title
stringlengths 4
7
| article
stringlengths 617
10.4k
| text
stringlengths 617
10.4k
| input_ids
list | attention_mask
list | labels
list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dnd500
|
He was too close to effectively stab or cut, but he punched out with his left, the pommel of Twinkle crunching into the drow wizard’s face and staggering him backward.He fought hard to hold his balance as Drizzt fell back over him—and surely Drizzt could have finished him then, for the wizard clearly wasn’t prepared for an enemy to so quickly circumvent his powerful pet.Drizzt rushed in close, preventing any somatic spellcasting movements.Again the wizard flung a fan of fires at him—and Drizzt noted that the drow focused on a curious ring as he did—and again Drizzt’s scimitar minimized the effect.He closed further and loosed a barrage of punches at the drow, driving his pommels all around the wizard’s head and chest.He had to be done with this quickly, he knew, and he attacked all the more furiously, expecting that monstrous elemental to come charging in from behind.“Run!” Entreri said to Dahlia, and he grabbed her hard as she started off after Drizzt.“Run!”“No!” she shouted, then both jumped as the bow and quiver bounced down in the diminishing line of fire before them.“Grab it!” Dahlia ordered.“I’m no archer!”The elemental issued an earthquake roar and thrashed around, then charged at them.“Grab it!” Dahlia yelled again, setting her long staff out before her.“Just shoot!”Spitting curses, Entreri took up the bow, grabbed an arrow from the quiver, and let fly at the approaching monster.The arrow barely got away before Dahlia’s magical staff swallowed it.“What are you doing?” Entreri yelled at her.“Just shoot!” she yelled back through chattering teeth.He did, and again, and Kozah’s Needle ate the bolt, and arcs of lightning magic danced all around the metallic staff, stinging Dahlia’s hands as she stubbornly held on.She rushed forward and thrust the end of the staff against the charging fiery behemoth, and in a great flash of lightning, the monster was thrown back a step.Another arrow almost hit the beast, but Dahlia’s staff got it at the last instant.She struck again, a lesser blow, but one that stole the monster’s momentum.They worked in rhythm, Entreri putting arrows into the air and Dahlia’s weapon absorbing them and redirecting the magic against the elemental with brutal, enhanced strikes.Shards of stone and bursts of flame accompanied each hit as the elf warrior chipped away at the elemental’s magical form.Never did Dahlia more need that extended reach, for she had to stay out of the sweeping radius of those explosive, rock and fire arms.She had to be perfect in her dance and in her strikes.But still the lethal behemoth came on, and Dahlia and Entreri had to give ground.Drizzt had gained a great advantage with his desperate charge, catching the wizard by surprise, and he was experienced enough against spellcasters to understand that he needed to press that advantage through to a swift victory.The mage flailed, trying to block, but the blows came too swiftly and from too many angles.One got through cleanly to crunch the mage’s skull, and he staggered back against the wall, waving his hands out defensively before him.And calling again on the ring, Drizzt recognized, and across came Icingdeath, cutting that hand in half, fingers flying.The mage howled and crumbled, and Drizzt spun and circle-kicked him hard in the side of the head, laying him low.The ranger spun back the other way, just in time to see the flash and hear the report of thunder again as Dahlia struck the behemoth and Kozah’s Needle released its lightning charge.He took a quick step but pulled up short, for there before him lay the severed piece of hand, four fingers intact, and a ruby band on one.Reflexively, the drow dropped and pulled off the ring, hardly thinking as he slipped it onto his own finger.He felt strange.The ring sang to him as if in accord with his scimitar … but there was something more.Drizzt staggered under the weight of that magical burden.He eyes blurred as if he was looking at the world suddenly through a haze of fire.And in his mind, he heard the elemental’s confusion, its anger, its desire to destroy and consume, and a sense of particular hatred … for him.“Keep shooting!” Dahlia prompted, and Entreri did, one after another, each missile being eaten by the magical staff.She kept thrusting it forth; she had to, or the magical energy would throw her aside.The staff ate an arrow, then a second as she jabbed at the beast.But the beast turned and ran away.The staff ate a third.Dahlia tried to call out for Entreri to stop, but the lightning energy had her jaw clenched so tightly, she couldn’t speak.The staff ate a fourth.A fifth.She had to slam it down and release the blast, but the beast was getting away.The beast was charging Drizzt!Dahlia threw Kozah’s Needle like a spear.It hit the elemental with a tremendous explosion, jolting the whole of the corridor with such power that it lifted Dahlia right into the air, to fall back down and stumble.And the elemental swung back and charged, and hardly seemed hurt.“Oh, by the gods,” Entreri mumbled, thinking that he and Dahlia were surely doomed.
|
He was too close to effectively stab or cut, but he punched out with his left, the pommel of Twinkle crunching into the drow wizard’s face and staggering him backward.He fought hard to hold his balance as Drizzt fell back over him—and surely Drizzt could have finished him then, for the wizard clearly wasn’t prepared for an enemy to so quickly circumvent his powerful pet.Drizzt rushed in close, preventing any somatic spellcasting movements.Again the wizard flung a fan of fires at him—and Drizzt noted that the drow focused on a curious ring as he did—and again Drizzt’s scimitar minimized the effect.He closed further and loosed a barrage of punches at the drow, driving his pommels all around the wizard’s head and chest.He had to be done with this quickly, he knew, and he attacked all the more furiously, expecting that monstrous elemental to come charging in from behind.“Run!” Entreri said to Dahlia, and he grabbed her hard as she started off after Drizzt.“Run!”“No!” she shouted, then both jumped as the bow and quiver bounced down in the diminishing line of fire before them.“Grab it!” Dahlia ordered.“I’m no archer!”The elemental issued an earthquake roar and thrashed around, then charged at them.“Grab it!” Dahlia yelled again, setting her long staff out before her.“Just shoot!”Spitting curses, Entreri took up the bow, grabbed an arrow from the quiver, and let fly at the approaching monster.The arrow barely got away before Dahlia’s magical staff swallowed it.“What are you doing?” Entreri yelled at her.“Just shoot!” she yelled back through chattering teeth.He did, and again, and Kozah’s Needle ate the bolt, and arcs of lightning magic danced all around the metallic staff, stinging Dahlia’s hands as she stubbornly held on.She rushed forward and thrust the end of the staff against the charging fiery behemoth, and in a great flash of lightning, the monster was thrown back a step.Another arrow almost hit the beast, but Dahlia’s staff got it at the last instant.She struck again, a lesser blow, but one that stole the monster’s momentum.They worked in rhythm, Entreri putting arrows into the air and Dahlia’s weapon absorbing them and redirecting the magic against the elemental with brutal, enhanced strikes.Shards of stone and bursts of flame accompanied each hit as the elf warrior chipped away at the elemental’s magical form.Never did Dahlia more need that extended reach, for she had to stay out of the sweeping radius of those explosive, rock and fire arms.She had to be perfect in her dance and in her strikes.But still the lethal behemoth came on, and Dahlia and Entreri had to give ground.Drizzt had gained a great advantage with his desperate charge, catching the wizard by surprise, and he was experienced enough against spellcasters to understand that he needed to press that advantage through to a swift victory.The mage flailed, trying to block, but the blows came too swiftly and from too many angles.One got through cleanly to crunch the mage’s skull, and he staggered back against the wall, waving his hands out defensively before him.And calling again on the ring, Drizzt recognized, and across came Icingdeath, cutting that hand in half, fingers flying.The mage howled and crumbled, and Drizzt spun and circle-kicked him hard in the side of the head, laying him low.The ranger spun back the other way, just in time to see the flash and hear the report of thunder again as Dahlia struck the behemoth and Kozah’s Needle released its lightning charge.He took a quick step but pulled up short, for there before him lay the severed piece of hand, four fingers intact, and a ruby band on one.Reflexively, the drow dropped and pulled off the ring, hardly thinking as he slipped it onto his own finger.He felt strange.The ring sang to him as if in accord with his scimitar … but there was something more.Drizzt staggered under the weight of that magical burden.He eyes blurred as if he was looking at the world suddenly through a haze of fire.And in his mind, he heard the elemental’s confusion, its anger, its desire to destroy and consume, and a sense of particular hatred … for him.“Keep shooting!” Dahlia prompted, and Entreri did, one after another, each missile being eaten by the magical staff.She kept thrusting it forth; she had to, or the magical energy would throw her aside.The staff ate an arrow, then a second as she jabbed at the beast.But the beast turned and ran away.The staff ate a third.Dahlia tried to call out for Entreri to stop, but the lightning energy had her jaw clenched so tightly, she couldn’t speak.The staff ate a fourth.A fifth.She had to slam it down and release the blast, but the beast was getting away.The beast was charging Drizzt!Dahlia threw Kozah’s Needle like a spear.It hit the elemental with a tremendous explosion, jolting the whole of the corridor with such power that it lifted Dahlia right into the air, to fall back down and stumble.And the elemental swung back and charged, and hardly seemed hurt.“Oh, by the gods,” Entreri mumbled, thinking that he and Dahlia were surely doomed.
