[size=12][size=12][size=12]Master Drogan was lying on the floor, stunned from the blast, but otherwise unharmed. As Yanny rushed towards him, the good dwarf stirred, opened his eyes and regarded his student with unconcealed respect.
“Master Drogan,” Yanny exclaimed, “you are unharmed! Tymora smiles brightly upon us.”
“Come back here and fight, you smelly lizards!” Xanos was yelling, possessed by the emotions of a powerful battle rage.
But the smelly lizards did not oblige, opting instead to flee the house. They cleared out of the place in a matter of three heartbeats and retreated from Hilltop, running towards their smelly caves.
When the billowing cloud of smoke dissipated through the blasted door, it revealed the charred and maimed kobold carcasses strewn all over the floor. The defenders were all covered with black soot, but appeared to be otherwise unharmed.
The victory was apparently complete. The defenders gathered near Master Drogan, embracing each other and sharing a few laughs.
Their smiles were short-lived, though. Master Drogan got up to his feet with a grim face and said, “Well done, my dear students, well done, indeed. And I thank you, Ayala, for aiding us in these dire times.”
“What’s the grim face for then, Drogan?” Ayala asked, still clutching her sword and breathing heavily.
“Well, it depends on whether the pesky little creatures breached the magical wards I have placed in my laboratory. Yanny, my dear boy, would you go check up on Riisi, while we clean up this mess?”
“Certainly,” Yanny answered and headed towards the door leading into Master Drogan’s laboratory.
Upon entering, Yanny could immediately tell that the magical wards Master Drogan spoke of have been dispelled. Even from a distance, he could see that the large room was in disarray. Planks of splintered hardwood littered the place and Yanny noticed a few kobold tracks leading beyond the wards.
Master Drogan’s magnificent faerie dragon familiar was flapping her green butterfly wings agitatedly and moaning repeatedly.
“What a mess! Me-oh-my, what a mess!”
Riisi was visibly shaken and squeaking so quickly that Yanny could barely understand the words.
“Oh my,” Riisi exclaimed, noticing Yanny. “Is it another kobold come to wreak havoc on Master’s things? Well, Riisi will fight them, yes she will. She will protect her master’s things this time. No, no, no, it is someone I recognize! Yanny! Gladdens my heart, yes it does.”
“How are you, Riisi?” Yanny asked with concern in his voice.
“I am still being Riisi, oh yes. I am not dead, that is a good thing. But you should be knowing that kobolds stole Master’s stuff, yes they did! Please, oh please, Yanny, tell me that Master is unharmed!”
“Master Drogan is fine, Riisi.”
“Oh, Riisi is very glad to hear that. I was worried, oh yes I was. But you have put my mind to rest, yes you did.”
“What happened here, Riisi?”
“Oh, it was terrible, yes it was. I was just having a nap and dreaming about a lovely meadow filled with flowers and butterflies. It was wonderful, Yanny, yes it was. Well, I was woken by a dreadful noise and I immediately turned invisible. When I saw that dreadful kobolds were in the house, I though Master Drogan was surely in danger. I saw them coming to the laboratory and I knew they could not get across, and I thought it was going to be such fun watching them from behind the magic wards. I was about to appear to them and taunt them, yes I was, but then they stopped and you would not believe what they did, no you would not. They threw dust on the wards! It must have been magic dust, oh yes, or it would not have worked, no, no, no. Stupid ugly kobolds walked right through the wards and looted all of Master’s magic. Oh, shame on Riisi, shame, shame, shame. I hid. I was so scared and thought they were powerful kobolds, for they were the first to pass Master’s magic wards. Now Master will never trust Riisi again, oh no, he will not! Now Master will dismiss Riisi and she will have to leave and return to her home in disgrace. Except that Master is very loving, and maybe Riisi can earn back his trust by never letting anyone in ever again! Yes, yes, yes, that is it. Riisi will be the best guard ever! I will do a good job for dear Master. No more kobolds can enter here, no, no, no.”
“I am sure you will be the greatest guard ever, Riisi,” Yanny said and sighed.
The laboratory has been breached and something belonging to master Drogan was stolen.
☼☼☼☼☼
When Yanny exited the laboratory, Master Drogan was talking with Ayala in hushed tones. They both looked at him questioningly.
“The kobolds made off with some magical items, Master Drogan,” Yanny announced and the old dwarf groaned loudly.
“The Harpers have many enemies,” Ayala said thoughtfully. “I suspect one of them is responsible for this attack. I hope I am wrong.”
“I believe I can shed some light on that,” Master Drogan answered, nervously pacing the room. “It was the artifacts they were after. They are stolen, all four of them!”
“I thought as much,” Ayala said. “How could anyone have found out you even had them? This is terrible news.”
“What are you two about?” Dorna asked.
“When Drogan retired to Hilltop, the Harpers entrusted four dangerous artifacts to his care. We thought this area remote enough that they would be safe.”
“I do not know how they were discovered,” Master Drogan added. “But we shall have to find out. These artifacts are too powerful and can be put to dangerous use.”
Master Drogan sighed.
“Yanny, my eldest student. It is up to you. It is vital that you find these items and bring them back.”
There it was then, Yanny’s first opportunity to adventure, the first voyage beyond Hilltop, the true way to discover the wondrous magic hidden all across the realms.
Perhaps Yanny’s adventures would even take him to Waterdeep, the fabled City of Splendors!
“You can count on me, Master Drogan,” Yanny replied with undisguised excitement in his voice. “I shall not fail you.”
“Such courage, dear boy,” Master Drogan said, embracing Yanny. “You make me proud.”
“This shall be your final test. I know that you are ready! So much relies on you now. I know in my heart you will not let me down. Ayala and I shall remain here and guard the school, with the help of Mischa.”
Master Drogan turned to regard the promising young paladin of Mystra.
“You have fought valiantly, my dear lass, and I am proud of you.”
“Thank you, Master Drogan,” Mischa replied, blushing profusely.
“One more apprentice shall remain,” Master Drogan continued, “and another shall accompany Yanny.”
“I shall go with you, Yanny,” Dorna said determinedly. “Our skills will complement each other… and besides, I expect you’ll need some muscle to back you up.”
“Muscle?” Xanos huffed teasingly. “Eh? All I see is a little dwarf with very big mouth.”
“Better than a half-orc with an oversized ego,” Dorna countered, smiling.
“You make fun of Xanos, but you shall see,” Xanos parried, laughing heartily. “Yanny will pick Xanos gladly and then Xanos will laugh at you.”
“Should we make a little bet, then?” Dorna winked at Xanos, and everybody in the library shared a laugh despite the ominous situation they were currently in. “Fifty gold coins should settle this nicely. What say you?”
“My little dwarven friend,” Xanos said, dangling his bulging belt pouch in front of Dorna’s plump face. “I shall gladly accept your gold and add it to mine.”
Yanny made his decision quickly.
“I believe I shall ask Dorna to accompany me as her sneaky skills could prove to be useful.”
“Well, you know me,” Dorna laughed, producing two magic wands from the folds of her leather vest and waving them playfully before the half-orc’s face.
“If you need sharp eyes to watch for ambushes, or a nasty trap dealt with, I am your girl. Worry not, Xanos. You can purchase one of these from me, for fifty gold pieces.”
