XV: Old Kingdom Prairie

It has been over a month since Father Wronski last saw Malachi. He was the closest person to family he had since… well… since Hans. Wronski says a silent prayer to Kormath that Hans could be ransomed from his infernal prison. His mind tells him it is not possible but his heart still hopes.

Wronski hears Krimp walking up behind him. He is amazed how quietly a nine foot tall, five hundred pound wolfen can be. “Wronski, it’s your turn at watch,” Krimp nudges the kobold priest. Wronski nods as he rises and gathers his claw bracers. “Several hours ago, I saw a large group of close to thirty or more heading north on foot. They were too far away to tell who they were, perhaps humans but more likely orcs. These plains are so flat that they could have been miles away at the edge of the horizon. I wouldn’t even have seen them if the moon hadn’t been rising at that very moment. They didn’t alter their course, so I didn’t wake anyone, but I wanted to tell you to stay low and keep an eye out. Any signs of trouble, just wake me.” Again Wronski nods and takes up his watch position.

Krimp curls up on his batch of grass where he has walked in circles until it is matted down just so. Nibell is quietly snoring in her grey pup-tent. Krimp laughs remembering the argument between the two of them. Krimp had told her that her tent would give away their position to every roaming nomad on the Old Kingdom plains, and she had bitten back with “I’m not sleeping on the ground like some animal!”. Krimp had stormed off shaking his head with his hands thrown in the air.

Wronski considers the newest member of their party, Roxana Diamondshard, the dwarven bounty hunter they met in Acoroc. She sleeps silently on her bedroll. His eyes are drawn to the scroll she has clutched in her fist. She must have read that scroll ten times a day for the past month. She said it is Brother Nuvalye’s “profile”; his history, his public appearances, his mannerisms, his family and acquaintances, even a detailed record of his most prized possessions. Wronski recalls a couple of weeks ago when Krimp jokingly asked her, “Haven’t you memorized that by now?” At first she didn’t respond, instead just finished reading the part of the scroll she was on. Then without looking-up she coldly said, “I’m trying to get into the mind of a gnome wizard that has specialized his magical discipline to become a Master Illusionist. He then poses as a holy man and becomes the most popular evangelist the Church of Light has ever had by using magical illusions to mimic miracles. He fools thousands of people into giving him riches and fame including the King. When he gets caught and his charlatan act is going to be revealed, he does the unspeakable.” She looks up into the wolfen paladin’s eyes, “What kind of sick madman do you have to be? A town full of people threatens to reveal your con to the nation, so you use your illusionist abilities to trick the people into thinking they are being attack by goblin raiders. But when the town’s people finish slaying the goblins that are in their houses and on their streets, only then do they realize that the goblins were just an illusion and every child less than twelve turns of the seasons is dead by the hands of the people that loved them.” She stands up not taking her gaze off Krimp’s eyes, “I hunt criminals, all kinds of criminals. And to catch a criminal, I have to think like that criminal thinks. But how can I think like someone that would murder children because the inevitable end of his game has finally arrived?” there was a breathless silence among all of them, and then she rolls up the scroll, and goes to bed. Krimp looked over at Wronski with a “right, don’t ask her any questions” expression on his face and walked off.

It is next morning and they are traveling through a lightly forested area near a creek. Roxana hears a person running towards them out on the plains. She dismounts from her pony, crouches, starts swinging her bolas over her head, and tells everyone “Someone is coming!”. Wronski and Nibell also dismount and draw their weapons.

Krimp lifts up his glaive and prowls toward the tree line for a closer look. He sees an elf charging through the tall grass straight towards him, an elf who seems to be running for his life. Behind the elf, Krimp sees three large creatures almost the size of rhinos. They have the appearance of great hairless boars, with sharp fangs and large straight tusks. Krimp vaguely remembers seeing one of these creatures stuffed in Credia. A Tusker he thinks it is called. Realizing the true danger of the situation, Krimp reaches to his belt and grabs the Mummy Baron’s scepter which he had brought out of the catacombs under Gate Manor. He holds up the scepter and reads it’s inscription. Instantly Krimp and his equipment grow to an enormous twenty foot tall giant. He readies his now giant size glaive to strike the first Tusker that gets too close. Krimp looks closer at the elf and says, “I think that is Soveliss!”

Captain Soveliss tries to keep his mind focused on the tree line, “Got to get to a tree! If I can get to a tree maybe they will stop chasing me”, he thinks to himself. He can hear the pounding of the Tuskers hooves and their rhythmic panting as his legs burn with pain trying to out run the large omnivores. He has done it! He made it to the tree line! Soveliss scrambles up a tree as he sees a flurry of crossbow bolts fly past him and hears the roar of one of the Tuskers! He looks back and they are still thirty feet from the trees when a giant size glaive splashes through the bushes and splits one of the three Tusker’s skull in twain. He turns to see “giant” Krimp, Father Wronski, and Nibell poised for battle!