|
[
1544,
373,
1165,
1969,
284,
6840,
8303,
393,
2005,
11,
475,
339,
25436,
503,
351,
465,
1364,
11,
262,
279,
48990,
286,
1815,
19894,
23527,
278,
656,
262,
288,
808,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
1986,
290,
23508,
683,
19528,
13,
1544,
8350,
1327,
284,
1745,
465,
5236,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
3214,
736,
625,
683,
960,
392,
10403,
5809,
3019,
83,
714,
423,
5201,
683,
788,
11,
329,
262,
18731,
4084,
2492,
447,
247,
83,
5597,
329,
281,
4472,
284,
523,
2952,
33256,
465,
3665,
4273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13999,
287,
1969,
11,
12174,
597,
3870,
1512,
4822,
19913,
8650,
13,
15316,
262,
18731,
45111,
257,
4336,
286,
12252,
379,
683,
960,
392,
5809,
3019,
83,
4367,
326,
262,
288,
808,
5670,
319,
257,
11040,
5858,
355,
339,
750,
960,
392,
757,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
247,
82,
629,
320,
7940,
49491,
262,
1245,
13,
1544,
4838,
2252,
290,
2376,
1335,
257,
33633,
286,
25495,
379,
262,
288,
808,
11,
5059,
465,
279,
2002,
1424,
477,
1088,
262,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
1182,
290,
7721,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
307,
1760,
351,
428,
2952,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
290,
339,
7384,
477,
262,
517,
44896,
11,
12451,
326,
29100,
25601,
284,
1282,
11642,
287,
422,
2157,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
41471,
544,
11,
290,
339,
13176,
607,
1327,
355,
673,
2067,
572,
706,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
673,
17293,
11,
788,
1111,
11687,
355,
262,
9563,
290,
627,
1428,
31318,
866,
287,
262,
35197,
1627,
286,
2046,
878,
606,
13,
447,
250,
48400,
340,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
247,
76,
645,
610,
2044,
0,
447,
251,
464,
25601,
4884,
281,
16295,
34532,
290,
5636,
5263,
1088,
11,
788,
5047,
379,
606,
13,
447,
250,
48400,
340,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
22760,
757,
11,
4634,
607,
890,
3085,
503,
878,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
2686,
0,
447,
251,
4561,
2535,
43878,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
1718,
510,
262,
9563,
11,
13176,
281,
15452,
422,
262,
627,
1428,
11,
290,
1309,
6129,
379,
262,
13885,
9234,
13,
464,
15452,
8523,
1392,
1497,
878,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
10883,
3085,
27961,
340,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
389,
345,
1804,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
22760,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
2686,
0,
447,
251,
673,
22760,
736,
832,
442,
16475,
9941,
13,
1544,
750,
11,
290,
757,
11,
290,
40772,
993,
447,
247,
82,
10664,
293,
15063,
262,
18100,
11,
290,
44606,
286,
14357,
5536,
39480,
477,
1088,
262,
27306,
3085,
11,
336,
14146,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
2832,
355,
673,
24444,
306,
2714,
319,
13,
3347,
13999,
2651,
290,
14613,
262,
886,
286,
262,
3085,
1028,
262,
11642,
27810,
307,
34394,
11,
290,
287,
257,
1049,
7644,
286,
14357,
11,
262,
9234,
373,
8754,
736,
257,
2239,
13,
6610,
15452,
2048,
2277,
262,
13824,
11,
475,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
3085,
1392,
340,
379,
262,
938,
9113,
13,
3347
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
373,
1165,
1969,
284,
6840,
8303,
393,
2005,
11,
475,
339,
25436,
503,
351,
465,
1364,
11,
262,
279,
48990,
286,
1815,
19894,
23527,
278,
656,
262,
288,
808,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
1986,
290,
23508,
683,
19528,
13,
1544,
8350,
1327,
284,
1745,
465,
5236,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
3214,
736,
625,
683,
960,
392,
10403,
5809,
3019,
83,
714,
423,
5201,
683,
788,
11,
329,
262,
18731,
4084,
2492,
447,
247,
83,
5597,
329,
281,
4472,
284,
523,
2952,
33256,
465,
3665,
4273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13999,
287,
1969,
11,
12174,
597,
3870,
1512,
4822,
19913,
8650,
13,
15316,
262,
18731,
45111,
257,
4336,
286,
12252,
379,
683,
960,
392,
5809,
3019,
83,
4367,
326,
262,
288,
808,
5670,
319,
257,
11040,
5858,
355,
339,
750,
960,
392,
757,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
247,
82,
629,
320,
7940,
49491,
262,
1245,
13,
1544,
4838,
2252,
290,
2376,
1335,
257,
33633,
286,
25495,
379,
262,
288,
808,
11,
5059,
465,
279,
2002,
1424,
477,
1088,
262,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
1182,
290,
7721,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
307,
1760,
351,
428,
2952,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
290,
339,
7384,
477,
262,
517,
44896,
11,
12451,
326,
29100,
25601,
284,
1282,
11642,
287,
422,
2157,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
41471,
544,
11,
290,
339,
13176,
607,
1327,
355,
673,
2067,
572,
706,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
673,
17293,
11,
788,
1111,
11687,
355,
262,
9563,
290,
627,
1428,
31318,
866,
287,
262,
35197,
1627,
286,
2046,
878,
606,
13,
447,
250,
48400,
340,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
247,
76,
645,
610,
2044,
0,
447,
251,
464,
25601,
4884,
281,
16295,
34532,
290,
5636,
5263,
1088,
11,
788,
5047,
379,
606,
13,
447,
250,
48400,
340,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
22760,
757,
11,
4634,
607,
890,
3085,
503,
878,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
2686,
0,
447,
251,
4561,
2535,
43878,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
1718,
510,
262,
9563,
11,
13176,
281,
15452,
422,
262,
627,
1428,
11,
290,
1309,
6129,
379,
262,
13885,
9234,
13,
464,
15452,
8523,
1392,
1497,
878,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
10883,
3085,
27961,
340,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
389,
345,
1804,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
22760,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
2686,
0,
447,
251,
673,
22760,
736,
832,
442,
16475,
9941,
13,
1544,
750,
11,
290,
757,
11,
290,
40772,
993,
447,
247,
82,
10664,
293,
15063,
262,
18100,
11,
290,
44606,
286,
14357,
5536,
39480,
477,
1088,
262,
27306,
3085,
11,
336,
14146,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
2832,
355,
673,
24444,
306,
2714,
319,
13,
3347,
13999,
2651,
290,
14613,
262,
886,
286,
262,
3085,
1028,
262,
11642,
27810,
307,
34394,
11,
290,
287,
257,
1049,
7644,
286,
14357,
11,
262,
9234,
373,
8754,
736,
257,
2239,
13,
6610,
15452,
2048,
2277,
262,
13824,
11,
475,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
3085,
1392,
340,
379,
262,
938,
9113,
13,
3347
] |
dnd501
|
He put up Taulmaril and pulled back for one last shot, one last desperate and angry act of defiance.And he saw a form in the air behind the elemental: a leaping ranger, cape flying behind him, one scimitar grasped in both hands, up high over his head.Drizzt slammed into the beast, plunging Icingdeath through its back, the magical, fire-hating blade diving deep into the creature’s core being, the very magical energy that gave it form.How it thrashed and swung around, Drizzt holding on desperately, legs flying wildly.But he held on, and Icingdeath feasted.The elemental spun and thrashed in frenzy.And then it died and melted in on itself, a pile of smoking rock and lava in the middle of the corridor.“Well, that was fun,” Dahlia remarked as Drizzt pulled himself off the pile and staggered back a couple of steps.FAMILY REUNIONTHE DROW WIZARD GROANED AND GROWLED, CLUTCHING THE STUMP OF HIS halved left hand.“Where does it lead?” Drizzt asked him.The ranger crouched before the wizard, looking him in the eye.“Where does it lead?”The wizard spat at him.“Your life depends on this,” Drizzt said.“Where does your tunnel lead?Where did you come from?”Artemis Entreri pushed Drizzt aside and roughly grabbed the wizard by the hair, yanking his head back and putting a dagger to his throat.“It goes to the primordial?” Entreri demanded in perfect Drow inflection.“Leave it alone!” the drow wizard yelled at him.Entreri smiled and looked back at his companions.“Take that as a yes,” he said.“What are we to do with …?” Drizzt started to ask, but he stopped with a gasp as Artemis Entreri drove his dagger through the front of the drow’s throat, angling up and into the mage’s brain.The drow stiffened, legs popping straight out, and began to tremble.Entreri yanked the blade out, wiped it on the wizard’s robe, and stood up, turning to face the incredulous stare of Drizzt and the amused expression of Dahlia.“You didn’t think I would leave a drow wizard alive behind us, did you?” Entreri said to Drizzt with a snort, and he started past.Drizzt stood there staring at the slain drow.Blood flowed heavily from the wound under his chin.His hands had fallen to his sides, giving Drizzt a clear view of the one he had cut in half.From a tactical level, Drizzt could understand Entreri’s brutality, of course, but still, the callousness with which he had executed the mage had jarred Drizzt.Would his old friends have treated a helpless prisoner in such a manner?He wasn’t sure, given the desperation of their current situation, but still, the casual brutality of Artemis Entreri had once again shocked him.“Come on,” Dahlia said, moving to Drizzt’s side and taking his arm affectionately.“We haven’t much time.”Drizzt looked at her, angrily at first.But that couldn’t hold against Dahlia’s responding look, one that reflected great understanding toward him—surprisingly so, Drizzt realized, since Dahlia hadn’t been nearly as shocked as he when Entreri had struck.“The world’s an ugly place,” she said quietly.“If we’re not ugly enough to defeat it, we will be dead.”The cynical truth stung Drizzt profoundly, but Dahlia’s insistent tug reminded him that they didn’t really have the luxury of standing around and debating the issue.Drizzt retrieved his bow and quiver, and they caught up to Entreri just before the intersection.He crouched on one knee, staring across to the other tunnel, motioning them to hold still and get down.As they crept up, Entreri slipped off to the left into the perpendicular tunnel, and Drizzt and Dahlia moved right.By the time they put their backs to the wall across that main corridor and right beside the one the wizard’s elemental had burrowed, they understood the assassin’s sudden caution, for they heard the approach of several Shadovar.Drizzt looked across to Entreri, who motioned for him to hold his ground.With a nod, the assassin turned around and disappeared into the lava tunnel.Drizzt eased an arrow onto his bowstring and listened intently.He heard a grunt followed by the sound of someone falling to the ground, followed by a short yelp of surprise and a quick scraping of metal on metal.He spun around in front of the tunnel, leveling his bow.One shade lay on the ground, and a second joined him there as Entreri rolled his sword over the shade’s and plunged it through the creature’s throat.The assassin fell back, giving Drizzt a clear view of the third of the group, who started sprinting back down the tunnel.Heartseeker’s missile caught him in the back and lifted him into a short flight before he crashed face-down on the still-smoking black stone.Beside the drow ranger, Dahlia swallowed hard, and when Drizzt turned to regard her, he noted with surprise that she was staring at Artemis Entreri, and with obvious appreciation of the man’s deadly skills.Drizzt, too, looked toward his old nemesis.