“Where did you get these?” Yanny asked, with admiration in his voice.
“Oh, I swiped them from the little kobolds during the fight,” Dorna smiled innocently.
“It’s a deal then, my sneaky dwarven friend,” Xanos laughed, handing over his purse. ”I shall gladly exchange my gold for your wares.”
“Great,” Dorna replied, giving the second wand to Yanny. “We’ll have Master Drogan’s artifacts in no time… and maybe pick up a coin or two for ourselves along the way. Through the grace of Vergadain, we shall return victorious!”
“There is no time for this discussion now,” Master Drogan said with another deep sigh. “The villagers are in dire need of our help, I can feel it in my old bones.”
“We must go now!” Dorna exclaimed, concern creeping into her voice. “We must check on the villagers to make sure the nasty little kobolds did not wreak complete havoc on our fair town during their escape!”
“We must set out immediately,” Yanny replied, nodding in agreement.
“I shall accompany you, my friends,” Xanos said, clutching his dagger and looking questioningly upon Master Drogan. The old dwarf stroked his singed beard in contemplation, sighed heavily, and nodded his approval.
“My dear students,” he said, “if I may make a suggestion... The Blake family lives on a farm just outside of the main gate, which is dangerously far away from the town proper during these dire times, by my own guess. Nora and Adam had a baby not even three months ago, and something tells me you should check up on them.”
“We shall certainly do that,” Yanny promised, “and with all haste for they may indeed be in trouble.”
“Well,” Dorna mused, “since we are to remain in town at least for a short while, we might as well stop by the community hall to check up on the mayor, after we check up on the Blake family of course. He may be in need of our help after the kobold attack.”
“In that case, we should also visit the Bubbling Cauldron,” Yanny added, referring to the town’s only tavern.
☼☼☼☼☼
The apprentices exited the house with all haste and made their way towards the town proper. Even from a distance, the devastating truth of the raid was becoming painfully apparent. Dead bodies of kobolds, villagers and local animals were strewn about the place, crimson red blood staining the snow on the ground.
As the students passed by the Bubbling Cauldron, they could hear the sounds of angry shouting, smashed dinnerware, and loud arguing emanating from within. They could not dare to investigate the mayhem immediately though, fearing for the safety of the Blake family.
As the friends ran towards the town gate, they witnessed an even more curious sight – a congregation of villagers mulling about the place, listening intently to the ecstatic cries of an old man. Yanny recognized him as Piper, a local scoundrel who had grand delusions of being a fortune teller.
“Doom!” Piper was yelling at the top of his lungs. “Doom is upon us!”
The friends did not have time to investigate the commotion – a strange sensation nagged at their hearts, an instinctive feeling of being too late to save the Blake family. They ran on as fast as they could, passing by a curious halfling caravan on their way, but they realized that something was terribly wrong as soon as the rooftop of the Blake house came into view.
A young woman, barefoot and barely dressed, was running towards them, sobbing and whimpering with every step. Yanny rushed to embrace her and the young woman dug her face into his tunic, weeping openly.
“Oh Yanny!” the woman exclaimed through loud sobs. “Thank the gods you are here! You must help me, please! Kobolds attacked our home. Adam and I were still in bed when they burst into our room. We climbed out the window and Adam helped me down, then he went back in the front door. He went to save little Tynan, but he hasn’t returned. Tynan is only two months old. Please, Yanny, you must save them!”
“Calm down, Nora,” Yanny replied soothingly. “We are here to help.”
“Oh, thank you, Yanny,” Nora replied, shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. She was obviously in shock.
“Please hurry!”
“There is no time to waste,” Dorna said.
She looked at the weeping woman with concern – this was going to be a tough day indeed for poor Nora if they were too late.
“Wait for us here.”
Nora nodded in understanding and would have dropped to the ground from exhaustion, but Xanos was there in a flash, gently setting her down on the cold snow with his muscled arms.
The three friends ran on as fast as they could, Nora’s desperate cries for help ringing loudly in their ears.
“Hurry! Please hurry!”
A heart wrenching scene awaited the friends as they inched cautiously towards the house entrance. The dead body of Adam Blake lay in a pool of his own blood just beyond the blasted door. His unseeing eyes were staring at the ceiling, the images of pure terror forever captured into his dilated pupils.
Cackling sounds of his murderers emanated from within – the kobolds were undoubtedly celebrating their small victory.
Dorna peeked inside and quickly pulled away, holding up four fingers.
“The baby?” Yanny mouthed with his lips.
Dorna shook her head slowly, pointing towards the second floor. The loud cries of the infant could indeed be heard from upstairs, mixed with other, barely perceptible sounds.
That was all the encouragement the friends needed as they drew their weapons.
Silent as death, grim faces promising a world of pain, the friends entered the house. The dumb kobolds were playing cards at the kitchen table, their crossbows not even loaded. Caught by surprise, they shrieked in terror and fell all over each other, fumbling to draw their puny swords.
Dorna’s eyes lit up brightly with a vengeful gleam, but brighter still flashed her battle axe as it spun through the air, blasting one of the creatures in the chest. Yanny did not even get a chance to vent his own anger as Dorna and Xanos descended upon the remaining kobolds. The young dwarven cleric slammed her shield over a creature’s head, splattering the brains all over the hardwood floor.
Yanny bent over and spewed the contents of his morning meal.
The remaining two kobolds finally managed to bring up their swords, poking them at Dorna’s midsection. She swatted their attacks aside with her shield and grabbed one of the creatures by its tiny neck.
Yanny could not see through his teary eyes but he clearly heard the resounding snap of the broken spine. The remaining kobold shrieked in horror and attempted to run for it, but the half-orc brute swiped it into the air with his huge hands.
Yanny heard the wet sound of flesh being torn apart and vomited again.
“The baby is still alive,” Dorna whispered, pointing towards the second floor.
She bounded up the stairs, determined to save at least one member of the Blake family. Yanny and Xanos followed closely behind, clutching their weapons nervously. They burst through the bedroom door, weapons drawn, to find a horrified, shaking kobold huddling in the corner. The creature was holding the baby close to its chest, making futile attempts to soothe crying Tynan.
The friends stopped cold in their tracks, not daring to come any closer.
It felt as if time had stopped and everything froze in motion. Yanny could hear the blood pumping through his veins so loudly he thought he was standing in the middle of an ice storm.
“Me stole the baby, stupid human man!” The kobold shrieked, shuddering violently.
Yanny thought the little lizard was surely going to drop the baby.
“Me gots control of you now!”
Yanny took a deep breath to steady himself.
“Just give me the baby and I will let you go,” he promised, his voice non-threatening.
“Me not think so! Kobolds love them children, so do you. If you want it, you must gives me shiny gem in return. You gets shiny gem and gives to me!”
Yanny breathed a sigh of relief. The kobold was willing to negotiate and that boded well for little Tynan. He sheathed his weapons, bade for the others to do the same, and reached inside his pouch, producing a small amethyst.
“Here is a nice shiny gem,” Yanny said, taking a cautious step forward. “Now give me that child.”
