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Date Posted: 19:54:30 02/08/02 Fri
Author: Erlic, Valhorek, Corum & Yorik
Subject: Moving into action
In reply to: Laurel and Rowan 's message, "Everybody's so gloomy" on 15:20:32 02/08/02 Fri

Erlic was taken off guard by Ravin’s response. He had never seen his friend so worried before. Normally, Ravin had the ability to keep his feelings, and emotions under complete control, but Erlic hadn’t thought of the Rovers getting into any trouble. In fact, that idea had escaped his thoughts completely.

He acknowledged the thief, letting him know that he would communicate as soon as possible. Erlic had become friends with the Rovers, those that had raised Ravin since he was a child. His fellow thief would always pick a pocket or two, and return a few baubles to Minnow, the head of the Rovers. Ravin had many sisters at the camp; in fact the whole camp could be considered Ravin’s complete family. The guild master hadn’t taken the aspect of the Rovers being in any trouble whatsoever. It was quite obvious, that judging from the visions that Ravin had experienced, Tegol, and his men, were well underway in their attempt to make Ravin, Marz, and himself, pay, and pay dearly.

Erlic watched as Ravin left the campsite, only to be followed moments later by Isobel. The man was very distraught, and Erlic couldn’t blame him. Tegol didn’t bother with minute details to get at someone, rather he incorporated the beating, killing, drugging, whatever the means be, to justify his usually sick means.

Erlic’s brow furrowed even further as he stood there feeling totally helpless, yet he knew that Dalo would be trying everything in his means to gather as much information as possible. This was considered the inevitably slow game of waiting. The beggars who occupied the streets of Bizmar spoke only when money was flashed in front of them, and even then, it depended on what they knew, what they wanted to tell, and above all else, whom they knew. Many were workers for Tegol, and were gathering as well as trading information to any that would have it. But then there were those that worked for Donal, the other crime lord in the city, the one with brains, tact, and finesse, someone who knew how to justify the means without the need for bodily damage, or cold blooded killing. Perhaps that was why Donal was so respected in many areas, despite his title.

It was then that the newcomer, Argus spoke up in his unusual dialect, one that Erlic was slowly coming to understand, although not completely. "Ay know ay dun know yew people well... actually ay barely know yew at all... and yew dun know me. But it seems ay've beun thrown in with yew lot maybe by de gods themselves. Ay can't get back 'ome, now can ay? Bugger it all, ay'm juss say'n dat you've got me 'elp, if yew need it. Ay'm a passable cleric, evun if ay'm only an acolyte... and ay've gorra few tricks up me sleeve. Right then... ay'm at yer disposal."

Erlic stared at the man. Argus didn’t have to risk his life, especially after the man had risked it several times in a different world, just for the whim of a madman. “I thank you, Argus,” Erlic stated. “Once this has all been finalized, and the threat of killing is over with, I’ll see what I can do to return you to your own world. I can’t promise when, or how, but I will try.”

Everyone had turned into themselves for solitude or brief contemplation. It was time for Erlic to get to work. He strode away from the camp somewhat, retrieved his communication mirror with Dalo, and rubbed the magical runes on the mirror. After some moments the face of Dalo came into view. Although Dalo had his share of conflicts with Marz, and Tristan, the beast master was still loyal to Erlic, who ran the Specialist’s Guild. Dalo had the ability to communicate with animals, and Erlic had found this talent to be quite unique, and ever since then, he and Dalo had become very good friends.

“I need you to something right away,” Erlic began. “First of all find Jake, and try to keep him with Darius.” Seeing the puzzled look on Dalo’s face, the guild master recounted Ravin’s visions. The look that fell upon Dalo’s face was unmistakable as the man realized the nature of Erlic’s words. “Also, get to the Rover’s camp as quickly as possible, and talk to Minnow, the head of the camp. Tell her to get the Rovers out of the area immediately. Tell her Ravin had a vision. If she doesn’t listen, contact me. In either case let me know when you’ve made contact with them.”

He also informed Dalo that Nicklar’s vision was possibly accurate since Ravin had a similar vision. “Above everything else Dalo,” Erlic emphasized. “Be extremely careful. I can’t stress that enough.”