|
He put up Taulmaril and pulled back for one last shot, one last desperate and angry act of defiance.And he saw a form in the air behind the elemental: a leaping ranger, cape flying behind him, one scimitar grasped in both hands, up high over his head.Drizzt slammed into the beast, plunging Icingdeath through its back, the magical, fire-hating blade diving deep into the creature’s core being, the very magical energy that gave it form.How it thrashed and swung around, Drizzt holding on desperately, legs flying wildly.But he held on, and Icingdeath feasted.The elemental spun and thrashed in frenzy.And then it died and melted in on itself, a pile of smoking rock and lava in the middle of the corridor.“Well, that was fun,” Dahlia remarked as Drizzt pulled himself off the pile and staggered back a couple of steps.FAMILY REUNIONTHE DROW WIZARD GROANED AND GROWLED, CLUTCHING THE STUMP OF HIS halved left hand.“Where does it lead?” Drizzt asked him.The ranger crouched before the wizard, looking him in the eye.“Where does it lead?”The wizard spat at him.“Your life depends on this,” Drizzt said.“Where does your tunnel lead?Where did you come from?”Artemis Entreri pushed Drizzt aside and roughly grabbed the wizard by the hair, yanking his head back and putting a dagger to his throat.“It goes to the primordial?” Entreri demanded in perfect Drow inflection.“Leave it alone!” the drow wizard yelled at him.Entreri smiled and looked back at his companions.“Take that as a yes,” he said.“What are we to do with …?” Drizzt started to ask, but he stopped with a gasp as Artemis Entreri drove his dagger through the front of the drow’s throat, angling up and into the mage’s brain.The drow stiffened, legs popping straight out, and began to tremble.Entreri yanked the blade out, wiped it on the wizard’s robe, and stood up, turning to face the incredulous stare of Drizzt and the amused expression of Dahlia.“You didn’t think I would leave a drow wizard alive behind us, did you?” Entreri said to Drizzt with a snort, and he started past.Drizzt stood there staring at the slain drow.Blood flowed heavily from the wound under his chin.His hands had fallen to his sides, giving Drizzt a clear view of the one he had cut in half.From a tactical level, Drizzt could understand Entreri’s brutality, of course, but still, the callousness with which he had executed the mage had jarred Drizzt.Would his old friends have treated a helpless prisoner in such a manner?He wasn’t sure, given the desperation of their current situation, but still, the casual brutality of Artemis Entreri had once again shocked him.“Come on,” Dahlia said, moving to Drizzt’s side and taking his arm affectionately.“We haven’t much time.”Drizzt looked at her, angrily at first.But that couldn’t hold against Dahlia’s responding look, one that reflected great understanding toward him—surprisingly so, Drizzt realized, since Dahlia hadn’t been nearly as shocked as he when Entreri had struck.“The world’s an ugly place,” she said quietly.“If we’re not ugly enough to defeat it, we will be dead.”The cynical truth stung Drizzt profoundly, but Dahlia’s insistent tug reminded him that they didn’t really have the luxury of standing around and debating the issue.Drizzt retrieved his bow and quiver, and they caught up to Entreri just before the intersection.He crouched on one knee, staring across to the other tunnel, motioning them to hold still and get down.As they crept up, Entreri slipped off to the left into the perpendicular tunnel, and Drizzt and Dahlia moved right.By the time they put their backs to the wall across that main corridor and right beside the one the wizard’s elemental had burrowed, they understood the assassin’s sudden caution, for they heard the approach of several Shadovar.Drizzt looked across to Entreri, who motioned for him to hold his ground.With a nod, the assassin turned around and disappeared into the lava tunnel.Drizzt eased an arrow onto his bowstring and listened intently.He heard a grunt followed by the sound of someone falling to the ground, followed by a short yelp of surprise and a quick scraping of metal on metal.He spun around in front of the tunnel, leveling his bow.One shade lay on the ground, and a second joined him there as Entreri rolled his sword over the shade’s and plunged it through the creature’s throat.The assassin fell back, giving Drizzt a clear view of the third of the group, who started sprinting back down the tunnel.Heartseeker’s missile caught him in the back and lifted him into a short flight before he crashed face-down on the still-smoking black stone.Beside the drow ranger, Dahlia swallowed hard, and when Drizzt turned to regard her, he noted with surprise that she was staring at Artemis Entreri, and with obvious appreciation of the man’s deadly skills.Drizzt, too, looked toward his old nemesis.
|
[
1544,
1234,
510,
309,
2518,
3876,
346,
290,
5954,
736,
329,
530,
938,
2823,
11,
530,
938,
12111,
290,
7954,
719,
286,
35287,
13,
1870,
339,
2497,
257,
1296,
287,
262,
1633,
2157,
262,
25601,
25,
257,
45583,
43570,
11,
36023,
7348,
2157,
683,
11,
530,
629,
320,
7940,
45569,
287,
1111,
2832,
11,
510,
1029,
625,
465,
1182,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
21376,
656,
262,
13824,
11,
41904,
278,
314,
2259,
22595,
832,
663,
736,
11,
262,
10883,
11,
2046,
12,
71,
803,
11865,
23186,
2769,
656,
262,
7185,
447,
247,
82,
4755,
852,
11,
262,
845,
10883,
2568,
326,
2921,
340,
1296,
13,
2437,
340,
5636,
5263,
290,
28507,
1088,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
4769,
319,
16459,
11,
7405,
7348,
20278,
13,
1537,
339,
2714,
319,
11,
290,
314,
2259,
22595,
730,
8992,
13,
464,
25601,
26843,
290,
5636,
5263,
287,
31934,
13,
1870,
788,
340,
3724,
290,
24178,
287,
319,
2346,
11,
257,
14540,
286,
9216,
3881,
290,
28856,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
262,
20749,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
326,
373,
1257,
11,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
24998,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
5954,
2241,
572,
262,
14540,
290,
48480,
736,
257,
3155,
286,
4831,
13,
37,
2390,
33340,
4526,
4944,
2849,
10970,
10560,
3913,
370,
14887,
9795,
10863,
46,
1565,
1961,
5357,
10863,
3913,
30465,
11,
7852,
3843,
3398,
2751,
3336,
3563,
20476,
3963,
33700,
10284,
1079,
1364,
1021,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
1085,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
683,
13,
464,
43570,
33838,
1740,
878,
262,
18731,
11,
2045,
683,
287,
262,
4151,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
1085,
30,
447,
251,
464,
18731,
15246,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
1204,
8338,
319,
428,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
531,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
534,
13275,
1085,
30,
8496,
750,
345,
1282,
422,
30,
447,
251,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
7121,
5809,
3019,
83,
7263,
290,
7323,
13176,
262,
18731,
416,
262,
4190,
11,
331,
15230,
465,
1182,
736,
290,
5137,
257,
31322,
284,
465,
13589,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
2925,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
12284,
287,
2818,
360,
808,
1167,
1564,
13,
447,
250,
35087,
340,
3436,
0,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
18731,
22760,
379,
683,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
13541,
290,
3114,
736,
379,
465,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
326,
355,
257,
3763,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
389,
356,
284,
466,
351,
3926,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
2067,
284,
1265,
11,
475,
339,
5025,
351,
257,
47440,
355,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
10357,
465,
31322,
832,
262,
2166,
286,
262,
288,
808,
447,
247,
82,
13589,
11,
3550,
1359,
510,
290,
656,
262,
29241,
447,
247,
82,
3632,
13,
464,
288,
808,
15175,
2945,
11,
7405,
26324,
3892,
503,
11,
290,
2540,
284,
10023,
903,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
331,
14076,
262,
11865,
503,
11,
21122,
340,
319,
262,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
33192,
11,
290,
6204,
510,
11,
6225,
284,
1986,
262,
4878,
6985,
24170,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
290
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
1234,
510,
309,
2518,
3876,
346,
290,
5954,
736,
329,
530,
938,
2823,
11,
530,
938,
12111,
290,
7954,
719,
286,
35287,
13,
1870,
339,
2497,
257,
1296,
287,
262,
1633,
2157,
262,
25601,
25,
257,
45583,
43570,
11,
36023,
7348,
2157,
683,
11,
530,
629,
320,
7940,
45569,
287,
1111,
2832,
11,
510,
1029,
625,
465,
1182,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
21376,
656,
262,
13824,
11,
41904,
278,
314,
2259,
22595,
832,
663,
736,
11,
262,
10883,
11,
2046,
12,
71,
803,
11865,
23186,
2769,
656,
262,
7185,
447,
247,
82,
4755,
852,
11,
262,
845,
10883,
2568,
326,
2921,
340,
1296,
13,
2437,
340,
