laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After fourteen days hiking over forested and snow capped mountains, through gorgeous river valleys and glades, the army of dwarves with their tiny human contingent finally reached the border with their vowed enemy. Towers rose in the distance as a testimony to the centuries of vigilant guardianship that the Black Anvil clan had done to keep the grey dwarves contained. Now that forward post would be the jumping off point of an invasion.
Sallying forth from the deforested ridgeline, they marched as the advance units destroyed posts and weigh stations on their way to the capitol of the Redlaver clan. Minor skirmishes erupted along the way allowing for Adgertesse’ to exercise a bit as she worked out her adrenaline rush from just being on this campaign in the first place. Each day drew them closer to releasing her companion from prison.

Within ten days they gazed down at the long stone bridge that arced over the deep river gorge to the gates of Enkhuzen. Knowing how dangerous this operation still could be, Tess addressed the whole group.

“I’ll lead you to the room she’s being held in. I think we should get her out of there before the dwarves mistake her for the enemy and allow them to destroy everything else. We’re going to have to go straight through the center of the city to the long hallway that the door’s in. It’ll be a large, banded oak door to the left that,” she eyed Selyria. “You can’t miss.”

“You’ll be there, right,” she asked, confusedly.

“Just in case something happens.”

Nodding, the group agreed to the plan and they followed the dwarves along the road to the bridge. Forming their shield wall, they marched across as bolts flew from all four towers as well as the gatehouse which bounced off of their steel barrier as well as the railing to either side. After what seemed like hours, they finally reached the gatehouse which a group of dwarven mages assaulted, bringing down the stone around the doors which crumbled away like dust. Falling backwards, the oaken barriers slammed onto the rocky yard behind and crushed several grey dwarf defenders as the chaos began. Charging, the invaders onslaught carried them through the front rooms housing the families and quarters of the defenders. Adgertesse’ had seen it all before and her motivation gained intensity as the remaining company fought through the great hall and bordering rooms, giving her the opening she had been waiting for.

“This way,” she motioned and ran through the far door and up into the long, dark hallway. With very few defenders in their path, they cut their way to the door which Tess pointed at as she took up a defensive position to watch the doors beyond. While Lita and Selyria mused, four nadlac emerged from the distant doorway to the left and turned to see the human invaders.

“Company,” Tess stated as she went invisible and crept forward. Alongside screamed an arrow of light that caught the first and pitched him backwards accompanied by a dagger which also added insult to injury. Yelling their battle cry, the remaining trio charged as Lericanin and Allaster moved up to meet them. From behind, Tess stabbed the trailing warrior and dropped him to the floor, then spun to make sure no one else was coming to help. A sudden clash of steel and grunts soon dropped the remaining pair as Selyria finally began her dismantling of the magical wards. After a few moments, a strong pulsing charge filled the air causing the hairs on Adgertesse’s arms stand and a familiar nauseated feeling soon washed over her. He was here. She ran to the door as Lita picked the multitude of locks as the impatient dark elf stood over her right shoulder.

“Whoever made these did an exemplary job,” she calmly mentioned.

“Hurry up,” Tess pushed, aggravated that their chance may have been lost already. As soon as Lita pushed the door to, Adgertesse’ ran through it down a long flight of stone steps to a large cavern which opened up to the right. Containing a large, stagnant pool which surrounded a mossy island, she could sense that Kailee had been taken as a ring of fire atop the small, sloping hill in the center smoldered. Crouching, she bowed her head in defeat.

“Is this the right room,” Sceva inquired as tears streamed down her face.

Sniffing, she looked up to the quiet island which seemed to float atop the algae covered water. “Yeah. She’s been taken.”

“By whom,” Lericanin asked as he approached the edge of the water.

“He came and got her personally,” Selyria revealed, hand to her bleeding nose. “I never felt anything like that in my life.”
Angrily, Tess rose and struck the wall beside her, hammer sparking off of the rock. “Damnit!”

“Looks like we’re going to have to go to Nurmes,” Alandria said, quietly standing beside her, not considering how close the nightblade was to planning that trip.

Sighing, Allaster turned to the group. “Well, let’s continue cleaning this place out, maybe we’ll get lucky and she was only moved to another part of the city.” His attempt at keeping her positive was futile as orange eyes glowed.

“We even positive she was in here,” Lericanin asked from the shoreline, studying the whole chamber.

“I felt her in here myself,” Adgertesse’ confirmed. “I guess he knew his underling couldn’t keep her any longer and decided to take possession finally. We’re not going to find her in Enkhuzen.”

Shoulders sunk at that revelation as they slowly filed back out into the hallway. As Marian and Sceva tended to Selyria’s wounds, the dwarves began making their way northward to join them and soon absorbed the group as they continued on to the royal chambers of Idanac himself. Now that the horrid looking, double headed demon was dead they could reclaim the kingdom he had oppressed for so long. Adgertesse’ led the group to the holding cell where Kristal and the girls were kept and eventually to the grassy valley to the east of Idanac’s kitchen and great hall.
Once their tour was over, they ate and rested within the secured walls of Enkhuzen and marched out three days after invading the city. Leaving the mountain behind, Tess felt more empty than she had prior to returning. Without something to hold to, she quietly followed westward as the army marched over more forested hills and mountains until finally reaching the Misty Hills.
Nosur Aerdorn had become the home to legend as the half-dwarven clan had secured their names in history by defeating the goblins and orcs which used to call these rolling hills home. Once the army of dwarves approached their gates, the inhabitants cheerfully accepted them into their homes as the cordial relationship had never garnered such a reception before. Two past friends of Allaster and Lericanin’s invited them to stay with them and gave most a bed within their two story, stone residence. Adgertesse’ took a spot in the loft with the younger group.
Laying on the more comfortable straw floor, she turned towards the wall and closed her eyes while Alandria and the others got comfortable as the sun lowered in the sky.

“Tess,” the young ranger called. “You okay?”

Adgertesse’ chuckled. “Are you,” she asked, then finally rolled onto her back to eye the brunette.

She shrugged noncomitally. “I guess.”

“Alandria, I’m sorry for being so selfish lately. You’ve needed me just as much and I’ve been within myself, trying to figure out what to do next, where to go and it’s driving me nuts,” a comment that gained the attention of the rest.

“It’s not your fault. We all want to get her back but, right now we’ve got a war to finish. Elminoir will guide us to her in time and we’re going to bring her home.”

Tess chuckled. “Why?”

“What?”

She sat up, “Why would they help her? None of them would answer her prayers when she called to them. She told me that not even Yaeby would receive her who’s supposed to be the deity of the ‘do unto others’ philosophy. So, why would Elminoir help?”

“I didn’t say she would help Kailee, I said she’s going to help us. Arhus is guiding Lericanin, Allaster and the others and always has. I know that’s hard for you to understand but, trust me, we’re going to win and we’re going to save her.”

“No offense but, you’re very naive. Sater’s got her in his own home right now and none of them can help us free her from there. It’s not possible because the only way to go there is to be faithful to him and die thus, you wouldn’t wish to free her because He’s your patron. The only way to get her now is if he’s stupid enough to bring her back here and dangle her in front of us. Even then, I wouldn’t guarantee that many of us would survive that encounter,” she softened as the younger veteran faces eyed her. “So, you believe what you wish but, I’d go ahead and forget ever seeing her again.”