Once he saw the beast master’s acknowledgement, Erlic clicked off the mirror, and returned it to his backpack. First there were the assassins that threatened their very lives here in Neromba, because they had rescued a prince that had been missing for over three years. With that threat came another, and equally more serious threat, and that was to Marz directly, and to the rest of them directly. One mage had figured out how to draw the insurmountable amount of magic that flowed around his student. If the others could see this as well, there would definitely be trouble. And lastly, there was Tegol, who now held Eremis captive. There was no telling what amount of information Eremis had already given the crime lord. In either case, his life, as well as that of his companions, was walking a very, very thin line. They had as yet to explore the hidden city in the Sea of Salt, and there was no telling what would happen once they arrive.

”It is a challenge to avoid overextending oneself. It is best to find the middle. Those who follow avoid the extremes. They seldom take absolute positions. All things have their time, and their place, and the wise thread a path through the middle. Sometimes the correct decision is the one that incorporates some risk. We have to accept that. Then, we risk danger only when necessary, and return to more serene circumstances as quickly as we can”.

Erlic meditated over his mentor’s words as he approached Ravin. “I’ve contacted Dalo. He’s going to the Rover’s camp even as we speak. As soon as he gets there, he’ll contact me, and let me know.” Ravin simply nodded his head. Erlic left Ravin to be with Isobel, possibly the only person, at least for the moment, that could offer some comfort to him.

He returned back to the camp, and sat at the campfire. He thought merely of the exploration of the city for the moment. There would come a time, and a place, when that thought process turned back to Tegol, and what to do about the man. It was only a matter of time.

********************


Valhorek listened attentively at the news, and was quite forlorn about everything. Eremis was his student. He had started to train the youth in the human portion of healing since the youth already had knowledge on how to heal animals. The youth was also experienced in herb lore, which was a great boon to him. Everything seemed to be going well for Eremis until he had gotten attacked in the streets of Bizmar, and nearly had died from having his throat cut severely.

After that point the youth turned to alcohol simply to deaden the fears he felt every time he would have to enter Bizmar for whatever reason, regardless of who accompanied him. Worse yet, Valhorek had been asked to join Erlic, and the adventurers so that Eremis could go back to Bizmar. Had the healer not agreed to the exchange, Eremis would still be safe.

Blossom. The thought of any harm coming to her nearly made him wrench. He had met her at the Rover’s camp the night that Ravin, and Kyri had gotten married, and again a year later after Gideon, the mage had married Tamsin. He was quite smitten with the beautiful dark haired woman, and worried about her safety. And from his vantage point here in Neromba there was absolutely nothing he could do, absolutely nothing.

“You have my help,” Valhorek stated voicing his opinion. “Eremis was my student, and it’s because of my being here that has resulted in his demise. I also worry about the Rovers, for my own reasons. You’ll definitely need a healer on this one.”

It was about all he could say. Val realized that if such an encounter actually came to pass, many people would get hurt, and many would die. He continued to stoke Jamal, the injured falcon, who now was his only, and closest friend.

**********************


“No problem,” Corum stated as he voiced his own opinions. “We’ll be the crap out of that Tegol guy, and anyone else that tries anything funny. Hey, we’ve got a good start, considering we know were some of his warehouses are at, at least me and Marz know.”

Brat, the squirrel monkey seemed to jump up and down in acknowledgment of the fact. Eyes, the little kangaroo rat, ran in circles on Corum’s shoulder. He patted down the two creatures, trying to calm them down. “Don’t worry, we’ll handle it…..no problem.” Corum knew all too well what it was like in Bizmar.

Charging a man with murder in that place was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.

Corum didn’t know what the Indy 500 was, but it sounded good coming from Yorik. He would be next to Marz helping out as much as he could. Hell, he and Eremis weren’t the best of friends, but they were friends nonetheless, and he would do whatever it took to help. “Count me in,” Corum stated. “Where Marz goes, I follow. Case closed.”

Horror has a face, and you must make a friend of horror. Horror, and mortal terror are your friends. If they are not then they are enemies to be feared. They are truly enemies.

"Well, Chief... looks like we've got our work cut out for us,"

Barry’s voice cut in, and Corum turned to face the floating skull. “You betcha we do. We’re gonna kick some invariable ass, and when we’re through they’ll wished they had never heard of Corum, Yorik, and Barry. We’ll make minced meat of them, and we’ll make sure they pay through the nose. You and me Barry. We gotta stick together, and watch each other’s back. With my bashing, and your bruising, we’re gonna pile em high until there’s no more room to place those guys. It’ll definitely be a serious case of Clobberin Time. Big time, all around. Real big time.”

We’re gonna get really bloody on this one Rog.

“Yorik’s right,” Corum answered as if in afterthought. “We are going to get real bloody. Big time.”

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