5636,
5263,
290,
28507,
1088,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
4769,
319,
16459,
11,
7405,
7348,
20278,
13,
1537,
339,
2714,
319,
11,
290,
314,
2259,
22595,
730,
8992,
13,
464,
25601,
26843,
290,
5636,
5263,
287,
31934,
13,
1870,
788,
340,
3724,
290,
24178,
287,
319,
2346,
11,
257,
14540,
286,
9216,
3881,
290,
28856,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
262,
20749,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
326,
373,
1257,
11,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
24998,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
5954,
2241,
572,
262,
14540,
290,
48480,
736,
257,
3155,
286,
4831,
13,
37,
2390,
33340,
4526,
4944,
2849,
10970,
10560,
3913,
370,
14887,
9795,
10863,
46,
1565,
1961,
5357,
10863,
3913,
30465,
11,
7852,
3843,
3398,
2751,
3336,
3563,
20476,
3963,
33700,
10284,
1079,
1364,
1021,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
1085,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
683,
13,
464,
43570,
33838,
1740,
878,
262,
18731,
11,
2045,
683,
287,
262,
4151,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
1085,
30,
447,
251,
464,
18731,
15246,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
1204,
8338,
319,
428,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
531,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
534,
13275,
1085,
30,
8496,
750,
345,
1282,
422,
30,
447,
251,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
7121,
5809,
3019,
83,
7263,
290,
7323,
13176,
262,
18731,
416,
262,
4190,
11,
331,
15230,
465,
1182,
736,
290,
5137,
257,
31322,
284,
465,
13589,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
2925,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
12284,
287,
2818,
360,
808,
1167,
1564,
13,
447,
250,
35087,
340,
3436,
0,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
18731,
22760,
379,
683,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
13541,
290,
3114,
736,
379,
465,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
326,
355,
257,
3763,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
389,
356,
284,
466,
351,
3926,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
2067,
284,
1265,
11,
475,
339,
5025,
351,
257,
47440,
355,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
10357,
465,
31322,
832,
262,
2166,
286,
262,
288,
808,
447,
247,
82,
13589,
11,
3550,
1359,
510,
290,
656,
262,
29241,
447,
247,
82,
3632,
13,
464,
288,
808,
15175,
2945,
11,
7405,
26324,
3892,
503,
11,
290,
2540,
284,
10023,
903,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
331,
14076,
262,
11865,
503,
11,
21122,
340,
319,
262,
18731,
447,
247,
82,
33192,
11,
290,
6204,
510,
11,
6225,
284,
1986,
262,
4878,
6985,
24170,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
290
] |
dnd502
|
A thought flashed in his mind to take out the man with a line of deadly arrows, but he dismissed it immediately, knowing it to be a desperate cry from the incessant sword.But still …“He’s good,” Dahlia muttered.“I might not use that particular word,” Drizzt whispered back.“I’m glad he’s on our side.”Drizzt wanted to argue, but he didn’t.“Quickly now,” Entreri said to them, motioning them along.“Why, Lord Alegni, here they come,” Glorfathel remarked.Alegni’s smile widened, his eyes sparkled, and he clenched his fists eagerly.They hadn’t begun to properly prepare for this, having just secured the forge room, but that didn’t matter to the tiefling.He just wanted his revenge.“Go,” Effron called to the few others in the room.“To the forge and gather a great force!Send others through the tunnels to prevent any escape.Go!”“On me way!” Ambergris replied, yanking back a pair of shades who had started for the tunnel to the forge room and rambling past them.Afafrenfere sprinted to catch up, but the dwarf slugged him in the gut as he started past her.“Go protect the lord, ye dolt!” she scolded, and she disappeared into the small corridor.“Which of them carries the sword?” Glorfathel asked.“The drow had it in the forest,” Effron answered.“Strapped across his back.”“I will stop that person, then,” Glorfathel declared.“We cannot allow him to get anywhere near the primordial’s pit.”“You have magic to counter such an attempt?” Alegni asked, his voice betraying his anxiety, for to lose that sword to the primordial would be disastrous indeed.He felt a sting of regret that he hadn’t properly prepared his defenses, but the simple fact that they had managed to get between those who would destroy Claw and this fiery beast was no small thing.The tiefling warlord surveyed his forces, and looked to the forge room tunnel.He had only a pair of magic-users, Glorfathel and Effron, and a handful of warriors.It should be enough, he figured, even without Claw to dominate Barrabus.“Five ranks!” he ordered.He motioned to a pair of rogues and sent them away.“Find them and strike them down.” He signaled for a pair of warriors to go off right behind them, then pointed to a second group of Shadovar warriors.“You four in next—meet them twenty strides inside the tunnel if they get past the first line.” As that second line hustled into place, Alegni turned his gaze on the remaining two warriors.“Each of you with me, third rank!”“Effron and you, monk”—he waved absently at Afafrenfere—“behind me, but within the chamber.Destroy any who manage to slip past and get near the chamber.”“And I in the back, near the rim,” Glorfathel agreed, moving into position opposite the tunnel, before the primordial pit.“Though expect that I will not await their entrance and will strike at them from here.”“Do not kill the female elf,” Effron said.Alegni glanced at the twisted warlock, then nodded to Glorfathel to signal his agreement with that command.Indeed, he wanted Dahlia alive.Alegni reviewed the positioning, then moved toward the tunnel entrance flanked by the two shades.
|
A thought flashed in his mind to take out the man with a line of deadly arrows, but he dismissed it immediately, knowing it to be a desperate cry from the incessant sword.But still …“He’s good,” Dahlia muttered.“I might not use that particular word,” Drizzt whispered back.“I’m glad he’s on our side.”Drizzt wanted to argue, but he didn’t.“Quickly now,” Entreri said to them, motioning them along.“Why, Lord Alegni, here they come,” Glorfathel remarked.Alegni’s smile widened, his eyes sparkled, and he clenched his fists eagerly.They hadn’t begun to properly prepare for this, having just secured the forge room, but that didn’t matter to the tiefling.He just wanted his revenge.“Go,” Effron called to the few others in the room.“To the forge and gather a great force!Send others through the tunnels to prevent any escape.Go!”“On me way!” Ambergris replied, yanking back a pair of shades who had started for the tunnel to the forge room and rambling past them.Afafrenfere sprinted to catch up, but the dwarf slugged him in the gut as he started past her.“Go protect the lord, ye dolt!” she scolded, and she disappeared into the small corridor.“Which of them carries the sword?” Glorfathel asked.“The drow had it in the forest,” Effron answered.“Strapped across his back.”“I will stop that person, then,” Glorfathel declared.“We cannot allow him to get anywhere near the primordial’s pit.”“You have magic to counter such an attempt?” Alegni asked, his voice betraying his anxiety, for to lose that sword to the primordial would be disastrous indeed.He felt a sting of regret that he hadn’t properly prepared his defenses, but the simple fact that they had managed to get between those who would destroy Claw and this fiery beast was no small thing.The tiefling warlord surveyed his forces, and looked to the forge room tunnel.He had only a pair of magic-users, Glorfathel and Effron, and a handful of warriors.It should be enough, he figured, even without Claw to dominate Barrabus.“Five ranks!” he ordered.He motioned to a pair of rogues and sent them away.“Find them and strike them down.” He signaled for a pair of warriors to go off right behind them, then pointed to a second group of Shadovar warriors.“You four in next—meet them twenty strides inside the tunnel if they get past the first line.” As that second line hustled into place, Alegni turned his gaze on the remaining two warriors.“Each of you with me, third rank!”“Effron and you, monk”—he waved absently at Afafrenfere—“behind me, but within the chamber.Destroy any who manage to slip past and get near the chamber.”“And I in the back, near the rim,” Glorfathel agreed, moving into position opposite the tunnel, before the primordial pit.“Though expect that I will not await their entrance and will strike at them from here.”“Do not kill the female elf,” Effron said.Alegni glanced at the twisted warlock, then nodded to Glorfathel to signal his agreement with that command.Indeed, he wanted Dahlia alive.Alegni reviewed the positioning, then moved toward the tunnel entrance flanked by the two shades.
