Journey to Thorbardin - Arrival

[malkav565]

There was a long silence between Adam and Askgar through the bog.

Finally, after a period of respectful silence, Askgar turned Adam to him. "What in the Hells was that?"

Adam wearily began to explain, "That was my father, a Harvester devil. He, "

Askgar broke in, "No, not that. What happened to you in there. You turned into some kind of vampire or something!"

Adam looked at the ground, noticibly uncomfortable for the first time in Askgar's presence. "My devil blood is stronger than I often give it credit. It is always... difficult... when I have to confront it. I'm sorry you had to see that."

Askgar looked to Adam seriously. "It looked like you enjoyed that little show! Are you sure you are as good as you say you are?"

Adam looked struck for a second, but instead of growing angry, he put his iron fist to his spiked chin. He looked haunted by a growing thought.

"You are right. I did enjoy that sensation. It is in my nature to thrill at violence."

Adam wandered away a few steps, lost in thought. Askgar's jaw dropped as confusion and horror fought for his attention. Was he travelling with a murderous demon? Askgar's companion looked as if he was deciding whether or not to fry the dwarf or eat him raw with a bit of wine.

Adam focused internally. He thought to himself, How can I resent myself for these feelings when I forgive them in others? Even my human blood enflames at the thought of conflict. All this time, I feared for the souls of others, while my own thwarts me!

But I can forgive my own feelings! I don't have to act on my violence. I overcome that which comes naturally to me for the good of myself and others. But let the thrill come! I am no longer afraid.

I do not have to control it or others. I must just let it go."

[malkav565]

After a long period of thought, Adam turned to Askgar.

Askgar jumped, grabbing his blade. Then Adam smiled and read Askgar's face.

Then they both laughed out loud. Adam noticed Askgar's laughter was slightly more strained than genuine.

Adam clasped his companion on the shoulder. "My friend, you have done me a great service today. Would that I could ask you another? Perhaps I could aid you in kind for your information. Do you know an artist that works in cold iron?"

The dwarf was surprised at the question. "Well, I already owe you my life, so it would be a trifle to get you to one of the merchants in Thorbardin. Aye, now that I think of it, my cousin works cold iron."

"No, perhaps I wasn't clear. I need to get a tattoo, but it must be done with cold iron - I want a copper inlay - but in my skin!"

Askgar was horrified all over again, but he recovered more quickly this time. "Flesh can't hold inlay, demon-spawn. You'd think you never held a steel blade! Aye, but you can get a tattoo mixed with copper pigments."

[malkav565]

Askgar and Adam continued ahead to Northgate. The battles seemed not to have reached the gates yet.

Askgar was recognized by his armor at the front gate and was admitted passage with Adam. Adam stared at the increasing preparations for battle, stacked sacks of earth and the smell of freshly carved quarrels, even as he himself was stared at.

Askgar wasn't sure if it was the shock of a half-devil entering Thorbardin or some supernatural effect, but as Adam passed, preparations slowed and the garrison seemed to lose focus on the coming battle.

Beyond the garrisons, life in the city of Thorbardin was amazing. Dwarves thronged the cramped corridors of the city doing all sort of business. Their dress was strange and formal compared to the rural outfits of Solace. Adam felt strangely at home amongst the masses in the highly organized streets and byways.

Adam boldly gawked in the yawning darkness at the stunning dwarven architecture. He smiled as he watched a dwarven fishwoman hawking her wares to a scholarly dressed dwarf with brownish skin.

Askgar marched forward like a military soldier, ignoring the life teeming all about the walls of Thorbardin.

"I must report to someone in the guard. They must know that Pax Tharkas has fallen."

Adam looked around, perplexed. "It seems we have passed the Companions from Solace, or at least the advancing Dragonarmies. Did you take us down a shortcut?"

Askgar glanced at Adam with a look of impatience. "We are a small group avoiding combat. We travel faster than the marching enemy, as well as a larger group of adventurers."

"Besides, they are likely to have taken the pass in the east known to men, whereas we took the main dwarven trail above the flattened peak. I suppose it is a shortcut, now that you mention."

With that, Askgar dismissed himself. "I will meet you at the Temple of Reorx in four hours." Askgar gave Adam directions, then left.

Adam was left in Thorbardin by himself.

[malkav565]

Adam wandered the grand bazaar in the main hall of Northgate. He received many stares and hateful looks. Others evaluated him as a mark of thievery, but it was clear he carried nothing. Even the beggars seemed to be well-fed and comfortable.

It didn't take long for Adam to be challenged by the dwarven guard. But Adam's charm and disarming nature eventually led the guards to understand his nature and no longer fear him.

Adam accepted free samples from the merchants, trying exotic fruits and fungus that grew only underground. He found himself cursing his lack of knowledge about the world around him, but enjoying the experience of discovery. Adam politely refused any meat or eggs, explaining his vows. This brought as many disapproving looks as his fiendish heritage.

Suddenly, he was approached by a group of dangerous looking dwarves dressed in black-iron armor covered in spikes. Their heads were bare except for mail coifs and their faces were a patchwork of exotic tattoos. Dwarves, one and all, moved out of their path as if avoiding a raging bull.

Adam moved to speak to one of them, and the lead dwarf checked him with a spiked pauldron. To the warriors shock, it was the spike that broke, and not Adam's skin.