The kobold’s serpentine eyes lit up in excitement, matching the glow of the gem. The creature snatched the precious stone and squeaked in glee, “Me so happy, me is now going. You take smelly baby! Him make big stink.”
Yanny took another cautious step forward and took the baby. The kobold hooted in glee and darted for the door.
“Well, that was easy,” Xanos grumbled.
He stuck out his massive foot, tripping the kobold and sending it tumbling down the stairs with a loud crash. Dorna spat in disgust and took a step closer, a healing spell ready on her lips.
The small bundle of joy seemed to be emanating a peculiar odor and Yanny winced, trying hard not to gag. Little Tynan stopped crying and looked up at him with beautiful blue eyes, making funny giggling sounds.
“So cute,” Dorna whispered. She smiled and planted a big kiss on Tynan’s cheek. The baby giggled and grabbed at the dwarf’s nose, squeezing tightly.
“A feisty little lad,” Yanny observed with a laugh. His face turned grim and he added, “Just like his father.”
“Yes, this one is a survivor, no doubt,” Xanos mused. “Now, there is a small matter of informing his mother about Adam’s death and I can already feel her loud keening stabbing me through my very heart.”
“This is going to be tough for her to take,” Yanny said with a sigh.
☼☼☼☼☼
The friends found Nora cowering between the pine trees near the house. The woman ran towards them and the concern in her beautiful face turned into a smile upon seeing the precious little bundle.
“Oh, Tynan, my precious little boy!” She exclaimed lovingly. “How I feared you were dead. But… where is Adam? He… he is still alive, isn’t he? Please tell me I am not a widow!”
Yanny took a deep breath. This was going to hurt.
“I am afraid Adam did not survive.”
“No!” Poor Nora seemed to be melting away before their very eyes.
She dropped to the ground and let out a long wail of purest sorrow that echoed through the air. Dorna sobbed softly and wiped the unwanted tears from her eyes. She bent low to comfort the young widow who was crying uncontrollably, the loud sobs shaking her entire body.
“No! Poor, brave Adam. Those monsters murdered him! How can the gods be so cruel?”
Dorna hugged the woman comfortingly.
“Now, now,” she said. “There is still hope for you, Nora. The gods work in mysterious ways and they smiled brightly upon Tynan, sparing the child’s life.”
“Yes,” Nora contended with a sob. “At… at least I have Tynan, a beautiful child to remember Adam by. I have my home and my wedding ring, as well. Of course, without Adam to support me, I guess I will have to sell the ring, just to help me until I can find a job.”
“Now, now,” Dorna said soothingly, “you do not have to do that, Nora. Surely you do not want to part with the wedding ring – it is a reminder of Adam’s love and his valiant sacrifice. Would it help if I gave you some gold?”
“Oh, Dorna, I could not ask that of you,” Nora replied with a sob. “If not for you, my child would be dead too. I mean… it would be helpful, but I am sure I can survive if I sell my…”
“Please, Nora, we insist,” Xanos interrupted the poor woman. “It is the least we can do for you.”
The half-orcish brute looked at Dorna questioningly – the money he had lost during the bet could now be put to good cause.
“Yes, Nora, we insist,” Dorna added, producing the bulging purse. “Fifty shiny ones from all of us.”
Nora gasped in awe and exclaimed, “I would never have believed that anyone could be so kind. Be assured that Tynan will be raised to know who his saviors are. I will sing your praises in his ear and someday, if I raise him properly, perhaps he will grow up to emulate you. May Tymora smile upon you and thank you again.”
The friends did not talk during their short trek back to the town proper – there was nothing they could say or do to relieve Nora’s emotional pain. At least little Tynan was alive, Yanny kept thinking, and that in itself was a miracle.
“Thank you, Mystra,” Yanny said and he was truly thankful.
☼☼☼☼☼
The halfling caravan came into view just then, reminding him of the disaster perpetrated by the kobolds, reminding him that many other people had suffered greatly this day. Three halfling guards were sprawled on the ground, moaning in pain.
A beautiful halfling woman in black leather armor was tending to their wounds, but it was obvious she was not greatly versed in the arts of healing.
Yanny looked at Dorna and the young dwarven cleric nodded in understanding. She walked past three most curious looking halflings and kneeled over a wounded guard.
She touched her holy symbol and proclaimed, “Vergadain, great Laughing God, hear me. Heal this unfortunate adventurer!” She placed her hands on the guard’s body and channeled the divine energy through it, mending the damage. The halfling gasped in relief, while the others gasped in surprise, and opened his eyes.
“Them damn little rat lizards ain’t gonna get away with it, I tell ya!” the guard jumped to his short feet, clutching his little sword. “Come back here an’ fight, ye good fer nothin’…”
“Oh shut yourself up and greet your savior, will you,” the female halfling scolded him, squinting her eyes dangerously, “before I knock you out senseless.”
She turned to regard Dorna and bowed politely.
“Oh, sorry ‘bout that, boss,” the guard replied sheepishly and turned to regard Dorna. “Well met and thank ye, kind lady. You saved me life and I be forever in yer debt.”
The halfling swept into a low bow and overbalanced. He toppled to the snow with a profound yawn and was soon snoring contentedly.
Yanny approached the caravan leader while Dorna tended to the other guards. The female halfling was a pretty little thing, with large brown eyes, flowing black hair, and cute little nose and ears. She appeared youthful and full of energy, but Yanny also sensed an aura of wisdom and authority around her. He bowed politely and smiled cheerfully despite the emotions nagging at his heart.
“Well met, good lady. I am Yanny, apprentice to Master Drogan and a humble servant of nature. Meet my fellow apprentices and friends. The young cleric kneeling over your associates is Dorna and the big brute standing behind me is Xanos, a sorcerer of renowned prowess.”
“That so?” the halfling replied with a dazzling smile and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Dwarven wizard is your teacher then? I remember him. He’s come to give me messages to take on to other towns sometimes. Pays handsomely. The name is Katriana. We don’t tend to look much to others for help, but… thank you kindly. I appreciate what you are doing for my guards, though their salaries will suffer from their lack of competence. What’s with the sobbing woman, anyway?”
“Sadly, Nora’s husband has been killed by the kobolds,” Yanny replied with a frown.
Katriana gasped and shook her head in horror, her beautiful eyes turning a dark shade of sadness.
“Torias,” she barked at the dark-haired halfling who was busily gaping at Dorna. “Come here you dolt! Go inside and fetch a nice toy for the baby.”
“Yes, Katriana,” Torias replied happily and darted for the merchandise wagon.
He emerged almost immediately holding a magnificent short sword and flipped the blade in the air.
“A bit sharp for a toy but perfect for the young feisty boy! Bwahaha!”
Katriana sighed deeply.
“I’ve heard mention of your caravan,” Dorna said when she was done with her prayers. “Master Drogan said you come through here on regular basis and have for many years.”
“For generations, actually,” Katriana replied. “It’s something like a family trading route we follow. A relatively safe one, if there is such a thing as traveling safely through the Silver Marches…Until today, in any case. The kobolds came out of nowhere and tried to rob us.”
“Better than trying to kill you,” Dorna mused.
“Well, truth be told, they made a fair attempt at that also. They didn’t get away with anything important, except… they took Daschnaya’s cards, sadly.”