|
[
32,
1807,
30050,
287,
465,
2000,
284,
1011,
503,
262,
582,
351,
257,
1627,
286,
10309,
20507,
11,
475,
339,
11126,
340,
3393,
11,
6970,
340,
284,
307,
257,
12111,
3960,
422,
262,
41106,
415,
8429,
13,
1537,
991,
3926,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
247,
82,
922,
11,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
34042,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1244,
407,
779,
326,
1948,
1573,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
25029,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
247,
76,
9675,
339,
447,
247,
82,
319,
674,
1735,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
2227,
284,
7267,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
13,
447,
250,
21063,
306,
783,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
606,
11,
6268,
278,
606,
1863,
13,
447,
250,
5195,
11,
4453,
317,
1455,
8461,
11,
994,
484,
1282,
11,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
24998,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
8212,
36405,
11,
465,
2951,
9009,
992,
11,
290,
339,
47344,
465,
33053,
30130,
13,
2990,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
9258,
284,
6105,
8335,
329,
428,
11,
1719,
655,
13659,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
475,
326,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
2300,
284,
262,
256,
2086,
1359,
13,
1544,
655,
2227,
465,
15827,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
1444,
284,
262,
1178,
1854,
287,
262,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
28325,
290,
6431,
257,
1049,
2700,
0,
25206,
1854,
832,
262,
22642,
284,
2948,
597,
6654,
13,
5247,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2202,
502,
835,
0,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
8712,
11,
331,
15230,
736,
257,
5166,
286,
23787,
508,
550,
2067,
329,
262,
13275,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
374,
15366,
1613,
606,
13,
17584,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
18553,
276,
284,
4929,
510,
11,
475,
262,
24603,
31065,
2004,
683,
287,
262,
12500,
355,
339,
2067,
1613,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1805,
262,
15876,
11,
9838,
288,
5978,
0,
447,
251,
673,
629,
48959,
11,
290,
673,
12120,
656,
262,
1402,
20749,
13,
447,
250,
13828,
286,
606,
10732,
262,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
808,
550,
340,
287,
262,
8222,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
41347,
1496,
1973,
465,
736,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2245,
326,
1048,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
6875,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2314,
1249,
683,
284,
651,
6609,
1474,
262,
2684,
31223,
447,
247,
82,
6028,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
5536,
284,
3753,
884,
281,
2230,
30,
447,
251,
317,
1455,
8461,
1965,
11,
465,
3809,
13935,
278,
465,
9751,
11,
329,
284,
4425,
326,
8429,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
561,
307,
20756,
5600,
13,
1544,
2936,
257,
24276,
286,
13721,
326,
339,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
6105,
5597,
465,
18370,
11,
475,
262,
2829,
1109,
326,
484,
550,
5257,
284,
651,
1022,
883,
508,
561,
4117,
30358,
290,
428,
27810,
13824,
373,
645,
1402,
1517,
13,
464,
256,
2086,
1359,
1175,
10572,
20840,
465,
3386,
11,
290,
3114,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
13275
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
1807,
30050,
287,
465,
2000,
284,
1011,
503,
262,
582,
351,
257,
1627,
286,
10309,
20507,
11,
475,
339,
11126,
340,
3393,
11,
6970,
340,
284,
307,
257,
12111,
3960,
422,
262,
41106,
415,
8429,
13,
1537,
991,
3926,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
247,
82,
922,
11,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
34042,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1244,
407,
779,
326,
1948,
1573,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
25029,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
247,
76,
9675,
339,
447,
247,
82,
319,
674,
1735,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
2227,
284,
7267,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
13,
447,
250,
21063,
306,
783,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
606,
11,
6268,
278,
606,
1863,
13,
447,
250,
5195,
11,
4453,
317,
1455,
8461,
11,
994,
484,
1282,
11,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
24998,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
8212,
36405,
11,
465,
2951,
9009,
992,
11,
290,
339,
47344,
465,
33053,
30130,
13,
2990,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
9258,
284,
6105,
8335,
329,
428,
11,
1719,
655,
13659,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
475,
326,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
2300,
284,
262,
256,
2086,
1359,
13,
1544,
655,
2227,
465,
15827,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
1444,
284,
262,
1178,
1854,
287,
262,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
28325,
290,
6431,
257,
1049,
2700,
0,
25206,
1854,
832,
262,
22642,
284,
2948,
597,
6654,
13,
5247,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2202,
502,
835,
0,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
8712,
11,
331,
15230,
736,
257,
5166,
286,
23787,
508,
550,
2067,
329,
262,
13275,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
374,
15366,
1613,
606,
13,
17584,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
18553,
276,
284,
4929,
510,
11,
475,
262,
24603,
31065,
2004,
683,
287,
262,
12500,
355,
339,
2067,
1613,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1805,
262,
15876,
11,
9838,
288,
5978,
0,
447,
251,
673,
629,
48959,
11,
290,
673,
12120,
656,
262,
1402,
20749,
13,
447,
250,
13828,
286,
606,
10732,
262,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
808,
550,
340,
287,
262,
8222,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
41347,
1496,
1973,
465,
736,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2245,
326,
1048,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
6875,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2314,
1249,
683,
284,
651,
6609,
1474,
262,
2684,
31223,
447,
247,
82,
6028,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
5536,
284,
3753,
884,
281,
2230,
30,
447,
251,
317,
1455,
8461,
1965,
11,
465,
3809,
13935,
278,
465,
9751,
11,
329,
284,
4425,
326,
8429,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
561,
307,
20756,
5600,
13,
1544,
2936,
257,
24276,
286,
13721,
326,
339,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
6105,
5597,
465,
18370,
11,
475,
262,
2829,
1109,
326,
484,
550,
5257,
284,
651,
1022,
883,
508,
561,
4117,
30358,
290,
428,
27810,
13824,
373,
645,
1402,
1517,
13,
464,
256,
2086,
1359,
1175,
10572,
20840,
465,
3386,
11,
290,
3114,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
13275
] |
dnd503
|
He looked again at the corridor to the forge room, hoping the reinforcements to this room and those circling the approaching trio would be quick.He couldn’t take any chances, nor would he tolerate another escape.Out of the tunnel came Ambergris, huffing and puffing, and nodding Alegni’s way as if to signal that reinforcements were close behind.Artemis Entreri led the way.The corridor was mostly cooled, the floor solid, but enough glowing lava along the walls and floors remained to provide ample light.So the assassin moved stealthily, in perfect silence, shifting from shadow to shadow.Still, even with all of his considerable skill, the shade rogues were no novices and it was good fortune alone that allowed Entreri to see them before they noticed him.He went flat against the wall in an advantageous spot, and held his breath.As they neared, he noticed other forms coming along as well.Entreri clenched his jaw tightly.He was so close!But the way was blocked.He could smell his freedom in the brine and smoke of the distant chamber, yet he could not get there.“No!” he growled as he leaped from the wall, sword leading, dagger slashing as he turned past the first shade.The first fell.The second managed to shrug enough so that the dagger cut at her shoulder and not her throat, as Entreri had intended.She fell away with a cry and broke off into a run back the way she had come.“Come on!” Entreri called to his companions, and he started after her, then fell back with a cry of surprise of his own as a lightning missile streaked past him, taking the shade rogue in the back and laying her low.On came the shade warriors, but on came Dahlia and Drizzt in support.Another arrow flew off … and disappeared.“Will you stop doing that!” Drizzt scolded, but Dahlia laughed at him and sprinted on, right past Entreri and into the pair of enemies.She led with a stab of her staff, into the ceiling just before the enemies, and the shocking burst of lightning halted them and blinded them momentarily—just long enough so that when they came out of the blindness, they were met by a pair of whipping and spinning flails, a fierce barrage that had them back on their heels before they could begin to formulate any coordinated movements.And so they were still on their heels when Dahlia’s companions rushed past her to engage them.These two could not have matched Drizzt Do’Urden and Artemis Entreri on even turns, but now, caught so abruptly, they were quickly doomed.A scimitar stabbed straight out, driving the one before Drizzt back.The drow’s second blade went across at the other, distracting him as Drizzt cut across to confront him.Entreri rolled behind the drow and sprang forward, and the first shade, busy trying to gather some understanding of the darting ranger, never saw the sword coming.Drizzt turned his blades over and over before him, driving back the remaining shade, keeping the poor fool completely focused in a desperate attempt to block the rolling barrage.So when Entreri rushed past on his flank, that shade was helpless against the dagger thrust.That alone would have proven a mortal wound, but Dahlia, close behind Entreri, only sped the process with a tremendous pair of heavy flail swings, cracking his skull.He fell into the wall and slumped, and Drizzt, too, rushed past.“Many more!” Dahlia cried, spotting the next four in line.“Turn back!” Drizzt said, but Entreri lowered his head and ran on, determined to be done with this wicked business.Dahlia hesitated, thinking to turn, but only until she looked past the next line of shades, to see the familiar hulking tiefling coming behind them.By the time Entreri had engaged, she was right there beside him.Determined to be done with this wicked business.And so was Drizzt, for he would not abandon his companions.As he joined them in their line of attack, he saw the others behind, and still more in the steamy chamber beyond that.“So be it,” he said aloud.Ambergris ran across the floor toward Glorfathel.The elf wizard shifted all around, head moving as if he was a hunting bird waiting for a mouse to appear among the many cracks in a woodpile.“Whatd’ye know?” the dwarf asked, sliding into place beside the wizard.Ambergris looked to the tunnel as she did this, and could understand easily enough why Glorfathel was having so much trouble picking out a clear shot.Just before them, but still in the room, Effron similarly bobbed, every now and again launching some black bolt into the tumult of the darker corridor.Beside him, Afafrenfere danced around nervously, air-boxing and glancing back at Ambergris, nodding eagerly and rather stupidly.Ambergris sighed.“The narrower corridor aids our enemy,” Glorfathel said.“We cannot flank them or overwhelm them.”“And yerself can’t find a clear lightning line,” the dwarf said.Glorfathel didn’t seem to be listening to her at that moment, though, his face brightening.“The drow has the sword,” he said, and he stopped bobbing, and stopped blinking.“Aye, we were knowin’ that,” the dwarf replied.Again Glorfathel didn’t seem to hear her.
