Hearing Llona’s screams Grumpy and Slobba led the charge down the hall towards the sound of the battle.
Elvis removed the cover from the sun rod and bright light enveloped the group as they ran. The sight that greeted them was one that they would not soon forget. Llona was surrounded by 4 large Ogres that, judging by the smell and the state of decay, were quite obviously zombies.
Grumpy bellowed a war cry and attacked the zombie that was closest to him, his axe hacking off a large chunk of rotting flesh.
“Nancy stay!” shouted Alyse as she drew her longsword and ran to Llona’s aid.
Shyne spoke a few words of arcane power and two magical beads of energy flew from his fingers and struck the ogre that was attempting to dash Llona’s brains out with its club.
Slobba grabbed the Holy Hammer that hung around his neck and strode forth, confident that the power of his God would once again destroy these undead as it had done the last.
“BY MIGHTY THOR I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE THIS PLACE” He shouted in a commanding voice. The hot bright light of his God burst from the Holy Hammer in his hand and enveloped the undead ogres before him but, to his horror, it did not affect them. This was evil that he was not yet powerful enough to vanquish. Realising that it would be strength of arms that would win this day, Slobba reached for the battle hammer that hung from his belt and, bellowing a war cry, charged at the largest ogre in the group.
Elvis knew that they were in trouble; Slobba had failed to destroy any of the undead, Llona was wounded as well as looking rattled and the bladed weapons of Grumpy and Alyse were having minimal affect on their foe.
‘Llona is the key’ he thought to himself ‘she has a rage within her that needs to be channelled. I need a song that will bring out the beast within her and will also inspire the others; and I have just the song’ he said to himself with a smile as he began to sing.
Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi
See Llona ride out of the sunset
Holding her, ex boyfriends spleen
Out for all that she can kill
Cos she’s rough and mean
Dead men to the left of her
Dead men to the right
She’ll use a club
She’ll use a knife
Yep she’ll start a fight
She’s got PMT
She’s dynamite
PMT
She’ll start, then win the fight!
PMT
She’s a power load
PMT
WATCH HER EXPLODE!
As if on cue Llona buried both of her blades into the torso of one of the ogres as it raised its club to attack her.
Grumpy, who by the end of the song had managed to battle his way to her side, grunted in pain as another one of the ogres smashed him in the side with a large club studded with nails, causing blood to flow freely from the wound and down his left leg. With a cry of rage he brought his great axe crashing into the leg of his assailant, hacking it off at the knee and causing the monster to fall to the ground. Alyse seized on the opportunity and brought her longsword down upon its head, splitting it in two down to the chin. Not even the evil magic that had animated it could prevent its destruction from such injuries and the creature stopped moving.
Somehow Slobba found himself facing two of the creatures. He managed to dodge to his left as one of them attempted to hit him with the club that it carried in its decaying hands. As the club whistled harmlessly past him he darted forward and delivered a crushing blow to its midriff. Slobba quickly turned to try to parry the attack of the second ogre, but was a split second too late and was sent careening across the room.
Seemingly forgotten as the fight raged in front of him, Reggie casually strolled over to where Nancy was sitting and growling at the battle.
‘Now that is what I call a well trained wolf’ Reggie thought to himself as he reached into the magic bag that he had hanging from his belt and withdrew one of the sticks that he had gathered in back in the glade.
No one noticed when he became visible right next to the wolf; they were all locked in mortal combat with the ogres.
Nancy noticed. It was only her training that kept her from attacking the hated creature that had been tormenting her since she had arrived with her master.
Reggie waved the stick under the wolf’s nose, before he turned to where the two ogres were bearing down on a stunned Slobba. As he drew his arm back then threw the stick towards them he said in a perfect imitation of Alyse’s voice.
“Nancy. FETCH!”
The wolf instantly leapt to its feet and ran after the stick, which had landed between the recovering Slobba and the two lurching ogres. The first of the ogres brought its club down onto the wolf with a sickening crunch. Nancy had time to let out one howl of pain before the second club ended her misery.
‘Yes’ Reggie snickered evilly to himself ‘that was one well trained wolf.’
Authors Note 1: For those that don't know, PMT is another way of saying PMS, where the T stands for Tension.
Authors Note 2: Apologies to the great ACDC for destroying their all time classic TNT.
I'm going to be singing that song in my head all day now!
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