Father Wronski kneels and cries out to the heavens, “KORMATH! BRING DOWN YOUR FROSTY BREATH!”. The translucent image of a great wyrm springs forth from the kneeling kobold, towering over the trees extending it’s neck over the charging Tuskers. The spirit-like dragon roars as its breath blasts the Tuskers in a blizzard of liquid ice before fading back into Father Wronski. The creatures cry out in pain and are severely frostbitten, but there is little that can stop a charging Tusker.

The Tuskers charge Krimp with their deadly tusks lightly cutting both of his legs. Nibell unloads her crossbows on the closest Tusker, but they are barely penetrating the thick armor-like hide. Father Wronski scorches the beasts with the light of Kormath while Captain Soveliss releases his arrows from above. Roxana bursts from her hiding place stabbing one of the creatures with her sword.

Then it happens! Over the pounding of hooves and panting of the Tuskers, they hear a scream. They look to Krimp as one of the Tuskers impales his thigh with its tusk. It takes all of his strength to not pass out from the injury! The giant-sized wolfen lets out a battle howl as the Tusker frees itself from his bleeding wound. Krimp falls victim to his primal rage! His blind fury erupts and the Tusker is pinned to the ground by the giant glaive. Roxana moves quickly to finish the immobilized beast.

The last Tusker swings its razor sharp tusks at Father Wronski! Roxana rushes to his aid, but in her haste crashes into the hind leg and dislocates her shoulder. The Tusker turns on Roxana and slashes her with its tusk, bites at her, and attempts to slash her it with its claws. Captain Soveliss’ arrows seem to have little effect on the beast. Finally, Nibell stands empting her bolt clips into the creature’s face and the mighty Tusker falls. Krimp is still out of his skull with rage and pain; he takes a wild swing at Wronski before he collapses in exhaustion.

Father Wronski prays for Kormath’s healing mercy over Krimp’s unconscious body. His leg closes up and a layer of soothing ice rests on his thigh where the gashing wound was. Soveliss and Nibell retrieve their bolts and arrows. Roxana pops her shoulder back into the socket with a slight flinch.

When Krimp awakens, Captain Soveliss informs them of Nestor’s disappearance and the kidnapping of the Emperor. Wronski and Krimp begin to plan a rescue mission when Soveliss tells them of his oath to Devin. There is a long silence, then Nibell says, “He knew the risks. We have to respect his final request.” Wronski begins to whisper prayers for Devin’s safety. Krimp stands and strides toward the bodies of the Tuskers, preparing them for food and leather armor. Roxana pulls out her scroll and starts reading.

It is been weeks since they found Captain Soveliss and the Tusker jerky is starting to run low. The late morning sun is becoming unbearable. Across the plains they see a small prairie town. The road into town has cornfields on either side. As they get closer, Roxana pulls her sword, “Something’s wrong.”

“What is it?” Krimp asks.

“Look at this place.” They look closely and notice the town is overgrown. It seems to have fallen into disrepair. There is no motion in town, as if abandoned. As they approach the outskirts of town they come upon a barn. Roxana motions to Krimp, “I’m going to head around back. You check the front.” Krimp nods. Nibell follows Roxana around the back of the barn. Soveliss follows Krimp at a distance with his bow ready.

Krimp enters the barn. The barn is overgrown inside, tools are rusting on there racks, and holes in the roof illuminate the barn. Krimp is about to turn around and leave when something out of place catches his eye. He slowly creeps to the far back corner of the barn, glaive at the ready. It’s a skeleton of a human, he thinks. The skeleton is slumped over the gate of a cow pen. The skeleton has a rusted pitch fork stuck through its back and into the wooden gate. He can see by the stage of decay this murder happened years ago. As Krimp exits the barn Roxana and Nibell come around the corner. Krimp tells them of the skeleton.

Suddenly, they hear the cawing of a crow. They watch as it glides down into the cornfield. They see the bird land on an ear of corn and begin to peck. Then there is a fast rustle through the corn, like someone running. In a flash, the crow is snatched down into the stocks as it attempts to fly away. They hear the panicked squawks of the crow before it is silenced with a loud snap!

There is silence as the heroes look at one another nervously. About thirty yards up the road a human figure saunters out of the corn rows. The figure has a field-hand’s hat, pants, gloves, boots, and he is wearing some kind of mask or sack over his head. As the farmer lifts his head the sun reveals his “mask”. Krimp looks closely and realizes there are no eye holes in the sack, only buttons where the eyes should be and the mouth is threaded shut! Krimp gasps as he realizes it is not a man dressed as a scarecrow but it is an animated scarecrow! The creature strains its mouth against the stitches and whispers “Protect the corn!” It starts running at the heroes. As it builds speed and gets closer, it gets louder and angrier repeating over and over, “Protect the corn! Protect the corn! Protect the corn!”. Krimp lifts his glaive. Nibell pulls her crossbows. Soveliss readies his arrow. Father Wronski raises his symbol of Kormath. Roxana looks towards the corn field as she hears someone coming up behind them.