“Daschnaya?” Yanny echoed.
“Yes, our fortune teller. She’s locked herself in her wagon and doesn’t want to come out. She makes a bit of coin at the towns we stop at. Her family’s been using those cards for generations… it’s a sad day that we’ve lost them.”
“You mean these?” Dorna asked, producing a neat stack of intricately designed playing cards. “I was going to use them as a heat source, but if they are yours…”
Katriana gasped in awe.
“Yes! These are the ones! Thank you, Dorna. Daschnaya will be most pleased!”
“So, you are the caravan leader,” Yanny stated the obvious.
“I lead this caravan, as did my grandfather before me and his mother before him. We trade, mostly, moving from town to town around the Silver Marches. Occasionally we’ll range farther west… but not since the plague in Neverwinter. We’re wanderers, for the most part, but I daresay we do well enough as merchants that we’re welcome most everywhere. It’s dangerous, by my own guess, and we are always looking for guards. The boys don’t do so bad when they’re not surprised like we were today.”
The dark-haired halfling who called himself Torias approached Dorna with undeniable sparkle of interest in his dark eyes. He dipped into a grand bow.
“Well met there, strangers,” he pronounced, smiling at Dorna. “I don’t suppose you have a rum-flavored cigar on you, by chance?”
“A what?”
“A rum-flavored cigar. It’s… well, never mind. Simply something I grew fond of in Amn, and I’ve recently run out. Ah, well. Pardon my manners, good lady. I am called Torias. And you are?”
“Dorna Trapspringer, if you must know.”
Torias dipped into another grand bow and came up smiling brightly.
“Then I am very pleased to meet you, Dorna Trapspringer. Never have I heard a name more beautiful, I must say!”
“You are a bit of a cheeky halfling, aren’t you?”
Torias laughed heartily, displaying a dazzling smile on his face.
“Well, maybe just a little bit, my good lady dwarf! Perhaps you’d care to join me in the enjoyment of some fine wine?”
“Sorry. I make it a policy never to date men whom I could crush accidentally.”
“Oh?” Torias replied with a sly wink. “It would be a pleasant enough way to go, I suppose.”
“Flatterer. You say that now.”
Dorna blushed profusely and turned to regard Katriana, hastily trying to change the subject.
“Don’t mind my cousin,” Katriana apologized with a shrug. “He is such a lady chaser. Torias, have some manners, for Tymora’s sake.”
“Yes, Katriana,” Torias replied, sending another dazzling smile in Dorna’s direction.
He dipped one final bow and bounded off happily to join the conversation taking place between Xanos and the twin halflings.
One of the twins poked his stubby finger in the big brute’s direction and mumbled something indecipherable. Xanos glared at the gaping halfling and grumbled under his breath.
“Don’t mind him,” the other twin explained. “My brother don’t talk much. Especially today, with all the fighting and such. Furten’s the name, good sir, and this here is my twin brother Birgen.”
“Xanos Messarmos,” the half-orc grumbled in reply.
Yanny smiled at the verbal exchange – Xanos was making some fine new friends indeed.
“So where are you headed next,” Dorna asked Katriana.
“I’m thinking we’ll be crossing the Anauroch desert. There’s goods out east that’ll bring a grand price when we head back this way.”
Yanny frowned as he recalled the visions from his divinations – a parched land devoid of life, a merciless wasteland known as the Anauroch desert. The troubles were far from over, and Yanny got a distinct impression that they had just begun.
“Perhaps we shall join you on your journey,” he mused.
“Like I said,” Katriana replied with a smile, “we are always looking for guards.”
☼☼☼☼☼
Master Drogan was lying on the floor, stunned from the blast, but otherwise unharmed. As Yanny rushed towards him, the good dwarf stirred, opened his eyes and regarded his student with unconcealed respect.
“Master Drogan,” Yanny exclaimed, “you are unharmed! Tymora smiles brightly upon us.”
“Come back here and fight, you smelly lizards!” Xanos was yelling, possessed by the emotions of a powerful battle rage.
But the smelly lizards did not oblige, opting instead to flee the house. They cleared out of the place in a matter of three heartbeats and retreated from Hilltop, running towards their smelly caves.
When the billowing cloud of smoke dissipated through the blasted door, it revealed the charred and maimed kobold carcasses strewn all over the floor. The defenders were all covered with black soot, but appeared to be otherwise unharmed.
The victory was apparently complete. The defenders gathered near Master Drogan, embracing each other and sharing a few laughs.
Their smiles were short-lived, though. Master Drogan got up to his feet with a grim face and said, “Well done, my dear students, well done, indeed. And I thank you, Ayala, for aiding us in these dire times.”
“What’s the grim face for then, Drogan?” Ayala asked, still clutching her sword and breathing heavily.
“Well, it depends on whether the pesky little creatures breached the magical wards I have placed in my laboratory. Yanny, my dear boy, would you go check up on Riisi, while we clean up this mess?”
“Certainly,” Yanny answered and headed towards the door leading into Master Drogan’s laboratory.
Upon entering, Yanny could immediately tell that the magical wards Master Drogan spoke of have been dispelled. Even from a distance, he could see that the large room was in disarray. Planks of splintered hardwood littered the place and Yanny noticed a few kobold tracks leading beyond the wards.
Master Drogan’s magnificent faerie dragon familiar was flapping her green butterfly wings agitatedly and moaning repeatedly.
“What a mess! Me-oh-my, what a mess!”
Riisi was visibly shaken and squeaking so quickly that Yanny could barely understand the words.
“Oh my,” Riisi exclaimed, noticing Yanny. “Is it another kobold come to wreak havoc on Master’s things? Well, Riisi will fight them, yes she will. She will protect her master’s things this time. No, no, no, it is someone I recognize! Yanny! Gladdens my heart, yes it does.”
“How are you, Riisi?” Yanny asked with concern in his voice.
“I am still being Riisi, oh yes. I am not dead, that is a good thing. But you should be knowing that kobolds stole Master’s stuff, yes they did! Please, oh please, Yanny, tell me that Master is unharmed!”
“Master Drogan is fine, Riisi.”
“Oh, Riisi is very glad to hear that. I was worried, oh yes I was. But you have put my mind to rest, yes you did.”
“What happened here, Riisi?”
“Oh, it was terrible, yes it was. I was just having a nap and dreaming about a lovely meadow filled with flowers and butterflies. It was wonderful, Yanny, yes it was. Well, I was woken by a dreadful noise and I immediately turned invisible. When I saw that dreadful kobolds were in the house, I though Master Drogan was surely in danger. I saw them coming to the laboratory and I knew they could not get across, and I thought it was going to be such fun watching them from behind the magic wards. I was about to appear to them and taunt them, yes I was, but then they stopped and you would not believe what they did, no you would not. They threw dust on the wards! It must have been magic dust, oh yes, or it would not have worked, no, no, no. Stupid ugly kobolds walked right through the wards and looted all of Master’s magic. Oh, shame on Riisi, shame, shame, shame. I hid. I was so scared and thought they were powerful kobolds, for they were the first to pass Master’s magic wards. Now Master will never trust Riisi again, oh no, he will not! Now Master will dismiss Riisi and she will have to leave and return to her home in disgrace. Except that Master is very loving, and maybe Riisi can earn back his trust by never letting anyone in ever again! Yes, yes, yes, that is it. Riisi will be the best guard ever! I will do a good job for dear Master. No more kobolds can enter here, no, no, no.”
