| The Butch Lesbian War of the Four Legions Chapter 10: Intervention |
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| Riot Rinse Repeat. Bringing the nifty since 2002 |
| TM |
| Staring out over the darkened city, Tungsta couldn't help but revel in the joy of his conquests. He gazed at every dot of torch light from the highest window of his tower, imagining each to be an enemy that he and his forces had burned away. The whole of the northern coast had fallen before his armies and the only foe to openly defy him had been obliterated with minimal loss. The Steel Legion had returned to Ohden and brought the fruits of their conquest to the raucous celebration of the city. The Black Legion sat between Ohden and the only viable threat that Tungsta could perceive: the elven lands of Sentarill. But the elves were too terrified to show themselves on the field of battle, so Jredo was given permission to allow his forces to do as they pleased with the towns near their encampment. Skaderanoth and his Scale Legion had returned to their caves until Tungsta's plans called for them again. The Bone Legion had been disintegrated after the horde of liches under Yezdin's control left the battle field. Tungsta was enraged by their betrayal until Yezdin informed him that his fortress in the mountain had been attacked and the liches fled once their realized their phylacteries were demolished. Knowing that they would not be resurrected if they were destroyed, they fled like roaches from a flame. Tungsta kept that information to himself. If it leaked out that their force of liches was no longer part of the army, the illithids would flee. The infrastructure of the entire Legion would crumble, leaving only the orcs and hobgoblins to fill out the ranks. He feared that the Scale and Steel Legions would not be enough to defeat the elves and dwarves if they joined forces. So he kept the loss of the liches a heavily guarded secret. But he also knew the unlikelihood of the two races joining against him. So he felt his remaining forces would be enough to conquer the rest of Berrill, even with the loss of the liches, the greed dragon Chloro and Yezdin's recent seclusion to his mountain sanctuary. So it was in this reverie of victory that Jesten found his master and pulled him from it. Tungsta glared at his servant with agitation, but motioned for him to speak. "They have returned, Emirate," he said. "It doesn't matter anymore," Tungsta responded with apathy. "They can do no harm to me now." "But the Pentacross, sir?" "That is a concern for Skaderanoth and his wyrmlings." Jesten turned to leave, but Tungsta called him back, "Yezdin said it was the sorceress, did he not?" "Yes, my lord. She is responsible for Chloro and Shirayg's deaths." After a moment of contemplation, Tungsta quietly said, "Capture her alive. Kill the others." * * * "It dinna look like a trap." The words slammed into their ears like blows of a war hammer and yet not a single listener even cracked a sneer. Jass had retreated to a far corner and slowly shook her head in disgust. After two extremely uncomfortable moments, Ferro and Geren began to laugh almost uncontrollably. "Aw, brea' off now!" Korr growled at his sons with fierce aggravation mixed with embarrassment. "Some people jus don' know a goo' joke if it stabbed 'em in the face. Wha' is it you 'ave bothered me with nah?" Disa stared back blankly at Korr for some moments before Geren lightly elbowed her. "We need your assistance." "Aye! I figgered tha' deary. Wha' ya' been needin'?" Dropping her voice lower, she said, "We understand you still hold some sway with the dwarven council." "Bah! Those fools couldna' do nothin' for you lassie. Too busy countin' their riches!" "But we hoped you could convince them to help us." "Help ya' with what? Those greedy oafs would sooner pilfer yer valuables than aid ya deary." "So you won't help us?" Disa said stoicly. Jass gazed at her in deep thought. As important as Disa seemed to think this mission was, it amazed Jass that she didn't show even the slightest amount of dejection at the greasy old dwarf's responses. "Ya' havna even tol' me wha' ya need! But I tell ya whatever it is, don' expect the council ta do anythin' for ya." He seemed sober, but Jass noticed he talked in the same way as when he had drunkenly and crudely propositioned her at their last meeting. "We need you to convince them to join the elves to confront Tungsta," Disa continued. At the sound "elves," Korr's eyes flared wide. "Bah! Wha' good are elves in battle. They hide behind their bows like children." "We have a friend in Sentarill now trying to convince them to help. And we'd like you to go to Thuerd to speak with the council." "I have no love for tha' Grives fool. But he hasna threatened the