Catching Up

In the time since my first adventure, I had grown considerably more experienced in combat. Redham became a constant companion. Occasionally other adventurers joined us in our outings, but few stuck around.

I got a feel for this new land of Mercia. There were many settlements, but the main gathering points for all us conscripted fighters were Sandbrook, Monkfield, and The Heart of Eanna. They were small frontier towns, hastily set up with wooden walls, with inhabitants striving to keep the nasties at bay. In the middle of them all rose the great capital Fortress of the Human race on Agon, Sanguine.





I met many strangers there, including some of the other races who were allied with the Humans. There are the lithe dexterous Mirdain. They seem to mostly prefer to live in the woods, hunting with bows and worshiping their peculiar gods. I even heard rumor that those elven gods were in some way responsible for the creation of the hated Alfar. I dare not bring it up with the elves themselves, but I never entirely trusted them after hearing it.



Then there are the dwarves. Not many of them are seen outside their lands in the far north. They labor with a constant fervor, always building, according to a writ handed down by their own deity. Some do cast aside the dwarven lifestyle and seek out adventures, and they are hardy fighters.



Redham had taken up armor smithing, and I had taken up the study of magic. We were already both accomplished fighters, and needed something to do in our down time. Our wealth was growing steadily with our conquests against the nearby beasts. We hunted goblins, rebels, fire salamanders, lizard men, trolls, and even those undead that I once feared so greatly. They proved to be weaker even than the goblins! I admit now, I was getting quite big headed, envisioning myself signing up to a professional army soon, and Piratejim was lost in fantasies of being able to buy his boat. We began to laugh at both pain and danger. Redham did so quite literally. I still don't know if he's fully sane.



In full war kit, swaggering as we went, we set out from Sandbrook to some new location. Piratejim assured me that it was a place of great wealth, and that he was able to handle it by himself. "With the two of us, we might even make enough for me to buy a raft!"

We set out North West from Monkfield and crossed a river. A small mountain stood before us, and we had to do quite a bit of climbing. Finally at the summit, I looked down upon a derelict village built over the water, with an extensive bridge system. We had arrived in Darkmoore.





We climbed higher still, but to me all the buildings seemed abandoned. I voiced my concern to Redham, but he simply put a finger to his lips and motioned onward. I had learned to trust in his instinct by now. There at last over the next rise, were men and women in dark robes. They were chanting amongst themselves, performing dark rituals. I could feel some of the power surging from the area. 'Pah' I thought, 'they aren't even wearing armor. We've dealt with mages before.'

"Be careful with these, they're nastier than goblin shamans. Don't be afraid to take cover when you need to." Redham uttered these instructions while drawing his bow. I gritted my teeth and ran in with a warcry, holding my shield before me, and a freshly crafted swordaxe over my head.

A hooded mage spun around, leveled his staff at me, and all before me was set aflame. The heat was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The air became heavy, burning my throat, and my armor became like a sweltering prison. Another blast knocked me off my feet. I tumbled behind a box and pulled a potion from my bag, drinking it eagerly. The heat and pain ebbed, but I was locked down by heavy fire. It was my goblin mistake all over again.

The steady twang of Redham's bow suddenly stopped and was replaced by his screams. "MY EYES! EVERYTHING IS WHITE! SIGNUS?!" I looked over to see him clawing at his helm, a woman in a black cowl standing over him cackling. I set aside my swordaxe and took a staff out, sending a ray of healing at Redham. He shook himself and then thrust his sword into the woman before him.

We fought on for a while longer, and each mage we felled carried a bag of rich with magical reagents and gold. But soon more and more acolytes began to run down at us from hidden higher levels. My supply of potions was running low, and I was scorched and battered. Redham wasn't in much better shape. "Come on Sig, we can drive them off!" He shouted to me. Steeling myself for one final rush I charged up the ramp at a cluster of them. Flames consumed my vision... I saw no more.