“I am sure you will be the greatest guard ever, Riisi,” Yanny said and sighed.
The laboratory has been breached and something belonging to master Drogan was stolen.
☼☼☼☼☼
When Yanny exited the laboratory, Master Drogan was talking with Ayala in hushed tones. They both looked at him questioningly.
“The kobolds made off with some magical items, Master Drogan,” Yanny announced and the old dwarf groaned loudly.
“The Harpers have many enemies,” Ayala said thoughtfully. “I suspect one of them is responsible for this attack. I hope I am wrong.”
“I believe I can shed some light on that,” Master Drogan answered, nervously pacing the room. “It was the artifacts they were after. They are stolen, all four of them!”
“I thought as much,” Ayala said. “How could anyone have found out you even had them? This is terrible news.”
“What are you two about?” Dorna asked.
“When Drogan retired to Hilltop, the Harpers entrusted four dangerous artifacts to his care. We thought this area remote enough that they would be safe.”
“I do not know how they were discovered,” Master Drogan added. “But we shall have to find out. These artifacts are too powerful and can be put to dangerous use.”
Master Drogan sighed.
“Yanny, my eldest student. It is up to you. It is vital that you find these items and bring them back.”
There it was then, Yanny’s first opportunity to adventure, the first voyage beyond Hilltop, the true way to discover the wondrous magic hidden all across the realms.
Perhaps Yanny’s adventures would even take him to Waterdeep, the fabled City of Splendors!
“You can count on me, Master Drogan,” Yanny replied with undisguised excitement in his voice. “I shall not fail you.”
“Such courage, dear boy,” Master Drogan said, embracing Yanny. “You make me proud.”
“This shall be your final test. I know that you are ready! So much relies on you now. I know in my heart you will not let me down. Ayala and I shall remain here and guard the school, with the help of Mischa.”
Master Drogan turned to regard the promising young paladin of Mystra.
“You have fought valiantly, my dear lass, and I am proud of you.”
“Thank you, Master Drogan,” Mischa replied, blushing profusely.
“One more apprentice shall remain,” Master Drogan continued, “and another shall accompany Yanny.”
“I shall go with you, Yanny,” Dorna said determinedly. “Our skills will complement each other… and besides, I expect you’ll need some muscle to back you up.”
“Muscle?” Xanos huffed teasingly. “Eh? All I see is a little dwarf with very big mouth.”
“Better than a half-orc with an oversized ego,” Dorna countered, smiling.
“You make fun of Xanos, but you shall see,” Xanos parried, laughing heartily. “Yanny will pick Xanos gladly and then Xanos will laugh at you.”
“Should we make a little bet, then?” Dorna winked at Xanos, and everybody in the library shared a laugh despite the ominous situation they were currently in. “Fifty gold coins should settle this nicely. What say you?”
“My little dwarven friend,” Xanos said, dangling his bulging belt pouch in front of Dorna’s plump face. “I shall gladly accept your gold and add it to mine.”
Yanny made his decision quickly.
“I believe I shall ask Dorna to accompany me as her sneaky skills could prove to be useful.”
“Well, you know me,” Dorna laughed, producing two magic wands from the folds of her leather vest and waving them playfully before the half-orc’s face.
“If you need sharp eyes to watch for ambushes, or a nasty trap dealt with, I am your girl. Worry not, Xanos. You can purchase one of these from me, for fifty gold pieces.”
“Where did you get these?” Yanny asked, with admiration in his voice.
“Oh, I swiped them from the little kobolds during the fight,” Dorna smiled innocently.
“It’s a deal then, my sneaky dwarven friend,” Xanos laughed, handing over his purse. ”I shall gladly exchange my gold for your wares.”
“Great,” Dorna replied, giving the second wand to Yanny. “We’ll have Master Drogan’s artifacts in no time… and maybe pick up a coin or two for ourselves along the way. Through the grace of Vergadain, we shall return victorious!”
“There is no time for this discussion now,” Master Drogan said with another deep sigh. “The villagers are in dire need of our help, I can feel it in my old bones.”
“We must go now!” Dorna exclaimed, concern creeping into her voice. “We must check on the villagers to make sure the nasty little kobolds did not wreak complete havoc on our fair town during their escape!”
“We must set out immediately,” Yanny replied, nodding in agreement.
“I shall accompany you, my friends,” Xanos said, clutching his dagger and looking questioningly upon Master Drogan. The old dwarf stroked his singed beard in contemplation, sighed heavily, and nodded his approval.
“My dear students,” he said, “if I may make a suggestion... The Blake family lives on a farm just outside of the main gate, which is dangerously far away from the town proper during these dire times, by my own guess. Nora and Adam had a baby not even three months ago, and something tells me you should check up on them.”
“We shall certainly do that,” Yanny promised, “and with all haste for they may indeed be in trouble.”
“Well,” Dorna mused, “since we are to remain in town at least for a short while, we might as well stop by the community hall to check up on the mayor, after we check up on the Blake family of course. He may be in need of our help after the kobold attack.”
“In that case, we should also visit the Bubbling Cauldron,” Yanny added, referring to the town’s only tavern.
☼☼☼☼☼
The apprentices exited the house with all haste and made their way towards the town proper. Even from a distance, the devastating truth of the raid was becoming painfully apparent. Dead bodies of kobolds, villagers and local animals were strewn about the place, crimson red blood staining the snow on the ground.
As the students passed by the Bubbling Cauldron, they could hear the sounds of angry shouting, smashed dinnerware, and loud arguing emanating from within. They could not dare to investigate the mayhem immediately though, fearing for the safety of the Blake family.
As the friends ran towards the town gate, they witnessed an even more curious sight – a congregation of villagers mulling about the place, listening intently to the ecstatic cries of an old man. Yanny recognized him as Piper, a local scoundrel who had grand delusions of being a fortune teller.
“Doom!” Piper was yelling at the top of his lungs. “Doom is upon us!”
The friends did not have time to investigate the commotion – a strange sensation nagged at their hearts, an instinctive feeling of being too late to save the Blake family. They ran on as fast as they could, passing by a curious halfling caravan on their way, but they realized that something was terribly wrong as soon as the rooftop of the Blake house came into view.
A young woman, barefoot and barely dressed, was running towards them, sobbing and whimpering with every step. Yanny rushed to embrace her and the young woman dug her face into his tunic, weeping openly.
“Oh Yanny!” the woman exclaimed through loud sobs. “Thank the gods you are here! You must help me, please! Kobolds attacked our home. Adam and I were still in bed when they burst into our room. We climbed out the window and Adam helped me down, then he went back in the front door. He went to save little Tynan, but he hasn’t returned. Tynan is only two months old. Please, Yanny, you must save them!”
“Calm down, Nora,” Yanny replied soothingly. “We are here to help.”
“Oh, thank you, Yanny,” Nora replied, shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. She was obviously in shock.
“Please hurry!”