Adam was angry. "Is this how you greet your peers, or is it my half-devil blood that made you try to cut me?"

The lead dwarf snarled at Adam. "Look what you did to my armor! I'll take that out of your hide, you abomination!" Adam thought that was an advanced word for such a barbarous foe.

The dwarf punched at Adam, who deftly dodged. The dwarf only grew more angry. He seemed to grow more powerful as his eyes filled with hatred. "No body makes a fool of Crowley or one of his Rangers. I mean nobody."

Adam stepped back calmly. "You are so devoted to conflict that you have not considered who it is you are fighting or why. Are not the Dragonarmies at your door?"

Crowley glared at Adam and a bewildered look passed across his eyes. He shook his head and stared at his opponent. "Apparently they are already in the gates. But your sorcery will not work on me, fiend." Crowley swung again, but his hand deflected off an unseen force surrounding Adam.

"You have now asked again for a fight - a fight I am not inclined to give you. I beg you, do not ask again."

The dwarf nodded to his other black-armored companions and they all moved to grab the monk. Adam deftly dodged the attacks, even the ones from behind.

"Very well then. I shall teach you a lesson from the Forgotten Temple."

With that, Adam proceeded to pop Crowley in the snout. Crowley hesitated for a moment, but was unfazed.

Adam began to kick and punch at the team of warriors. The warriors pounded Adam with gauntleted fists, but to no avail. One of the dwarves howled in rage as his gauntlet fell into tatters against Adamant's skin. Adam's blows had little effect on the heavily armored dwarves, except for the occasional stunning blow to the head.

The battle raged for a few minutes with no advantage gained. Adam could barely harm the hearty team of warriors, but few of the dwarves could even hit him. Finally, their rage spent, the dwarves hunched over in fatigue. Barbarians, thought Adam.

"Well, that explains your rudeness, barbarians."

"Hold - we yield." Crowley held up a pleading hand as he gasped for breath. "What manner of fighting is this? Do they teach this in your home world?"

Adam smiled. "No, I was trained right here in the nation of Thorbardin. Even the dwarves have forgotten the Temple of Majere."

Crowley smiled through his fatigue, "It seems we were taught a lesson here, boys. This stranger outlasted our entire group. What's your name, bare-ass?"

Adam was taken aback at this nickname. He looked at his exposure self-consciously. "Adamant is my name. Son of Gaaphus the Harvester." He felt strange to be proud of his heritage, but he felt it was part of him not to be left hidden where it could do harm.

"I'm Crowley and these are my Rangers - :dwarf names here:. We'd love to learn some of your crazy chopping moves, Adamant."

Adam reflected on how these chaotics respected strength, even in their enemies. "I'm afraid my strength comes from a discipline it would be difficult for you to possess. You would have to abandon your wild ways and learn to embrace the quiet inside you."

Crowley grimaced. "Blah blah blah. I'm bored already. Let's go have a drink! On us, stranger."

Adam agreed politely, waiting for the chance to ask about the magificent tattoos of the Rangers.

[malkav565]

After a few hard dwarven drinks, Adam met up with Askgar at yet another fabled dwarven construction, the Temple of Reorx.

Askgar frowned at Adam when he got within scent range. "You smell like Hellpiss, Adam? What have you gotten into?"

"Hellpiss, actually. That is what they called it, I believe." Adam sounded unfazed.

"You drank Hellpiss? Dwarven Hellpiss? They didn't give you the weak human version did they?"

"I don't believe so. It seemed strong, but I am immune to the effects of toxins, so it had no particular effect. I just wanted to try it.

Askgar rolled his eyes. "Of course it had no effect. Does anything hurt you, almighty monk?" Askgar chuckled.

Adam was deadly serious. "Betrayal."

Askgar saw a rare vulnerability that fit strangely on Adam's face. He grew uncomfortable and changed the topic. "I think I know where we can get you your tattoo."

Adam smiled and waved his hand. "I may have solved that one myself, friend. Crowley and his rangers are thrilled at the prospect of trying to cut my skin. They said they wanted to see if I feel pain."

Askgar was shocked. "Crowley's Rangers? What the hell did you do to piss them off?"

"Nothing," Adam said with the non-chalance of someone not telling the whole story. "I just showed them some monk tricks, that's all. They deemed fit to repay me with one of their tattoos."

Askgar was incredulous. He shook his head then changed the subject yet again. "Well, it looks like we have some downtime before the battle reaches Thorbardin. Maybe we can ask around about your lost friends."

"Yes, my friends." Adam was drawn to his thoughts once more. He hadn't left on good terms and had little explanation to offer. "A god sent me to save you all" - it all sounded so arrogant and confused when not experienced.

Adam would have to face the Companions again, though he was not looking forward to the apology he owed them. How do I even know they will take me back in?

Askgar patiently waited for Adam's internal monologue, then offered shelter. "I can at least give you a place to stay for the next few days. Maybe a dwarven hooker! Once you go dwarf, you never go back, they say!" Askgar chuckled.

Adam looked surprised at this turn of the conversation. "I'm married."

Now it was Askgar's turn to be shocked. The two travelling companions stared anywhere but each other, both sorry Askgar had brought up the subject.

[Andre]

(WONDERFUL stuff ! Award XP and RP now or wait ? )

[Andre]

(Adam gets 50 XP and 100 RP for a long - and I mean that in a good way obviously he put a lot of work into this - thread that was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me )