The Road To Aasla
Eager for a variety of reasons to put Myskuramis' Pyramid behind them the wizards flew swiftly north, back past Druzdums homestead to rejoin the main trail which had led south-east from the town of Adra. They flew for the whole afternoon without stopping; by sunset Karnus’ attention was caught by two distinct sets of … sparkles! One was moving in the sky ahead, the other remained fixed on the road ahead and seemed to comprise a multitude different colours. Squinting to no avail, Karnus drew forth his crystal ball to survey the faraway scenes in greater detail. Within minutes however the “airborn” sparkles had noticed the advancing trio of wizards, and closed the distance to inspect – half a dozen winged humanoids began circling in the air several hundred feet above the carpet. Their bodies were crystalline, colourless and transparent, while their wings appeared to be made of some sort of metal, possibly silver. The beings seemed content to remain at a height and maintain a distance from the carpet, though this did little to allay the nerves of the trio beneath. Eventually, as the carpet reached the town ahead, the creatures broke off and flew back down the path.
The town before the companions’ eyes was unlike any other any of them had seen before. By complete contrast to the clean white stone dwellings in Goltar, here in the town of Hady there were not only brightly coloured doors – every one of the structures in town was brightly coloured, and appeared to have been carved from a single enormous gemstone! Dwellings, taverns and shops alike - no two buildings matched in hue. Immense rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topaz and other gems of every colour imaginable caught the rays of the setting sun making the entire town twinkle and glow, much like the interior of a treasure chest. The three newcomers exchanged incredulous looks – how could such enormous gems have been mined naturally from the earth? Magic, no doubt, was involved…
Progressing through the streets of the town which were similarly cobbled with crystals of many colours, to complement the brightly hued buildings, the trio made their way into a central square where two small figures were standing by a crystal fountain – a dwarf and a gnome, both female. Teldon stepped forward to speak with the gnome, gabbling away merrily in the Alphatian tongue. Something that was said prompted the gnome’s surly-looking companion to voice an expletive in the goblin tongue. Lana’s ears pricked immediately, this being one of the languages she spoke fluently having grown up in proximity to the Dymrak Forest. Despite the goblin tongue being crude and inelegant in the extreme, Lana and the dwarf were thus able to engage one another in conversation. The dwarf introduced herself as Farla – she and her gnomish companion had travelled far on foot from the Kingdom of Stoutfellow in the north. The terrain inbetween had mostly been mountainous and the way had been frought with battles – Farla and the gnome were the sole survivors of what had been a much larger party. They were spared from a particularly gruesome fight with a bunch of hippogriffs when a kindly gold dragon took pity on them, swept them both up and carried them many miles into safer hills within the Kingdom of Haven.
[what else did they talk to us about??]
The day had been long so the companions lost no time locating the nearest inn, where they booked rooms - as ever Karnus and Teldon would share while Lana would enjoy her own private room, the accommodation costs being paid for by Teldon out of the coffer the Duke had given him before leaving Specularum. Assembling in the main bar-room the trio settled to enjoy their evening meal together also the fare was as meagre as ever – a clear broth of some sort accompanied by an assortment of thinly sliced fruits. Lana fondly recalled the hearty meat stew and bread Druzdum’s wife had served the night before.
An underfed serving girl wearing a rope-belted tunic emerged from behind the Inn’s bar carrying a tray of drinks, her skinny arms shaking visibly under the weight of many full glasses. One tipped as she passed a table of diners, wine spilling freely onto the lap of one female wizardess. Immediately the girl gave a shriek of alarm, dropping the remaining drinks as she was seen to freeze on the spot, covering her face with her almost-skeletal hands and arms. The woman who had been dining rose to her feet, her face bearing a dangerous expression as she surveyed the extent of the dark stain which had formed down the front of her exquisite silken robe. It was clearly an expensive garment, depicting a sunset in delicate shades of pink and blue with bird motifs delicately embroidered throughout. The woman’s broad-shouldered male companion was already on his feet and loudly barking words of magic. A ray of green light shot from the man’s outstretched hand to strike the wretch squarely in the chest – her entire body glowed brightly then a heartbeat later only a pile of dust remained where she had stood. A deathly hush fell over the barroom however conversation returned to normal moments later. The innkeep emerged from the kitchen, stooping low and gushing apologies to the pair. Four golden coins were seen to change hands, and a document was signed – having been fully compensated for his loss the innkeeper then bid a hasty retreat back toward the kitchen. Meanwhile, a smile returned to the woman’s face as she replaced a wand in a fold of her robes and resumed her seat – all trace of the stain had vanished.