|
He looked again at the corridor to the forge room, hoping the reinforcements to this room and those circling the approaching trio would be quick.He couldn’t take any chances, nor would he tolerate another escape.Out of the tunnel came Ambergris, huffing and puffing, and nodding Alegni’s way as if to signal that reinforcements were close behind.Artemis Entreri led the way.The corridor was mostly cooled, the floor solid, but enough glowing lava along the walls and floors remained to provide ample light.So the assassin moved stealthily, in perfect silence, shifting from shadow to shadow.Still, even with all of his considerable skill, the shade rogues were no novices and it was good fortune alone that allowed Entreri to see them before they noticed him.He went flat against the wall in an advantageous spot, and held his breath.As they neared, he noticed other forms coming along as well.Entreri clenched his jaw tightly.He was so close!But the way was blocked.He could smell his freedom in the brine and smoke of the distant chamber, yet he could not get there.“No!” he growled as he leaped from the wall, sword leading, dagger slashing as he turned past the first shade.The first fell.The second managed to shrug enough so that the dagger cut at her shoulder and not her throat, as Entreri had intended.She fell away with a cry and broke off into a run back the way she had come.“Come on!” Entreri called to his companions, and he started after her, then fell back with a cry of surprise of his own as a lightning missile streaked past him, taking the shade rogue in the back and laying her low.On came the shade warriors, but on came Dahlia and Drizzt in support.Another arrow flew off … and disappeared.“Will you stop doing that!” Drizzt scolded, but Dahlia laughed at him and sprinted on, right past Entreri and into the pair of enemies.She led with a stab of her staff, into the ceiling just before the enemies, and the shocking burst of lightning halted them and blinded them momentarily—just long enough so that when they came out of the blindness, they were met by a pair of whipping and spinning flails, a fierce barrage that had them back on their heels before they could begin to formulate any coordinated movements.And so they were still on their heels when Dahlia’s companions rushed past her to engage them.These two could not have matched Drizzt Do’Urden and Artemis Entreri on even turns, but now, caught so abruptly, they were quickly doomed.A scimitar stabbed straight out, driving the one before Drizzt back.The drow’s second blade went across at the other, distracting him as Drizzt cut across to confront him.Entreri rolled behind the drow and sprang forward, and the first shade, busy trying to gather some understanding of the darting ranger, never saw the sword coming.Drizzt turned his blades over and over before him, driving back the remaining shade, keeping the poor fool completely focused in a desperate attempt to block the rolling barrage.So when Entreri rushed past on his flank, that shade was helpless against the dagger thrust.That alone would have proven a mortal wound, but Dahlia, close behind Entreri, only sped the process with a tremendous pair of heavy flail swings, cracking his skull.He fell into the wall and slumped, and Drizzt, too, rushed past.“Many more!” Dahlia cried, spotting the next four in line.“Turn back!” Drizzt said, but Entreri lowered his head and ran on, determined to be done with this wicked business.Dahlia hesitated, thinking to turn, but only until she looked past the next line of shades, to see the familiar hulking tiefling coming behind them.By the time Entreri had engaged, she was right there beside him.Determined to be done with this wicked business.And so was Drizzt, for he would not abandon his companions.As he joined them in their line of attack, he saw the others behind, and still more in the steamy chamber beyond that.“So be it,” he said aloud.Ambergris ran across the floor toward Glorfathel.The elf wizard shifted all around, head moving as if he was a hunting bird waiting for a mouse to appear among the many cracks in a woodpile.“Whatd’ye know?” the dwarf asked, sliding into place beside the wizard.Ambergris looked to the tunnel as she did this, and could understand easily enough why Glorfathel was having so much trouble picking out a clear shot.Just before them, but still in the room, Effron similarly bobbed, every now and again launching some black bolt into the tumult of the darker corridor.Beside him, Afafrenfere danced around nervously, air-boxing and glancing back at Ambergris, nodding eagerly and rather stupidly.Ambergris sighed.“The narrower corridor aids our enemy,” Glorfathel said.“We cannot flank them or overwhelm them.”“And yerself can’t find a clear lightning line,” the dwarf said.Glorfathel didn’t seem to be listening to her at that moment, though, his face brightening.“The drow has the sword,” he said, and he stopped bobbing, and stopped blinking.“Aye, we were knowin’ that,” the dwarf replied.Again Glorfathel didn’t seem to hear her.
|
[
1544,
3114,
757,
379,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
7725,
262,
38578,
284,
428,
2119,
290,
883,
43080,
262,
13885,
19886,
561,
307,
2068,
13,
1544,
3521,
447,
247,
83,
1011,
597,
8395,
11,
4249,
561,
339,
21923,
1194,
6654,
13,
7975,
286,
262,
13275,
1625,
21896,
2164,
271,
11,
289,
1648,
278,
290,
33679,
278,
11,
290,
47583,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
835,
355,
611,
284,
6737,
326,
38578,
547,
1969,
2157,
13,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
2957,
262,
835,
13,
464,
20749,
373,
4632,
32162,
11,
262,
4314,
4735,
11,
475,
1576,
21377,
28856,
1863,
262,
7714,
290,
18570,
6150,
284,
2148,
23933,
1657,
13,
2396,
262,
31120,
3888,
19159,
813,
11,
287,
2818,
9550,
11,
15852,
422,
9082,
284,
9082,
13,
9590,
11,
772,
351,
477,
286,
465,
11091,
5032,
11,
262,
17979,
47524,
947,
547,
645,
645,
85,
1063,
290,
340,
373,
922,
15807,
3436,
326,
3142,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
766,
606,
878,
484,
6810,
683,
13,
1544,
1816,
6228,
1028,
262,
3355,
287,
281,
39512,
4136,
11,
290,
2714,
465,
8033,
13,
1722,
484,
497,
1144,
11,
339,
6810,
584,
5107,
2406,
1863,
355,
880,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
47344,
465,
19218,
17707,
13,
1544,
373,
523,
1969,
0,
1537,
262,
835,
373,
10226,
13,
1544,
714,
8508,
465,
4925,
287,
262,
865,
500,
290,
7523,
286,
262,
12899,
11847,
11,
1865,
339,
714,
407,
651,
612,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
355,
339,
443,
5813,
422,
262,
3355,
11,
8429,
3756,
11,
31322,
37714,
355,
339,
2900,
1613,
262,
717,
17979,
13,
464,
717,
3214,
13,
464,
1218,
5257,
284,
32545,
1576,
523,
326,
262,
31322,
2005,
379,
607,
8163,
290,
407,
607,
13589,
11,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
5292,
13,
3347,
3214,
1497,
351,
257,
3960,
290,
6265,
572,
656,
257,
1057,
736,
262,
835,
673,
550,
1282,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
0,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1444,
284,
465,
19429,
11,
290,
339,
2067,
706,
607,
11,
788,
3214,
736,
351,
257,
3960,
286,
5975,
286,
465,
898,
355,
257,
14357,
10105,
1937,
4335,
1613,
683,
11,
2263,
262,
17979,
23586,
287,
262,
736,
290,
16299,
607,
1877,
13,
2202,
1625,
262,
17979,
17119,
11,
475,
319,
1625,
41471,
544,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
1104,
13,
6610,
15452,
13112,
572,
3926,
290,
12120,
13,
447,
250,
8743,
345,
2245,
1804,
326,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
629,
48959,
11,
475,
41471,
544,
13818,
379,
683,
290,
18553,
276,
319,
11,
826,
1613,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
656,
262,
5166,
286,
5775,
13,
3347,
2957,
351,
257,
8303,
286,
607,
3085,
11,
656,
262,
13387,
655,
878,
262,
5775,
11,
290,
262,
14702,
11173,
286,
14357,
27771,
606,
290,
38497,
606,
40957,
960,
3137,
890,
1576,
523,
326,
618,
484,
1625,
503,
286,
262,
37673,
11,
484,
547,
1138,
416,
257,
5166,
286,
44637,
290,
19493,
781,
1768,
11,
257,
14800,
33633,
326,
550,
606,
736,
319,
511,
18728,
878,
484,
714,
2221,
284,
46418,
597,
22080,
8650,
13
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
3114,
757,
379,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
7725,
262,
38578,
284,
428,
2119,
290,
883,
43080,
262,
13885,
19886,
561,
307,
2068,
13,
1544,
3521,
447,
247,
83,
1011,
597,
8395,
11,
4249,
561,
339,
21923,
1194,
6654,
13,
7975,
286,
262,
13275,
1625,
21896,
2164,
271,
11,
289,
1648,
278,
290,
33679,
278,
11,
290,
47583,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
835,
355,
611,
284,
6737,
326,
38578,
547,
1969,
2157,
13,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
2957,
262,
835,
13,
464,
20749,
373,
4632,
32162,
11,
262,
4314,
4735,
11,
475,
1576,
21377,
28856,
1863,
262,
7714,
290,
18570,
6150,
284,
2148,
23933,
1657,
13,
2396,
262,
31120,
3888,
19159,
813,
11,
287,
2818,
9550,
11,
15852,
422,
9082,
284,
9082,
13,
9590,
11,
772,
351,
477,
286,
465,
11091,
5032,
11,
262,
17979,
47524,
947,
547,
645,
645,
85,
1063,
290,
340,
373,
922,
15807,
3436,
326,
3142,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
766,
606,
878,
484,
6810,
683,
13,
1544,
1816,
6228,
1028,
262,
3355,
287,
281,
39512,
4136,
11,
290,
2714,
465,
8033,
13,
1722,
484,
497,
1144,
11,
339,
6810,
584,
5107,
2406,
1863,
355,
880,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
47344,
465,
19218,
17707,
13,
1544,
373,
523,
1969,
0,
1537,
262,
835,
373,
10226,
13,
1544,
714,
8508,
465,
4925,
287,
262,
865,
500,
290,
7523,
286,
262,
12899,
11847,
11,
1865,
339,
714,
407,
651,
612,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
355,
339,
443,
5813,
422,
262,
3355,
11,
8429,
3756,
11,
31322,
37714,
355,
339,
2900,
1613,
262,
717,
17979,
13,
464,
717,
3214,
13,
464,
1218,
5257,
284,
32545,
1576,
523,
326,
262,
31322,
2005,
379,
607,
8163,
290,
407,
607,
13589,
11,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
5292,
13,
3347,
3214,
1497,
351,
257,
3960,
290,
6265,
572,
656,
257,
1057,
736,
262,
835,
673,
550,
1282,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
0,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1444,
284,
465,
19429,
11,
290,
339,
2067,
706,
607,
11,
788,
3214,
736,
351,
257,
3960,
286,
5975,
286,
465,
898,
355,
257,
14357,
10105,
1937,
4335,
1613,
683,
11,
2263,
262,
17979,
23586,
