4 - 034: The Fourth Piece

[K Man]

Romar -

The Elf studies you, his eyes cold and unforgiving. As soon as you proclaim your name as 'Pheobus', he takes but a long single step and brings his hand across your face with a resounding slap - the stinging begins almost immediately.



"Though you may share sentiments against the BlackWing Kingdom, I share sentiments against deception. I met Phoebus and you are not him..."

The raspy man next to you manages to wheeze out a response for you.



"Please my lord Irinys Treesong! Forgive him for he does not mean to deceive...merely conceal! He is Romar Belamor, once hero of Ravenshead but fallen since to no greater than any here!"

The Elven prince, apparently named Irinys Treesong, scowls in frustration, but remains firm. He turns his gaze back to Romar, looking directly into his soul.



"I've heard your name whispered on the streets of the city with much regard and joy Romar Belamor. Explain why a beloved son of Sturmguard would seek solice and refuge outside of the kingdom that loves him so dearly..."

"You'll forgive my mistrust of course, since we ourselves relied on people planted deep within the kingdom to achieve our goals. It would stand to reason that Sturmguard would try something akin to this, planting a much loved hero in our kingdom under the guise of 'fallen grace'. I need to know you are true in your hate for him."

"Explain your fall...and without deceipt."

The other Elves behind the prince rest their gauntleted hands on the shafts of their weapons. They stand ready, should the Prince find your story unconvincing, to slay with but a flick of the wrist.

This had better be a good story...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Krysta - Upon unfolding the pilfered Elven map, you see the pinpoints of light representing the shards you captured, moving slowly from the castle grounds. According the map, they are but a few hundred feet away from the castle and heading Southeast. Springing to the ramparts, you hold the map up and look to the Southeast, trying to see how they are being moved.

However, you only find the fields beyond and the occasional tree...nothing of the crystals movement.

Remembering the guards words of the 'creature of earth' and how the Elves tried to steal the crystal last time, you know full well that a being of earth pushes the crystals through the very ground unhindered. There is no telling how deep they are or if you'll reach them in time...it would just be best to wait for the shards to come above ground.

You turn from the map, knowing the rest of your companions are ready to face the greater threat...



All but Romar -

Forgiving this act, only for the moment, and because a much greater threat is presented, you prepare for the battle.

The Cleric of the Hidden City, after much work and toil over their devices of magic, present you with a pearl the size of a clenched fist. When you take it, it is heavy - unnaturally so - and hums with an almost inaudible pitch. It's also warm to the touch.

"This is the best we could muster on such notice. It should be enough to punch a man-sized hole in a wall up to four feet thick...we put all the power we could into it."

"And our prayers go with it as well...."

Taking the pearl, you make your way to the castle steps for one last bit of advice from King Sturmguard - as he asked of you. When you near the courtyard though, you find that it is packed with people standing shoulder to shoulder. Sturmguard is there, as is King Grandil of the Dwarves and their many advisors. Udolpho Ustgrave and his knights are present, their armor shined to a ceremonial finish. They are flanked by hundreds of Ravenshead citizens that have turned out to see you off - their final hopes for salvation going with you...

Sturmguard sees you approach and motions you to within speaking distance. This time when he talks, his voice is not commanding or powerful - but somehow equal. As though he knows you are just as important in this fight as his own mettle and rank.



"Despite the treachery in the night and the loss of the shards, I am still pleased to be standing here with you today and filled with hope that you have taken this task."

"You may not realize it, but your arduous travel straight into the mouth of evil will not be made alone..."

You pause, wondering what the King is getting at.

"All of us, the hearts and souls of Ravenshead will be with you. Everyone here knows that you all have willingly sacrificed everything for what you do today...and it will never be forgotten. Not as long as we breathe."

The human king steps aside, finished with his speech, and Grandil approaches now.



"Aye...we be proud of ye all." He places a hand on Garor's shoulder, giving him a firm pat. "N'matter what happens, we shall sing ye names forever..."

The Dwarven King turns you loose, letting you go about your taks.