“There is no time to waste,” Dorna said.
She looked at the weeping woman with concern – this was going to be a tough day indeed for poor Nora if they were too late.
“Wait for us here.”
Nora nodded in understanding and would have dropped to the ground from exhaustion, but Xanos was there in a flash, gently setting her down on the cold snow with his muscled arms.
The three friends ran on as fast as they could, Nora’s desperate cries for help ringing loudly in their ears.
“Hurry! Please hurry!”
A heart wrenching scene awaited the friends as they inched cautiously towards the house entrance. The dead body of Adam Blake lay in a pool of his own blood just beyond the blasted door. His unseeing eyes were staring at the ceiling, the images of pure terror forever captured into his dilated pupils.
Cackling sounds of his murderers emanated from within – the kobolds were undoubtedly celebrating their small victory.
Dorna peeked inside and quickly pulled away, holding up four fingers.
“The baby?” Yanny mouthed with his lips.
Dorna shook her head slowly, pointing towards the second floor. The loud cries of the infant could indeed be heard from upstairs, mixed with other, barely perceptible sounds.
That was all the encouragement the friends needed as they drew their weapons.
Silent as death, grim faces promising a world of pain, the friends entered the house. The dumb kobolds were playing cards at the kitchen table, their crossbows not even loaded. Caught by surprise, they shrieked in terror and fell all over each other, fumbling to draw their puny swords.
Dorna’s eyes lit up brightly with a vengeful gleam, but brighter still flashed her battle axe as it spun through the air, blasting one of the creatures in the chest. Yanny did not even get a chance to vent his own anger as Dorna and Xanos descended upon the remaining kobolds. The young dwarven cleric slammed her shield over a creature’s head, splattering the brains all over the hardwood floor.
Yanny bent over and spewed the contents of his morning meal.
The remaining two kobolds finally managed to bring up their swords, poking them at Dorna’s midsection. She swatted their attacks aside with her shield and grabbed one of the creatures by its tiny neck.
Yanny could not see through his teary eyes but he clearly heard the resounding snap of the broken spine. The remaining kobold shrieked in horror and attempted to run for it, but the half-orc brute swiped it into the air with his huge hands.
Yanny heard the wet sound of flesh being torn apart and vomited again.
“The baby is still alive,” Dorna whispered, pointing towards the second floor.
She bounded up the stairs, determined to save at least one member of the Blake family. Yanny and Xanos followed closely behind, clutching their weapons nervously. They burst through the bedroom door, weapons drawn, to find a horrified, shaking kobold huddling in the corner. The creature was holding the baby close to its chest, making futile attempts to soothe crying Tynan.
The friends stopped cold in their tracks, not daring to come any closer.
It felt as if time had stopped and everything froze in motion. Yanny could hear the blood pumping through his veins so loudly he thought he was standing in the middle of an ice storm.
“Me stole the baby, stupid human man!” The kobold shrieked, shuddering violently.
Yanny thought the little lizard was surely going to drop the baby.
“Me gots control of you now!”
Yanny took a deep breath to steady himself.
“Just give me the baby and I will let you go,” he promised, his voice non-threatening.
“Me not think so! Kobolds love them children, so do you. If you want it, you must gives me shiny gem in return. You gets shiny gem and gives to me!”
Yanny breathed a sigh of relief. The kobold was willing to negotiate and that boded well for little Tynan. He sheathed his weapons, bade for the others to do the same, and reached inside his pouch, producing a small amethyst.
“Here is a nice shiny gem,” Yanny said, taking a cautious step forward. “Now give me that child.”
The kobold’s serpentine eyes lit up in excitement, matching the glow of the gem. The creature snatched the precious stone and squeaked in glee, “Me so happy, me is now going. You take smelly baby! Him make big stink.”
Yanny took another cautious step forward and took the baby. The kobold hooted in glee and darted for the door.
“Well, that was easy,” Xanos grumbled.
He stuck out his massive foot, tripping the kobold and sending it tumbling down the stairs with a loud crash. Dorna spat in disgust and took a step closer, a healing spell ready on her lips.
The small bundle of joy seemed to be emanating a peculiar odor and Yanny winced, trying hard not to gag. Little Tynan stopped crying and looked up at him with beautiful blue eyes, making funny giggling sounds.
“So cute,” Dorna whispered. She smiled and planted a big kiss on Tynan’s cheek. The baby giggled and grabbed at the dwarf’s nose, squeezing tightly.
“A feisty little lad,” Yanny observed with a laugh. His face turned grim and he added, “Just like his father.”
“Yes, this one is a survivor, no doubt,” Xanos mused. “Now, there is a small matter of informing his mother about Adam’s death and I can already feel her loud keening stabbing me through my very heart.”
“This is going to be tough for her to take,” Yanny said with a sigh.
☼☼☼☼☼
The friends found Nora cowering between the pine trees near the house. The woman ran towards them and the concern in her beautiful face turned into a smile upon seeing the precious little bundle.
“Oh, Tynan, my precious little boy!” She exclaimed lovingly. “How I feared you were dead. But… where is Adam? He… he is still alive, isn’t he? Please tell me I am not a widow!”
Yanny took a deep breath. This was going to hurt.
“I am afraid Adam did not survive.”
“No!” Poor Nora seemed to be melting away before their very eyes.
She dropped to the ground and let out a long wail of purest sorrow that echoed through the air. Dorna sobbed softly and wiped the unwanted tears from her eyes. She bent low to comfort the young widow who was crying uncontrollably, the loud sobs shaking her entire body.
“No! Poor, brave Adam. Those monsters murdered him! How can the gods be so cruel?”
Dorna hugged the woman comfortingly.
“Now, now,” she said. “There is still hope for you, Nora. The gods work in mysterious ways and they smiled brightly upon Tynan, sparing the child’s life.”
“Yes,” Nora contended with a sob. “At… at least I have Tynan, a beautiful child to remember Adam by. I have my home and my wedding ring, as well. Of course, without Adam to support me, I guess I will have to sell the ring, just to help me until I can find a job.”
“Now, now,” Dorna said soothingly, “you do not have to do that, Nora. Surely you do not want to part with the wedding ring – it is a reminder of Adam’s love and his valiant sacrifice. Would it help if I gave you some gold?”
“Oh, Dorna, I could not ask that of you,” Nora replied with a sob. “If not for you, my child would be dead too. I mean… it would be helpful, but I am sure I can survive if I sell my…”
“Please, Nora, we insist,” Xanos interrupted the poor woman. “It is the least we can do for you.”
The half-orcish brute looked at Dorna questioningly – the money he had lost during the bet could now be put to good cause.
“Yes, Nora, we insist,” Dorna added, producing the bulging purse. “Fifty shiny ones from all of us.”
Nora gasped in awe and exclaimed, “I would never have believed that anyone could be so kind. Be assured that Tynan will be raised to know who his saviors are. I will sing your praises in his ear and someday, if I raise him properly, perhaps he will grow up to emulate you. May Tymora smile upon you and thank you again.”
The friends did not talk during their short trek back to the town proper – there was nothing they could say or do to relieve Nora’s emotional pain. At least little Tynan was alive, Yanny kept thinking, and that in itself was a miracle.
