Chapter 14, which the Adventurers are almost crushed by a tree, and find themselves a ship

Roku Yarit
Roku, Raistlin, Istora, and Iridal followed Vodok. The closer they were the easier it would be to keep him out of trouble.

"Iridal, if the spell fails can you actually change him into an Elf?"

"I suppose but...are you sure that’s such a good idea? I mean he causes enough trouble being slow and short."

Roku smirked, she did have a point. They would just have to make sure they got in and out as quickly as possible.

Red Un
"Well, let's see where the ship is then..."

An elf who passed by stopped at the words.

"Ship? Are you..."

He looked at the disguised Vodok.

"...people looking for a ship? Then look no further! I, Aiayre Firith am the greatest captain in the world! I'll take you anywhere in the world...for a price, of course."

Red Un frowned.

"Hmm...that's pretty unusual for an elf I must say. You don't usually worry 'bout material riches (like me)."

"Well my good half-dwarf, I'm no ordinary elf!"

"I can see that. Very well, what would it cost us to go to Folda?"

"Hmm, let's see, that would be..."

Aiayre calculated in his head.

"2000 gold."

"Well, that seems..."

"2000 gold each."

"Say mister elf, where can I find other captains?"

Aiayre sighed.

"Well, there aren't any ships around now, but if you go up the largest tree in the world, you ought to see if any arrives."

"Thank you mister elf, and good luck finding any filthily rich people."

"Thanks...Ashari!"

Vodok
As they walked away from the fairly greedy elf, the elf was staring at the short dwarf, who still was disguised. Little longer and he'll recognize me... the short dwarf thought. "What a lovly tree!" the short dwarf said in a voice he made sure was very clear, and hopped behind the tree, blocking the view from the elf. He stood there for about ten seconds then hurried off to the others. "Close 'un." the short dwarf muttered to Red Un. "Utevo Res Ina Elf. To 'e tree now?" the short dwarf muttered to Red Un. "An' you lot." the short dwarf turned to Roku. "You 'n' yar buddies 'af'ta tell me if I turn toa dwarf again."

Roku Yarit
Roku and Iridal held Raistlin back as he tried to get just one finger on Vodok. "Just one touch! One touch and I’ll die a happy man!"

Istora laughed, looking up the tree. Her robes began to flutter about in a nonexistent wind and she shot up into the sky, like she was thrown from a catapult. The Mind Glancer landed in the tree hard, her knees barely bending to cushion her landing. Her mind scanned out around her, she heard their thoughts. She expanded her range, out onto the ocean. She heard the chattering of something. They could be Elves but maybe not. Her eyes were blinded by the sun. "I don’t see anything as of yet."

Red Un
"Hrmm...when are Chelestrans gonna learn to use ladders..." muttered Red Un as he began to climb hollow tree on the inside.

Meanwhile...

"Master, they have Chelestrans with them!"

"We need not worry about them. The half-dwarf is our target. They can't find the library without him. Now get going!"

"Yes master."

Lady Rhiannon Datwood
Rhia laughed. She enjoyed the company of another woman... Even if she didn't really talk to her. She was silent for most of the trip... The dream still haunted her... It replayed over and over in her head. With a startling realization that there was people who could read minds she wiped the thought away... Smiling at the 2 mind glancers as nothing happened she walked away hoping they were not looking.

Vodok
"Can'' we jus' ge' outta 'ere?? It'd be 'ealthy if I coul' make s'um runes too..." the short dwarf said so that everyone that he wanted to could hear him. "Wai'!!! Wha''s 'at smell?!?" the short dwarf cried out loud. "Comin' from there!!" the short dwarf yelled and ran into a house searching for the source of the wonderful smell.

Red Un
Huffing and puffing, Red Un finally reached the top of the tree.

"Hrmm...let's see..."

He took out a spyglass and looked out over the seas.

"Aye, there doesn't seem to be any ships comin' in..."

Then he felt a smell. Not the same as Vodok, mind you, but rather the smell of...fire-fluid!

So THAT was their plan, he thought and started to climb downwards.

But it was too late. They had lit the fire. The flames was spreading upwards, and Red Un hurried up to the top again.

"This ain't good at all..."

There was also a creaking. If this fire keeps spreading, the whole damn tree will fall and crush the city below, he tought...

Roku Yarit
Iridal cried out to Vodok. "Get out! Quickly!" She called forth her magic, turning herself into a silver Falcon. Her giant wings broke through the wooden doorway. Her keen eyes stopped the Dwarf. Grabbing hold of him with her sharp talons she flew from the house, carrying him high into the sky as the giant tree began to sway.

Istora concentrated, the heat was blistering. Her robes fluttered violently in a non-existent wind and she shot forth into the air, gliding down below. "This will not do, Raistlin."

Raistlin met her, their pupiless eyes locked on the tree as it began to fall. The fires were terrible to the eye, but not theirs. Their minds stretched forth, the massive tree began to fall. Bracing themselves they caught it, their knees buckling under the weight. Their telekenesis was strong but their bodies left something to be desired.

Roku did not pay attention to the others, his eyes looked through the fires. "Un! Where are you?" There was no reply he could hear.
"Damnit! Come on!" Roku grabbed Rhiannon wrist and pulled her after him as he climbed up the tree, barely missing being crushed by several falling branches that were easily the size of 10 men. "Can you hear him? Where is he!"

