RPGDot - the fastest news from other worlds

Well, to make a long story short, I went back to that lonely pond where my ancestor had dwelt and prayed for guidance... alright, alright! I was looking for some more dragonroot. Small detail, anyway. What matters is that I saw an arch, with a large slanted block on top of it.... there were only two problems with this. One, was that this was in the middle of the human "new camp". Two, was that the tip of that block atop the arch was about three miles off the ground. If the surrounding mountains weren't too steep, I might be able to climb up... the problem was getting back down without slipping, and getting there without being turned into a pincushion by human archers.

I knew that I would have to search here anyway, eventually, so I approached the gate to the camp and let loose my best strategy - run like hell. Few things can move faster than a speeding bloodfly, but that doesn't make us any less susceptible to arrows or a well-positioned guard with a sword. Fate was on my side that day; when I entered, most of the guards at the gate ran away in fear, and the two who stayed drew a mace, then put it away and stared stupidly after me. Humans who had been picking from the fields (it did look quite good) ran away for their lives, only to alert three more guards standing near a wooden shack of my presence. One of them, a bald guy in an orange suit, picked up a bladed staff and came charging towards me, bellowing like a bull; the other two drew longbows and let loose a volley of arrows.

But, as I said - fate was on my side. One of the archers shot the orange bald man in the back, which made him promptly forget my existence so he could go beat the stuffing out of the other human. Unfortunately, the other archer was still firing at me; knowing that a single arrow would be my end (and I was still carrying all three items on the list) I flew in random, zig-zag patterns up a rock wall, dropped onto a lake, and flew to avoid the volleys of death-on-sticks fired by humans who were guarding a large wooden gateway. Taking refuge behind a building on the middle of the water, I looked up and saw the arch. I was closer than ever now. Nothing could stop me.

I passed two obstacles before I got to the mountains. One was three humans, two of whom were dancing with their weapons, and one of whom was watching. The second obstacle was a three-pack of scavengers. Not fat, psycho, larger-than-life scavengers who carried an important paper, but just good old birdies. After that humiliation with the biggie, my blood burned for revenge. So, luring the unsuspecting victims out one at a time, I -err- "balanced the local ecosystem" slowly and painfully. So, feeling quite happy with myself, I found a non-steep part of the hillside and flew up. When I was nearly halfway to the arch, something happened.

Misty, sky-blue puffs of air swirled about me, and I felt my life force begin to weaken. I knew where I was then: the very edge of Aunna. The blue mist pushed me back, as if the bubble herself was saying Hello, nice to meet you, now kindly step back before I cut you into bite-sized pieces. I heeded that warning and continued my path up the arch.

At long last, I made it to the top. And, sure enough, a rune stone sat there, as if it had been waiting for me all along. I unceremoniously collected it, then realized my dilemma.

In order to climb up here, I had to take a very steep pass. But, I could not go back down that pass without falling off and slipping to my doom. All other exits were blocked by the walls of Aunna. A fine dilemma I was in.

After pacing around for nearly four hours, I took out the rune stone. 'Magik artifact, are you?' I said to it. 'Then get me out of here!' And with that, I found myself at the ruined dock. Well, now... that was easy. One quick leap off the cliff and I was at Tan-Gul's place. This time, he was there. I presented the artifacts, half expecting him to retire and make me the grand bloodfly.

Alas, I was not promoted that day, nor have I been since, as you can see. When I asked him where he had been, he told me that he had been preparing the altar for the spell. It was in the swamp, he told me, where no human would travel due to the swampsharks. Once invocated, the magic of the altar would remain undisturbed for eternity. All he needed was one night to study the items I had collected. So, feeling contented, I slept.