“Thank you, Mystra,” Yanny said and he was truly thankful.
☼☼☼☼☼
The halfling caravan came into view just then, reminding him of the disaster perpetrated by the kobolds, reminding him that many other people had suffered greatly this day. Three halfling guards were sprawled on the ground, moaning in pain.
A beautiful halfling woman in black leather armor was tending to their wounds, but it was obvious she was not greatly versed in the arts of healing.
Yanny looked at Dorna and the young dwarven cleric nodded in understanding. She walked past three most curious looking halflings and kneeled over a wounded guard.
She touched her holy symbol and proclaimed, “Vergadain, great Laughing God, hear me. Heal this unfortunate adventurer!” She placed her hands on the guard’s body and channeled the divine energy through it, mending the damage. The halfling gasped in relief, while the others gasped in surprise, and opened his eyes.
“Them damn little rat lizards ain’t gonna get away with it, I tell ya!” the guard jumped to his short feet, clutching his little sword. “Come back here an’ fight, ye good fer nothin’…”
“Oh shut yourself up and greet your savior, will you,” the female halfling scolded him, squinting her eyes dangerously, “before I knock you out senseless.”
She turned to regard Dorna and bowed politely.
“Oh, sorry ‘bout that, boss,” the guard replied sheepishly and turned to regard Dorna. “Well met and thank ye, kind lady. You saved me life and I be forever in yer debt.”
The halfling swept into a low bow and overbalanced. He toppled to the snow with a profound yawn and was soon snoring contentedly.
Yanny approached the caravan leader while Dorna tended to the other guards. The female halfling was a pretty little thing, with large brown eyes, flowing black hair, and cute little nose and ears. She appeared youthful and full of energy, but Yanny also sensed an aura of wisdom and authority around her. He bowed politely and smiled cheerfully despite the emotions nagging at his heart.
“Well met, good lady. I am Yanny, apprentice to Master Drogan and a humble servant of nature. Meet my fellow apprentices and friends. The young cleric kneeling over your associates is Dorna and the big brute standing behind me is Xanos, a sorcerer of renowned prowess.”
“That so?” the halfling replied with a dazzling smile and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Dwarven wizard is your teacher then? I remember him. He’s come to give me messages to take on to other towns sometimes. Pays handsomely. The name is Katriana. We don’t tend to look much to others for help, but… thank you kindly. I appreciate what you are doing for my guards, though their salaries will suffer from their lack of competence. What’s with the sobbing woman, anyway?”
“Sadly, Nora’s husband has been killed by the kobolds,” Yanny replied with a frown.
Katriana gasped and shook her head in horror, her beautiful eyes turning a dark shade of sadness.
“Torias,” she barked at the dark-haired halfling who was busily gaping at Dorna. “Come here you dolt! Go inside and fetch a nice toy for the baby.”
“Yes, Katriana,” Torias replied happily and darted for the merchandise wagon.
He emerged almost immediately holding a magnificent short sword and flipped the blade in the air.
“A bit sharp for a toy but perfect for the young feisty boy! Bwahaha!”
Katriana sighed deeply.
“I’ve heard mention of your caravan,” Dorna said when she was done with her prayers. “Master Drogan said you come through here on regular basis and have for many years.”
“For generations, actually,” Katriana replied. “It’s something like a family trading route we follow. A relatively safe one, if there is such a thing as traveling safely through the Silver Marches…Until today, in any case. The kobolds came out of nowhere and tried to rob us.”
“Better than trying to kill you,” Dorna mused.
“Well, truth be told, they made a fair attempt at that also. They didn’t get away with anything important, except… they took Daschnaya’s cards, sadly.”
“Daschnaya?” Yanny echoed.
“Yes, our fortune teller. She’s locked herself in her wagon and doesn’t want to come out. She makes a bit of coin at the towns we stop at. Her family’s been using those cards for generations… it’s a sad day that we’ve lost them.”
“You mean these?” Dorna asked, producing a neat stack of intricately designed playing cards. “I was going to use them as a heat source, but if they are yours…”
Katriana gasped in awe.
“Yes! These are the ones! Thank you, Dorna. Daschnaya will be most pleased!”
“So, you are the caravan leader,” Yanny stated the obvious.
“I lead this caravan, as did my grandfather before me and his mother before him. We trade, mostly, moving from town to town around the Silver Marches. Occasionally we’ll range farther west… but not since the plague in Neverwinter. We’re wanderers, for the most part, but I daresay we do well enough as merchants that we’re welcome most everywhere. It’s dangerous, by my own guess, and we are always looking for guards. The boys don’t do so bad when they’re not surprised like we were today.”
The dark-haired halfling who called himself Torias approached Dorna with undeniable sparkle of interest in his dark eyes. He dipped into a grand bow.
“Well met there, strangers,” he pronounced, smiling at Dorna. “I don’t suppose you have a rum-flavored cigar on you, by chance?”
“A what?”
“A rum-flavored cigar. It’s… well, never mind. Simply something I grew fond of in Amn, and I’ve recently run out. Ah, well. Pardon my manners, good lady. I am called Torias. And you are?”
“Dorna Trapspringer, if you must know.”
Torias dipped into another grand bow and came up smiling brightly.
“Then I am very pleased to meet you, Dorna Trapspringer. Never have I heard a name more beautiful, I must say!”
“You are a bit of a cheeky halfling, aren’t you?”
Torias laughed heartily, displaying a dazzling smile on his face.
“Well, maybe just a little bit, my good lady dwarf! Perhaps you’d care to join me in the enjoyment of some fine wine?”
“Sorry. I make it a policy never to date men whom I could crush accidentally.”
“Oh?” Torias replied with a sly wink. “It would be a pleasant enough way to go, I suppose.”
“Flatterer. You say that now.”
Dorna blushed profusely and turned to regard Katriana, hastily trying to change the subject.
“Don’t mind my cousin,” Katriana apologized with a shrug. “He is such a lady chaser. Torias, have some manners, for Tymora’s sake.”
“Yes, Katriana,” Torias replied, sending another dazzling smile in Dorna’s direction.
He dipped one final bow and bounded off happily to join the conversation taking place between Xanos and the twin halflings.
One of the twins poked his stubby finger in the big brute’s direction and mumbled something indecipherable. Xanos glared at the gaping halfling and grumbled under his breath.
“Don’t mind him,” the other twin explained. “My brother don’t talk much. Especially today, with all the fighting and such. Furten’s the name, good sir, and this here is my twin brother Birgen.”
“Xanos Messarmos,” the half-orc grumbled in reply.
Yanny smiled at the verbal exchange – Xanos was making some fine new friends indeed.
“So where are you headed next,” Dorna asked Katriana.
“I’m thinking we’ll be crossing the Anauroch desert. There’s goods out east that’ll bring a grand price when we head back this way.”
Yanny frowned as he recalled the visions from his divinations – a parched land devoid of life, a merciless wasteland known as the Anauroch desert. The troubles were far from over, and Yanny got a distinct impression that they had just begun.
“Perhaps we shall join you on your journey,” he mused.