287,
262,
736,
290,
16299,
607,
1877,
13,
2202,
1625,
262,
17979,
17119,
11,
475,
319,
1625,
41471,
544,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
1104,
13,
6610,
15452,
13112,
572,
3926,
290,
12120,
13,
447,
250,
8743,
345,
2245,
1804,
326,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
629,
48959,
11,
475,
41471,
544,
13818,
379,
683,
290,
18553,
276,
319,
11,
826,
1613,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
656,
262,
5166,
286,
5775,
13,
3347,
2957,
351,
257,
8303,
286,
607,
3085,
11,
656,
262,
13387,
655,
878,
262,
5775,
11,
290,
262,
14702,
11173,
286,
14357,
27771,
606,
290,
38497,
606,
40957,
960,
3137,
890,
1576,
523,
326,
618,
484,
1625,
503,
286,
262,
37673,
11,
484,
547,
1138,
416,
257,
5166,
286,
44637,
290,
19493,
781,
1768,
11,
257,
14800,
33633,
326,
550,
606,
736,
319,
511,
18728,
878,
484,
714,
2221,
284,
46418,
597,
22080,
8650,
13
] |
dnd504
|
He seemed locked in his focus, pinpointing Drizzt, holding perfectly still as he waited for the drow to show himself more fully.So much like a hunting animal did Glorfathel seem that Ambergris almost expected him to start tamping his feet as if readying to spring.He brought one hand out before him, lining up his angle, and rolled his fingers to reveal a small metal bar.Smiling, eyes glittering in the glow of the room, Glorfathel started casting.He chanted slowly, softly, and his voice began to rise in volume, his words coming faster and more forcefully as he rose to a towering crescendo.Ambergris grabbed him by the arm.“Hey, wizard …”Glorfathel nearly choked on his words.He pulled away roughly, staring incredulously at the stupidly grinning dwarf.He went right back to focus on the hallway, arm and magical component out before him.He seemed quite flustered and quite intent all at once, obviously trying to find his target and his composure before he lost the moment.“Hey, wizard,” Ambergris said again, just as Glorfathel settled once more.Glorfathel gasped angrily and snapped his gaze over her.“Ye got a spell o’ levitation for yerself or meself?” the dwarf asked.Glorfathel stared at her as if she had lost her mind, then turned back to the situation before him and as he began moving his arms into spellcasting position again, he answered emphatically, “No!”He started chanting for his lightning bolts once more, and hardly caught the significance when Ambergris quietly replied, “Good.”Glorfathel did feel the dwarf’s strong hand slap hard against his back, though, and felt it more keenly as the dwarf’s other hand slapped up between his legs to grab him by the crotch.He managed to say, “What?” but that was all, as Ambergris lifted him over her head and pitched him back over her shoulder and over the ledge, into the primordial pit.Not even bothering to turn around and admire her handiwork, the dwarf fell right into her own spellcasting, waggling her fingers.Before her, Afafrenfere stared blankly, for he had seen the throw, and apparently he had not yet figured out that he was the target of the dwarf’s coming dweomer.The four shades standing before them were not novices to battle, and had fought and trained together for a long, long time.Drizzt knew that almost immediately.The shades’ coordination of movements was too precise to indicate anything less.They stood four across in the tight tunnel, and that alone showed a level of trust and familiarity, for their movements and efforts had to be straightforward, or properly angled outward on a diagonal—and not a block or thrust of theirs could come as a surprise to the others in line, else risking a catastrophic entanglement.With Dahlia next to him on his left and Entreri beyond her, the three companions fought ferociously, going for the fast kill.Time was not their ally.Drizzt set his scimitars to rolling again and rushed forward, trying to break the line.But the shade to his opponent’s right thrust out to intercept.Dahlia moved perfectly to intercept that thrust, her spinning flail cracking at the blade.But the shade retracted and came ahead again, and Dahlia had to fend a similar attack as Drizzt, but from the third shade in line.Entreri slapped that thrust away, freeing up Dahlia, but then he faced an attack from the far end, and Dahlia from the next, and Drizzt, again, from the second.The shade line held.“You have failed, Barrabus,” Herzgo Alegni said from behind the fight.“And you will be punished.”Dahlia, not Entreri, reacted fiercely, driving forward to get at the most-hated tiefling.She was driven back before she ever started, and only fast reactions by Drizzt and Entreri at her sides prevented her from taking multiple hits from those shades flanking her intended victim.In the effort, Entreri got cut across his right forearm by the fourth shade, the one holding the end of the line on his side.Behind the four, Herzgo Alegni laughed.“Faster, faster,” Drizzt prompted his friends, and all three pressed ahead, blades stabbing wildly, scimitars rolling, flails spinning.The four shades responded with a barricade of parrying swords.One flicked a dagger out suddenly, throwing for Dahlia.Entreri picked it off with a slight turn of his sword.A dagger came at him, as well, but Dahlia’s flail batted it aside.One came for Drizzt, then a second, but his scimitars took them from the air cleanly, and he hardly slowed his rolling barrage of blows.Artemis Entreri flicked his own dagger, feigning a throw at the shade to his right, but actually spinning it at a backward arc.In came swords, left, right, and center, to block, and the assassin’s suddenly free hand went to his belt buckle, brought forth the knife, and launched it at a lower angle in one fluid movement.It disappeared into a tangle of swords and flails, but the grunt of the targeted shade signaled a hit.Entreri spun a complete circuit—Dahlia reflexively sent a flail snapping across to protect him as he turned—and when Entreri came around, he held sword and dagger once more, for he caught the fake throw behind him perfectly.The shade before Dahlia, Entreri’s buckle knife deep in his gut, could not maintain the pace, and the elf pounced, sending a straightforward barrage of spinning poles at him.His companions left and right defeated that attack, but Dahlia side-stepped to the right as she worked the weapons.And Drizzt rolled behind her to take her place as she took his, and Icingdeath flashed ahead past those defenders still trailing Dahlia.The shade carrying Entreri’s dagger took the stab in the chest and fell away.But another was there immediately, thrust forward by Herzgo Alegni, who continued to grin.“Well done!” He mocked them with a wicked laugh.Drizzt knew that Alegni’s confidence was justified.They had scored a minor gain and no more.The shades fought defensively, and in the tight tunnel, they three could not begin to break through in time.In time … Alegni’s confident grin told them that more Shadovar would soon arrive, before them and probably behind.“Fight hard, Dahlia!” Entreri cried, and his curious reference to her only clued Drizzt in to his meaning.The drow went forward with a double thrust, but reversed almost immediately and threw himself backward into a roll, and the instant he vacated his spot, Entreri and Dahlia both shifted in half a step to fill the gap.Drizzt came up from his roll with Taulmaril in hand.“Center!” he called, and the two fell apart, and the arrow streaked through.A shade warrior slapped his sword across desperately and managed to deflect the lightning arrow, but only changed its angle so that instead of catching him in the chest, it hit him in the face, and he, too, flew away.The other shade flanking Alegni started to fill the void, but in came the tiefling warlord instead, now roaring in anger and with a huge broadsword flashing left and right.“Kill them!” he ordered, and he led the assault, striking mightily and often.Entreri and Dahlia couldn’t begin to counter the sheer power of those strikes with three other shades pressing in around the mighty Alegni.Drizzt let fly again, the arrow streaking at Alegni, but Dahlia’s flail ate it before it got near.He let fly again immediately, but she took that one, too!The drow couldn’t tell whether she meant to steal the arrows with her magical staff or whether her interceptions were merely the result of the furious flurry she needed to throw forth to try to slow the warlord and his minions.To try futilely, Drizzt realized, for the four shades pressed ahead and overwhelmed Entreri and Dahlia, driving them back.Drizzt managed one last shot, which Dahlia again stole, before he had to take up his scimitars again and leap into the fray, and he did so just in time as Dahlia stumbled backward and cried out in pain, nearly caught by Herzgo Alegni’s sword slash, and struck instead by a line of searing black magic.She turned as Drizzt stepped by to take her place, and he stayed near the center of the corridor, expecting her to flank him again on his right.But she didn’t.Grunting in pain, she turned and ran away.Like Glorfathel behind him, Effron tried to find an angle of attack with his devastating magic.So focused was he that he didn’t realize that the sorcerer behind him had been thrown into the pit, the plummeting elf’s screams drowned by the swirling thunder of the water elementals.Nor did Effron notice Afafrenfere beside him, turning around and gaping incredulously at the traitorous dwarf.The twisted warlock did see a shade fall away in the tunnel before him.He did see a flash of lightning and a second fall, and saw Herzgo Alegni take up the fight.No help had yet appeared, however, and strangely so!Effron released a spell, aiming just to the left of the warlord.He lost sight of the bolt, but his eyes sparkled when he heard a cry of pain, the voice of an elf female.But then his eyes became heavy suddenly, and his limbs slowed and he felt as if he was underwater, then under something heavier, thicker than water …He could barely move.His mind dulled as his limbs seemed to lock and freeze in place.He fought back with all of his willpower.He managed to turn his head enough to see Afafrenfere, standing perfectly still, not moving, not even blinking.Effron fought through the dweomer and spun around to see Ambergris the dwarf standing there, hands on hips, with Glorfathel nowhere to be seen.“Ah, ye fool,” the dwarf said.