You take a deep breath, think of a short blessing...and sink into the ground...

__________________________________________________________________________________________

{Alright! Let's do it! Where/How do you want appear next to 'The Masters' fortress? Front of it (Prolly not recommended) backside, left, right? Let me know. }

[Japic]

If there is a copse of trees or somesuch a little ways off it might be good to start there, to watch the movements of troops, and the paths that the undead ogres use to transport the massive pillars. It allows us the opportunity to find the weakest point to attack from.

{So guys, are we attacking the giant first, or punching in and letting it roll us back to the castle? That'll determine where we go first.}

{I think that if we plan to punch through the walls and go for the Master, then we should prolly do that first, before using all of our time and energy to combat the big feller.}

For sake of conveninece and because Girud is a simple half-man he thinks they should attack the side of the fortress that is less guarded or patrolled. If they are equal he'll pick the left; but only because he loves the trick about how you can use your left hand to actually make an L shape; that's classic, and as good a reason as any.

[Fangor the Fierce]

Having some reluctance on the subject, Krysta agrees with Girud. If we can go behind the giant, and watch both sides of the tower, then we can decide easily on which to assault.

When spying the fortress, as they come up out of the ground, Krysta will immediately scan both sides, and if the sides look the least guarded, then that is where they will strike. In and out, as quickly as possible.

"There is one chance at this, so let us get at the Master and deal with him quickly.".....

[Jevva]

"Girud's idea is as good as any I can come up with. Let's do it."

[VemuKhaham]

Romar realized the risk of the lie, and neither had he ever been good at the act, but nevertheless he wished to try, hoping Irinys would not concern himself with the names of all his followers. He knew now that this elf before him was smarter than that, and indeed he needed to come up with a good explanation.

"I am sorry for my attempt to conceal my true identity. However, it was a risk I had to take, for should my name once again reach the ears of people loyal in any way to Sturmguard, I will be no less certain of imminent death as I would be now, standing here at your mercy, caught on a lie. And though it might be so that Phoebus died before I came to occupy his cell, it is merely a name I took, not my attempt to impersonate another loyal to you. But consider this, sir: would I try to fake my identity if my task was to infiltrate you as the hero I was fallen from grace? No, I would've come here stating proudly that my name is and has always been Romar Belamor, Ranger of Carealal, and that I am wronged and seek vengeance.

But if it is a tale you demand, I have no more to hide, my identity already unveiled.

Yes, my real name is indeed Romar Belamor. You have heard from me, you say, but we have actually even met once. You might be able to recall it; I was one of those you rescued from the digging pits in Boon's Freehold.

We were captured and brought there all because of different fates, yet mine was directly related to the treachery of one named Sir Mordrid the Pure, nephew of King Sturmguard himself. He abandoned and fled the Boon's Freehold while only a moment before having pledged that he would never deceive us anymore - again because he deceived us. You might imagine my hatred towards this man ever since.

Yet I found out that this so-called knight had again found the grace of his uncle Sturmguard. I am glad that I have slain him, in an honorable man-to-man duel, and I spit on his corpse as I would spit on the corpse of the Master. Yet it was after this that the King suddenly took pity on a traitor and blamed me for everything. You might or might not have heard of my ventures in service of goodness and Ravenshead, but regardless of five spent years of utterly loyal servitude I was condemned to rot in jail.

Now tell me, my lord, would you still serve this king?"

He sighs now, having completed his story, and bows to show his humility. He then adds upon his tale:

"Sir Irinys Treesong, I hold no grudge towards you or the elven empire. I am even grateful to be allowed to join in the mission to capture the shards. But if you choose to not slay me now, then spare my life a second time by never mentioning my name again, and neither should anyone present here. Call me Phoebus. Your old servant surely is not the only person answering to this name.

In return, I shall help you in your campaign against the Master. I trust that despite the word that goes around in Ravenshead the elves still have more to fear from the Master than from the Blackwing Kingdom.

I might even give you first-hand information few could ever offer. Now would a spy do this?"