Karnus and Lana exchanged looks of disbelief and as one they pushed their plates to one side, having totally lost their appetites. Teldon too appeared dumbfounded. As much as the display they had just witnessed might be the socially accepted norm in a land such as this, the cold-blooded purchase of any living being's killing seemed unconscionable and they could not be expected to remain at the scene of such a crime. They would seek alternative lodgings for the night.
Flying on the next morning the day's journey proved uneventful. Just as the sun was beginning its descent in the western sky Lana brought the carpet down in the town of Aram and again lodgings were sought. The party’s first choice was full – seemingly the most popular in town, going by the refined revelry going on within, so the roadweary wizards retreated to a less well-to-do establishment where many labourers were enjoying meals. All three of the karameikan wizards breathed a happy sigh – at least here their evening meal would be more substantial than elsewhere.
Half-way through dining the door of the Inn was flung open, and a robed man strode in purposefully, gazing around himself almost in desperation. Unconcerned of the spectacle he was making, the wizard called to those dining, with passion audible in his words.
“Whatever is he on about?” asked Karnus.
“He’s asking the same question over and over again,” Teldon muttered, clearly more concerned with fishing a fly out of his wine. “Where is she, where is she?”
“Where’s who?” Lana asked, her mouth stuffed with bread.
It appeared one of the townsfolk has asked the man the same question, and Teldon translated the man’s impassioned response, his own tone still nonchalant. “The barbaric beauty who descended from the sky, apparently.”
On hearing this Karnus choked on the chicken leg he had been gnawing, and his spluttering drew immediate attention to their table. Lana froze in mid-chew, her cheeks bulging unglamorously. Noticing her, the man gave a cry and lurched in her direction. Lana’s eyes grew wide with apprehension and out of instinct she considered grabbing her dagger, though the Staff of Lucinius resting placidly against the table reassured her that the man did not mean her any immediate harm.
Arriving at the table, the newcomer seized firmly Lana by the shoulders, still gabbling something aloud in Alphatian, then clasped her hands much in the style of an opera performance Lana had once viewed in Glantri City.
“You must come, you must come,” Teldon translated lazily. “I am the great Trelleremy, you will be my muse, together we will transmute your beauty into a new form, it is essential we pay homage to the Arts through my craft, so on so forth.” Although Teldon did not say as much, Lana could tell from the urgency in Trelleremy’s words that she did not have much say in the matter.
So it was that Karnus remained in the barroom while Lana and Teldon were escorted upstairs to a private room for Trelleremy to commence his work. He drew forth a selection of wands from the belt at his waist, laid these on a table then selected only one. Spreading his arms wide while reciting an incantation, a large mass of stone suddenly filled most of the room, its surfaces smooth as though polished. A further enchantment followed, turning the colour of the stone a delicate shade of green. Trelleremy then set to work with his wand, tapping the stone here and there, causing small sections to vanish. As hours passed, a vaguely humanoid shape began to emerge. Trelleremy spent most of his time pacing from one end of the room to the other, complaining about the loss of light among other annoyances. Lana grew tired, realising that if she did not sleep she would be unable to learn new spells in the morning. Clearing her throat lightly, she indicated through gestures that she needed to leave. A look of exasperation crossed the man’s face before he commanded Lana to return in the morning. Through Teldon, Lana politely explained that she had so far indulged the man, and could spare no further time – their mission demanded that they leave at first light. Trelleremy did not appear to even listen, repeating that she was expected to return in the morning. Feeling they were entirely at cross-purposes, Teldon and Lana rejoined Karnus in the barroom for a short while then retired to their respective rooms for the night.