The next day, I headed out to Tan-Gul's place. When I submerged, much to my surprise, I found not the elder bloodfly but a mere courier of Cirat, another noble-born bloodfly such as myself. The courier told me that master Tan-Gul was ill today after tasting one of the nightshade berries, and that I would have to invocate the altar. It was not the least bit difficult, the bloodfly said. Tan-Gul wrote out a scroll telling exactly what to do and say. The courier added that Tan-Gul was of the opinion that I should have the honor of being the one to do this, after all I had risked. It sounded like a good plan.

So, deep out in the swamp, one of the bloodflies gathered there to guide me to the altar. It was on a small isle, which had a single tree growing, and healing herbs in abundance. It was also ornamented with goblin skulls, stuck on small pikes. I laid out the items around the altar as instructed, and waited for the appropriate time of day. While I was waiting, however, temptation overcame me and I nibbled one of the nightshade berries. I did not feel sick at all; on the contrary, I felt energized. It was even better than my cherished dragonroots.

And so, at fifteen-fifty in the evening, the incantation began. I'd say the words, but I can't remember... I never was one for memorizing spells, if I do say so myself. But anyway, four minutes later, the altar began to glow a faint blue. Then, an explosion of chromatic feathers flew everywhere! Well... they weren't really feathers. They actually weren't anything, but they looked really cool. Even the swampsharks were looking here by this time, and I'll be darned if that templar over on the docks wasn't interested as well. The spell had worked.

This was followed by an odd feeling. I felt whole, as if I had been bent into an odd shape and suddenly twisted back; that, I suppose, was the magik restoring the balance of the bloodflies' bodies. At the same time, I felt more exhausted then I ever had been in my life; that, I suppose, was the effect of casting the spell. I drifted off into peaceful slumber at that very spot.

When I awoke the next morning, four bloodflies were at the site, waiting for me. Each one of them had confiscated one of the invocation items, not that it really mattered now. I recognized them; they were members of Cirat's circle of friends. But what made me suspicious were the badges they were wearing. Each one of them had the badge of the Honor Guard pinned at their stingers. Only the grand bloodfly was allowed honor guards; what was up with this?

"Temonus? Come with us, please. The grand bloodfly wishes to see you." One of the bloodflies said in a serious tone. So, I followed. They took me to Tan-Gul's home underneath the waves. But when I went down there, I found not Tan-Gul, but Cirat, now donning the crown of grand bloodfly.

"I have been elected by the bloodflies of Aunna as the new grand bloodfly," he said, as if that explained everything. "Yes, Temonus, I know what you're going to say. You were the successor of Tan-Gul, but things have changed."

"You are hereby placed under arrest for the murder of grand bloodfly Tan-Gul," Cirat said, grinning.

So, that's my story. They brought me up here, back to the top of the arch, and this time I have no runestone to save me. I'm trapped. Just you, me, and my supply of dragonroot. But should I ever escape from this prison, Cirat's head will be my trophy. He killed Tan-Gul, I could tell by the look in his eyes. He had been planning it since the day he was born, but he first needed the spell to activate the altar, and Tan-Gul was the only one who knew how. The moment that old Tan wrote out the instructions, his worth had ended. Yep, I know that as surely as I know that I'm hungry for another dragonroot right about now...

Wow!! Look over there! I've never seen a fatter, juicer bloodfly in my whole life!! Quick, get him before he flies away! And I'll just step back onto this hill-

Hey, hey, settle down, there. You're the one stupid enough to fall for that old trick. So, go save yourself a lot of hunger and just jump off the edge. You can't get me here, and I've still got my dragonroot. That's all I need. I'll just sit up here, alone, and wait for some sign from Innos, or Beliar, or the Sleeper, or anyone else who looks over the bloodflies. And you, my bearded friend, should try sharpening that horn of yours. Why, that thing looks to dull, it couldn't punch a hole through wet sand.

So, from the highest point in the New Camp, with a lifetime supply of dragonroot and a rabid shadowbeast trying unsuccessfully to climb a mountain, this has been Temonus, unjustly accused heir of the bloodflies. Do come visit me some day...

The End