dwarven lands. If anythin' he's avoided 'em. It'll be hard to convince anyone to stand up to him, especially with his blasted wyrms." "But father," Ferro interjected, "we have a way of defeating them with ease." Disa's eyes flicked to the young cleric, silencing him immediately. She looked back at Korr's aged face and saw the recognition in his eyes. He knew they had a secret and he knew what it did, but he still didn't know what it was. But if he wished to know he didn't press the matter. Instead he turned to his sons to speak. "Lads. Do ya' think I should do this for these?" Ferro nodded eagerly but Geren spoke first, "We can defeat their forces with the dwarves and elves. But I say we should let them be. There are more important matters that we should be concerned with than which ruler has the most power." Disa spoke up, "If you have more urgent matters, why don't you leave us and attend to them?" Geren eyed her fiercely before responding, "I have my reasons." Turning back to his father, he said, "Do what you like." "Always bein' the mysterious wizard, eh son? Ver' well, I'll talk to the council. Some of the fools still owe me favors." "Excellent," Disa proclaimed, again with a lack of emotion. "We shall accompany you." "Nae! Off with ya'. I don' be needin' a nanny. If anyone stands before me, ol' Cavestar will teach 'em right." As he finished, he brandished a large Morningstar, so black that it almost shimmered. "But that'll have to wait til' tomorrow. Off to yer business then. I'll return in a few days." The rest of the party moved to join Jass at her table to discuss their plans, but Korr and his sons gathered closer. "Right boys. Ya' know what you got to do now. An' don' forget or you'll be kissin' Cavestar tonight." "But we like them, pop," Ferro protested, "we don't want to." "Speak for yourself," Geren countered. "I don' care. If you don' go see yer mother tonight, she won' lemme a wink of sleep tonight." "All right, pop." * * * In the morning, Jass didn't awake where she had fallen asleep. The familiar light brown walls of her room at the inn were replaced by bare white stone. A narrow window allowed in enough light to illuminate the room, but wasn't even wide enough to slip her slender form through. But as she gazed outside, she realized that would be the last resort she would take. Her room sat about a hundred feet from the ground below. As she gazed at the cityscape she realized where she was: Tungsta's tower. She immediately sprang towards to the door, tugging on it with a fierce pull. But the solid oak door was fastened tightly to the stone walls and didn't budge an inch. In a panic she searched the room. Her sword, Semel, her scrolls, her staff, and her cloak were all missing. She searched the small room for anything that could help her, but found nothing. She tried to recall her spells, searching for something, but realized that she could not remember the incantations she had prepared for just the night before. Either someone had cast a spell over her that affected her use of magic, or she had slept so long that her preparations had worn off. She cursed the mages' weakness: the necessity to prepare each spell before its use. She didn't have her scrolls, her staff or the composure to prepare a spell at that moment, so she was forced to rely on more conventional means. She soon understood that those conventional means only wound up making her shoulder sore instead of forcing the door open. But her raucous had apparently been noticed, because she could hear a rustle of footsteps approach and halt in front of her door. Eventually, she heard a heavy booted step approach from a distance. After what seemed like an eternity, the lock clicked open and her door slowly swung open. As the form stepped inside, Jass launched her petite frame at the newcomer. But with a single arm, he brushed her away and to the ground next to the room's cot. The imposing figure that stood over her reached at least six feet high. He was clad in shining black armor with a velvet red cape draped over his shoulders. But Jass noticed the frailty of his face and as she regarded him as a whole she realized his size was mostly gained by the gear he wore. His armor, boots and gauntlets provided most of his figure. She even guessed that at least one of the items he wove had been imbued with some magic to assist his strength, because he didn't look physically capable of supporting all that weight on his own. "You know who I am?" he spoke. "Yes." He turned to leave and Jass saw the black symbol of Ohden's forces on the cape: a large circle, representing Ohden, with a two lines crossing inside shaped like a T, representing Tungsta. "Come with me," he called over his shoulder. |
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