The next morning, the three karameikan wizards descended back down to the barroom and after enjoying a light breakfast made their preparations to depart. As had been feared however, a figure appeared in the doorway however, barring them from leaving. Teldon spoke with the man in his native tongue, the grandfatherly charade lapsing as he spoke of the significance of their mission and how they could not be permitted to tarry – none of this was of any import to Trelleremy. The Alphatian artist could think only of his Art and his calling, and therefore attempted to prevent Lana's departure. Lana too tried to reason with the man, but achieved nothing. The Staff of Lucinius now grew agitated, pulsing within Lana's grasp to alert her to the man’s harmful intentions. As the man began an incantation, Karnus stepped forward having already called to mind the enchantment Myskuramis had instructed him to scribe into his spellbook only two days previous. As a beam of magic departed Trelleremy’s hand it met with a sparkling field of magic between the two parties, and rebounded on its caster! Trelleremy’s entire body stiffened, capturing a look of utter bewilderment on the man's face. Teldon and Lana applauded Karnus on his handiwork, admiring the irony of the man’s temporary incapacitation. The effect of the “turned” holding spell would give them at least an hour’s headstart on the man, if he did try to give chase. They lost no time in departing town.
Going by the map Teldon had purchased, Aram was the last major settlement on the way to Aasla, which would be upon them any day now. The three companions resolved themselves to the fact they might need to make camp out in the countryside – hopefully their pursuers would not draw any strength from such an arrangement. As the carpet sped along the main road, it began to buffet slightly as though someone were jumping up and down. Looking behind her, Lana saw Karnus and Teldon sitting still though they too had felt the effect. At the same time, a high-pitched chattering sound could be heard. Acting on impulse, Lana murmured an incantation and passed one hand before her eyes – causing a number of outlines to become visible. A dozen or so pixies were seated on her carpet, kicking their legs off the sides – a couple being so bold as to pull on the tassles! The same number were flying alongside the carpet, bearing miniature weapons as their gossamer wings beat furiously to keep the tiny humanoids aloft. Smiling, Lana conversed with one of the pixies in Elvish, asking where they were headed. It transpired that the pixies were not all from a single point of origin, but rather had assembled from various parts of the Kingdom to answer the call of a druid to the far north. The woodland domain this druid was duty-bound to protect – the Ivory Forest – had recently come under attack by the forces of the undead. The karameikan wizards’ suspicions were roused – they had been pursued across the Sea of Dawn by undead forces, therefore there was a chance these events might be connected in some way. It was decided however that the Ivory Forest was too far away to warrant investigation – the three wizards were already allowing themselves the distraction of investigating the ruins of Aasla, and could only hope this brief indulgence would not delay their principal mission to any harmful degree. So it was that they waved the pixies on their way, wished them well and turned the carpet in the direction of the coast which had come into view on the horizon.
[bandits in trees, Karnus chastising them into just going home and leaving us alone??!]
Hence a few hours later the wizards flew on their carpet along a coastal road inlaid with an assortment of tiles, depicting a series of colourful scenes and motifs. The height of the carpet off the ground enabled the three wizards to appreciate the mosaic designs moreso that a traveller on foot would have been able to. The vista looking out over the wide bay to the right hand side of the road was truly the most breathtaking panorama either of Karnus or Lana had ever beheld, encircling a wide expanse of azure blue sea. Not all the scene was aesthetic, however, as their destination finally loomed into view. The city walls of Aasla still stood but were in blackened ruins – everything beyond was utter desolation.
Read on to the next instalment – The Burned City of Aasla