“Like I said,” Katriana replied with a smile, “we are always looking for guards.”☼☼☼☼☼
Master Drogan was lying on the floor, stunned from the blast, but otherwise unharmed. As Yanny rushed towards him, the good dwarf stirred, opened his eyes and regarded his student with unconcealed respect.
“Master Drogan,” Yanny exclaimed, “you are unharmed! Tymora smiles brightly upon us.”
“Come back here and fight, you smelly lizards!” Xanos was yelling, possessed by the emotions of a powerful battle rage.
But the smelly lizards did not oblige, opting instead to flee the house. They cleared out of the place in a matter of three heartbeats and retreated from Hilltop, running towards their smelly caves.
When the billowing cloud of smoke dissipated through the blasted door, it revealed the charred and maimed kobold carcasses strewn all over the floor. The defenders were all covered with black soot, but appeared to be otherwise unharmed.
The victory was apparently complete. The defenders gathered near Master Drogan, embracing each other and sharing a few laughs.
Their smiles were short-lived, though. Master Drogan got up to his feet with a grim face and said, “Well done, my dear students, well done, indeed. And I thank you, Ayala, for aiding us in these dire times.”
“What’s the grim face for then, Drogan?” Ayala asked, still clutching her sword and breathing heavily.
“Well, it depends on whether the pesky little creatures breached the magical wards I have placed in my laboratory. Yanny, my dear boy, would you go check up on Riisi, while we clean up this mess?”
“Certainly,” Yanny answered and headed towards the door leading into Master Drogan’s laboratory.
Upon entering, Yanny could immediately tell that the magical wards Master Drogan spoke of have been dispelled. Even from a distance, he could see that the large room was in disarray. Planks of splintered hardwood littered the place and Yanny noticed a few kobold tracks leading beyond the wards.
Master Drogan’s magnificent faerie dragon familiar was flapping her green butterfly wings agitatedly and moaning repeatedly.
“What a mess! Me-oh-my, what a mess!”
Riisi was visibly shaken and squeaking so quickly that Yanny could barely understand the words.
“Oh my,” Riisi exclaimed, noticing Yanny. “Is it another kobold come to wreak havoc on Master’s things? Well, Riisi will fight them, yes she will. She will protect her master’s things this time. No, no, no, it is someone I recognize! Yanny! Gladdens my heart, yes it does.”
“How are you, Riisi?” Yanny asked with concern in his voice.
“I am still being Riisi, oh yes. I am not dead, that is a good thing. But you should be knowing that kobolds stole Master’s stuff, yes they did! Please, oh please, Yanny, tell me that Master is unharmed!”
“Master Drogan is fine, Riisi.”
“Oh, Riisi is very glad to hear that. I was worried, oh yes I was. But you have put my mind to rest, yes you did.”
“What happened here, Riisi?”
“Oh, it was terrible, yes it was. I was just having a nap and dreaming about a lovely meadow filled with flowers and butterflies. It was wonderful, Yanny, yes it was. Well, I was woken by a dreadful noise and I immediately turned invisible. When I saw that dreadful kobolds were in the house, I though Master Drogan was surely in danger. I saw them coming to the laboratory and I knew they could not get across, and I thought it was going to be such fun watching them from behind the magic wards. I was about to appear to them and taunt them, yes I was, but then they stopped and you would not believe what they did, no you would not. They threw dust on the wards! It must have been magic dust, oh yes, or it would not have worked, no, no, no. Stupid ugly kobolds walked right through the wards and looted all of Master’s magic. Oh, shame on Riisi, shame, shame, shame. I hid. I was so scared and thought they were powerful kobolds, for they were the first to pass Master’s magic wards. Now Master will never trust Riisi again, oh no, he will not! Now Master will dismiss Riisi and she will have to leave and return to her home in disgrace. Except that Master is very loving, and maybe Riisi can earn back his trust by never letting anyone in ever again! Yes, yes, yes, that is it. Riisi will be the best guard ever! I will do a good job for dear Master. No more kobolds can enter here, no, no, no.”
“I am sure you will be the greatest guard ever, Riisi,” Yanny said and sighed.
The laboratory has been breached and something belonging to master Drogan was stolen.
☼☼☼☼☼
When Yanny exited the laboratory, Master Drogan was talking with Ayala in hushed tones. They both looked at him questioningly.
“The kobolds made off with some magical items, Master Drogan,” Yanny announced and the old dwarf groaned loudly.
“The Harpers have many enemies,” Ayala said thoughtfully. “I suspect one of them is responsible for this attack. I hope I am wrong.”
“I believe I can shed some light on that,” Master Drogan answered, nervously pacing the room. “It was the artifacts they were after. They are stolen, all four of them!”
“I thought as much,” Ayala said. “How could anyone have found out you even had them? This is terrible news.”
“What are you two about?” Dorna asked.
“When Drogan retired to Hilltop, the Harpers entrusted four dangerous artifacts to his care. We thought this area remote enough that they would be safe.”
“I do not know how they were discovered,” Master Drogan added. “But we shall have to find out. These artifacts are too powerful and can be put to dangerous use.”
Master Drogan sighed.
“Yanny, my eldest student. It is up to you. It is vital that you find these items and bring them back.”
There it was then, Yanny’s first opportunity to adventure, the first voyage beyond Hilltop, the true way to discover the wondrous magic hidden all across the realms.
Perhaps Yanny’s adventures would even take him to Waterdeep, the fabled City of Splendors!
“You can count on me, Master Drogan,” Yanny replied with undisguised excitement in his voice. “I shall not fail you.”
“Such courage, dear boy,” Master Drogan said, embracing Yanny. “You make me proud.”
“This shall be your final test. I know that you are ready! So much relies on you now. I know in my heart you will not let me down. Ayala and I shall remain here and guard the school, with the help of Mischa.”
Master Drogan turned to regard the promising young paladin of Mystra.
“You have fought valiantly, my dear lass, and I am proud of you.”
“Thank you, Master Drogan,” Mischa replied, blushing profusely.
“One more apprentice shall remain,” Master Drogan continued, “and another shall accompany Yanny.”
“I shall go with you, Yanny,” Dorna said determinedly. “Our skills will complement each other… and besides, I expect you’ll need some muscle to back you up.”
“Muscle?” Xanos huffed teasingly. “Eh? All I see is a little dwarf with very big mouth.”
“Better than a half-orc with an oversized ego,” Dorna countered, smiling.
“You make fun of Xanos, but you shall see,” Xanos parried, laughing heartily. “Yanny will pick Xanos gladly and then Xanos will laugh at you.”
“Should we make a little bet, then?” Dorna winked at Xanos, and everybody in the library shared a laugh despite the ominous situation they were currently in. “Fifty gold coins should settle this nicely. What say you?”
“My little dwarven friend,” Xanos said, dangling his bulging belt pouch in front of Dorna’s plump face. “I shall gladly accept your gold and add it to mine.”
Yanny made his decision quickly.
“I believe I shall ask Dorna to accompany me as her sneaky skills could prove to be useful.”
“Well, you know me,” Dorna laughed, producing two magic wands from the folds of her leather vest and waving them playfully before the half-orc’s face.
“If you need sharp eyes to watch for ambushes, or a nasty trap dealt with, I am your girl. Worry not, Xanos. You can purchase one of these from m