Red Un
"Over 'ere!"

Red Un was hanging from a burning branch. His face was dusty (more than usual, that is) and his hair was evidently on fire.

Well, at least I don't have to take a shower this year, he thought to himself as the branch began to groan.

Meanwhile...

"Master, the Chelestrans are holding up the tree!"

"Well, then we have to help it falling."

The master had read many books on telekinesis, and now directed all his power against the tree...

Vodok
"EEK!" The short dwarf cried out and ran out of the house, now not able to smell the smell because of the other smells that mixed in. The short dwarf was running around like a maniac. Meanwhile up on a hill a robed figure was standing totally motionless, except his arms, his arms were moving in a very peculiar way. The short dwarf saw two black figures on the hill and realised what they were up to: Bringing down the tree over all the elves and other visitors. The tree was starting to bend over. The short dwarf searched in his backpacks for a great fire ball. "'Ere I 'ave 'un." the short dwarf muttered, drew the great fire ball and held it with straight arms. He shot two shots, one of them hit right on target, the other one so it just hit the two people. The person who was bringing down the tree lost concentration and fell over. "Ignore the dwarf! Bring down the tree, it’s more important." the other figure said. "That can wait a second or two." the other figure answered. He drew a very strange rock from his backpack, and it disappeared, just like the great fire ball did when it was used. The short dwarf saw what he was up to but nothing happened. Then suddenly lots of sharp knives were flying towards the short dwarf. But the short dwarf was prepared for something like that, he jumped behind a wall and switched on magic shield as fast as he could. Two knives pierced the dwarf’s arm but the mana shield saved him. The short dwarf violently drew out the two knives. But he was feeling numb... But why? Feet couldn’t move... Is this a paralyze rune?? No... that works immedeatly... the short dwarf said. He couldn’t move his legs... "POISON!" The thought struck the short dwarf so fast that he yelled it out loud without intending too. "Exana Pox." But that wasn’t nearly enough... It slowed down the movement of the poison that was at the top of his legs. "SOMEONE! 'ELP ME QUICKLY! IM 'OISONED! 'ELP!" The short dwarf yelled out.

Roku Yarit
Raistlin and Istora started to buckle under the weight. "Something is making this rather difficult."

Roku moved towards where he heard Un yell. "Rhia try to get as many people out from under this thing as possible."
Lightning cracked, splitting wood and clearing his path. He ran across the branch laying down on his stomach and holding out his broken hand. "Grab my hand. We’ve got to get out of this damn tree before it hits the city." The tree was beginning to lean in a very awkward way.

Iridal flew across the sky, her silver wings outstretched as she glided across the sky. She landed near Istora and Raistlin, her body changing back into her tall slender figure, her white robes swaying in the breeze. "You two are the ones with the battle experience! What do we do?"
Lady Rhiannon Datwood
"Roku stop!" she said pulling her wrist free. She closed her eyes and spoke... she cracked, popped. The fire seemed to challenge her. Her eyes snapped open...

"Err, Such a stubborn element... fire." The fire began to talk back finally... "Really... it said it was not a natural fire... It wants to know why it should listen to me." she said, annoyed. She did as Roku said. Even though he was as stubborn as the fire itself he was right. She began directing people out of the way.

Red Un
"Heh, I can see Kazordoon from 'ere" said Red Un. He got a desperate look from Roku.

"Oh alright, some other time then..."

He grabbed Roku’s hand and crawled up on the branch. That's when it broke and sent the two tumbling downwards.

"Well, that's a nice end..."

Meanwhile...

"Curse that dwarf!"

"We don't have time for him now. Someone is speaking to the fire. Trying to put it out...take my hand! Concentrate! Push!"

The two robed men focused all their power towards the tree...

Vodok
The poison in the short dwarf was still spreading in him. "Exana Pox." the short dwarf said, but now putting all the effort he had in to the antidote, but it still didn’t work, but it froze the poison but his legs still couldn’t move. The short dwarf was now searching like mad for something handy in his backpack of handy stuff. "YES!!" the short dwarf cried out, he found exactly what he was looking for. He pulled out his hand, and in his hand were some herbs. No known poison can resist THIS stuff! the short dwarf thought. The herbs were rotten and had a few bugs on but the short dwarf didn’t care. He swallowed the whole bunch of it and the poison was starting to drain away... he could move his knees now, but the poison resisted, it started pushing back. "Exana Pox." the short dwarf said to help the poison-resisting herbs but it didn’t help. The poison had now pushed back up to the end of his legs. But suddenly the herbs gave one last push and the poison was gone. The short dwarf picked up the two daggers that had pierced his arm and placed them very carefully in his backpack.

Red Un
As he fell, Red Un noticed that he had been right over a ship all the time.

"Well, 'tis a good time to notice..."

He grabbed hold of the nearest sail and made a huge rift in it as he came skidding downwards. He landed safely with both feet on the ground right next to...

"Aiyare!"

"I know, my name is lovely."

"Mr. Elf, I think I will take yer offer after all."

"What changed your mind, Mr. Half-dwarf?"

"Well, I need to get outta here pretty quickly before anyone notices that I was the one who brought the...trouble here."

Aiyare dodged a falling branch.

"Well, we better get the rest of your gang too."

"Aye, tough I almost wish we could leave Vodok here..."