|
He seemed locked in his focus, pinpointing Drizzt, holding perfectly still as he waited for the drow to show himself more fully.So much like a hunting animal did Glorfathel seem that Ambergris almost expected him to start tamping his feet as if readying to spring.He brought one hand out before him, lining up his angle, and rolled his fingers to reveal a small metal bar.Smiling, eyes glittering in the glow of the room, Glorfathel started casting.He chanted slowly, softly, and his voice began to rise in volume, his words coming faster and more forcefully as he rose to a towering crescendo.Ambergris grabbed him by the arm.“Hey, wizard …”Glorfathel nearly choked on his words.He pulled away roughly, staring incredulously at the stupidly grinning dwarf.He went right back to focus on the hallway, arm and magical component out before him.He seemed quite flustered and quite intent all at once, obviously trying to find his target and his composure before he lost the moment.“Hey, wizard,” Ambergris said again, just as Glorfathel settled once more.Glorfathel gasped angrily and snapped his gaze over her.“Ye got a spell o’ levitation for yerself or meself?” the dwarf asked.Glorfathel stared at her as if she had lost her mind, then turned back to the situation before him and as he began moving his arms into spellcasting position again, he answered emphatically, “No!”He started chanting for his lightning bolts once more, and hardly caught the significance when Ambergris quietly replied, “Good.”Glorfathel did feel the dwarf’s strong hand slap hard against his back, though, and felt it more keenly as the dwarf’s other hand slapped up between his legs to grab him by the crotch.He managed to say, “What?” but that was all, as Ambergris lifted him over her head and pitched him back over her shoulder and over the ledge, into the primordial pit.Not even bothering to turn around and admire her handiwork, the dwarf fell right into her own spellcasting, waggling her fingers.Before her, Afafrenfere stared blankly, for he had seen the throw, and apparently he had not yet figured out that he was the target of the dwarf’s coming dweomer.The four shades standing before them were not novices to battle, and had fought and trained together for a long, long time.Drizzt knew that almost immediately.The shades’ coordination of movements was too precise to indicate anything less.They stood four across in the tight tunnel, and that alone showed a level of trust and familiarity, for their movements and efforts had to be straightforward, or properly angled outward on a diagonal—and not a block or thrust of theirs could come as a surprise to the others in line, else risking a catastrophic entanglement.With Dahlia next to him on his left and Entreri beyond her, the three companions fought ferociously, going for the fast kill.Time was not their ally.Drizzt set his scimitars to rolling again and rushed forward, trying to break the line.But the shade to his opponent’s right thrust out to intercept.Dahlia moved perfectly to intercept that thrust, her spinning flail cracking at the blade.But the shade retracted and came ahead again, and Dahlia had to fend a similar attack as Drizzt, but from the third shade in line.Entreri slapped that thrust away, freeing up Dahlia, but then he faced an attack from the far end, and Dahlia from the next, and Drizzt, again, from the second.The shade line held.“You have failed, Barrabus,” Herzgo Alegni said from behind the fight.“And you will be punished.”Dahlia, not Entreri, reacted fiercely, driving forward to get at the most-hated tiefling.She was driven back before she ever started, and only fast reactions by Drizzt and Entreri at her sides prevented her from taking multiple hits from those shades flanking her intended victim.In the effort, Entreri got cut across his right forearm by the fourth shade, the one holding the end of the line on his side.Behind the four, Herzgo Alegni laughed.“Faster, faster,” Drizzt prompted his friends, and all three pressed ahead, blades stabbing wildly, scimitars rolling, flails spinning.The four shades responded with a barricade of parrying swords.One flicked a dagger out suddenly, throwing for Dahlia.Entreri picked it off with a slight turn of his sword.A dagger came at him, as well, but Dahlia’s flail batted it aside.One came for Drizzt, then a second, but his scimitars took them from the air cleanly, and he hardly slowed his rolling barrage of blows.Artemis Entreri flicked his own dagger, feigning a throw at the shade to his right, but actually spinning it at a backward arc.In came swords, left, right, and center, to block, and the assassin’s suddenly free hand went to his belt buckle, brought forth the knife, and launched it at a lower angle in one fluid movement.It disappeared into a tangle of swords and flails, but the grunt of the targeted shade signaled a hit.Entreri spun a complete circuit—Dahlia reflexively sent a flail snapping across to protect him as he turned—and when Entreri came around, he held sword and dagger once more, for he caught the fake throw behind him perfectly.The shade before Dahlia, Entreri’s buckle knife deep in his gut, could not maintain the pace, and the elf pounced, sending a straightforward barrage of spinning poles at him.His companions left and right defeated that attack, but Dahlia side-stepped to the right as she worked the weapons.And Drizzt rolled behind her to take her place as she took his, and Icingdeath flashed ahead past those defenders still trailing Dahlia.The shade carrying Entreri’s dagger took the stab in the chest and fell away.But another was there immediately, thrust forward by Herzgo Alegni, who continued to grin.“Well done!” He mocked them with a wicked laugh.Drizzt knew that Alegni’s confidence was justified.They had scored a minor gain and no more.The shades fought defensively, and in the tight tunnel, they three could not begin to break through in time.In time … Alegni’s confident grin told them that more Shadovar would soon arrive, before them and probably behind.“Fight hard, Dahlia!” Entreri cried, and his curious reference to her only clued Drizzt in to his meaning.The drow went forward with a double thrust, but reversed almost immediately and threw himself backward into a roll, and the instant he vacated his spot, Entreri and Dahlia both shifted in half a step to fill the gap.Drizzt came up from his roll with Taulmaril in hand.“Center!” he called, and the two fell apart, and the arrow streaked through.A shade warrior slapped his sword across desperately and managed to deflect the lightning arrow, but only changed its angle so that instead of catching him in the chest, it hit him in the face, and he, too, flew away.The other shade flanking Alegni started to fill the void, but in came the tiefling warlord instead, now roaring in anger and with a huge broadsword flashing left and right.“Kill them!” he ordered, and he led the assault, striking mightily and often.Entreri and Dahlia couldn’t begin to counter the sheer power of those strikes with three other shades pressing in around the mighty Alegni.Drizzt let fly again, the arrow streaking at Alegni, but Dahlia’s flail ate it before it got near.He let fly again immediately, but she took that one, too!The drow couldn’t tell whether she meant to steal the arrows with her magical staff or whether her interceptions were merely the result of the furious flurry she needed to throw forth to try to slow the warlord and his minions.To try futilely, Drizzt realized, for the four shades pressed ahead and overwhelmed Entreri and Dahlia, driving them back.Drizzt managed one last shot, which Dahlia again stole, before he had to take up his scimitars again and leap into the fray, and he did so just in time as Dahlia stumbled backward and cried out in pain, nearly caught by Herzgo Alegni’s sword slash, and struck instead by a line of searing black magic.She turned as Drizzt stepped by to take her place, and he stayed near the center of the corridor, expecting her to flank him again on his right.But she didn’t.Grunting in pain, she turned and ran away.Like Glorfathel behind him, Effron tried to find an angle of attack with his devastating magic.So focused was he that he didn’t realize that the sorcerer behind him had been thrown into the pit, the plummeting elf’s screams drowned by the swirling thunder of the water elementals.Nor did Effron notice Afafrenfere beside him, turning around and gaping incredulously at the traitorous dwarf.The twisted warlock did see a shade fall away in the tunnel before him.He did see a flash of lightning and a second fall, and saw Herzgo Alegni take up the fight.No help had yet appeared, however, and strangely so!Effron released a spell, aiming just to the left of the warlord.He lost sight of the bolt, but his eyes sparkled when he heard a cry of pain, the voice of an elf female.But then his eyes became heavy suddenly, and his limbs slowed and he felt as if he was underwater, then under something heavier, thicker than water …He could barely move.His mind dulled as his limbs seemed to lock and freeze in place.He fought back with all of his willpower.He managed to turn his head enough to see Afafrenfere, standing perfectly still, not moving, not even blinking.Effron fought through the dweomer and spun around to see Ambergris the dwarf standing there, hands on hips, with Glorfathel nowhere to be seen.“Ah, ye fool,” the dwarf said.
|
[
1544,
3947,
8970,
287,
465,
2962,
11,
30534,
278,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
4769,
7138,
991,
355,
339,
13488,
329,
262,
288,
808,
284,
905,
2241,
517,
3938,
13,
2396,
881,
588,
257,
10988,
5044,
750,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
1283,
326,
21896,
2164,
271,
2048,
2938,
683,
284,
923,
256,
37843,
465,
3625,
355,
611,
1100,
1112,
284,
6076,
13,
1544,
3181,
530,
1021,
503,
878,
683,
11,
20883,
510,
465,
9848,
11,
290,
11686,
465,
9353,
284,
7766,
257,
1402,
6147,
2318,
13,
7556,
4386,
11,
2951,
31133,
278,
287,
262,
19634,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
2067,
13092,
13,
1544,
42261,
6364,
11,
26625,
11,
290,
465,
3809,
2540,
284,
4485,
287,
6115,
11,
465,
2456,
2406,
5443,
290,
517,
35701,
355,
339,
8278,
284,
257,
38879,
269,
411,
15695,
78,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
13176,
683,
416,
262,
3211,
13,
447,
250,
10814,
11,
18731,
3926,
447,
251,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
3016,
39283,
319,
465,
2456,
13,
1544,
5954,
1497,
7323,
11,
16143,
4878,
18117,
379,
262,
8531,
306,
45702,
24603,
13,
1544,
1816,
826,
736,
284,
2962,
319,
262,
23959,
11,
3211,
290,
10883,
7515,
503,
878,
683,
13,
1544,
3947,
2407,
781,
436,
1068,
290,
2407,
6824,
477,
379,
1752,
11,
6189,
2111,
284,
1064,
465,
2496,
290,
465,
49994,
878,
339,
2626,
262,
2589,
13,
447,
250,
10814,
11,
18731,
11,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
531,
757,
11,
655,
355,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
10282,
1752,
517,
13,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
45236,
34425,
290,
20821,
465,
17841,
625,
607,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
1392,
257,
4822,
267,
447,
247,
23145,
3780,
329,
331,
263,
944,
393,
18842,
7046,
30,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
1965,
13,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
18484,
379,
607,
355,
611,
673,
550,
2626,
607,
2000,
11,
788,
2900,
736,
284,
262,
3074,
878,
683,
290,
355,
339,
2540,
3867,
465,
5101,
656,
4822,
19913,
2292,
757,
11,
339,
9373,
49206,
11,
564,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2067,
31138,
329,
465,
14357,
24667,
1752,
517,
11,
290,
8941,
4978,
262,
12085,
618,
21896,
2164,
271,
12703,
8712,
11,
564,
250,
10248,
13,
447,
251,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
750,
1254,
262,
24603,
447,
247,
82,
1913,
1021,
23905,
1327,
1028,
465,
736,
11,
996,
11,
290,
2936,
340,
517,
13795,
306,
355,
262,
24603,
447,
247,
82,
584,
1021,
31213,
510,
1022,
465,
7405,
284,
5552,
683,
416,
262,
45885,
13,
1544,
5257,
284,
910,
11,
564,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
475,
326,
373,
477,
11,
355,
21896,
2164,
271,
13663,
683,
625,
607,
1182,
290,
21730,
683,
736,
625,
607,
8163,
290,
625,
262,
35614,
11,
656,
262,
2684,
31223,
6028,
13,
3673,
772,
41656,
284,
1210,
1088,
290,
21099,
607,
1021,
72,
1818,
11,
262,
24603,
3214,
826,
656,
607,
898,
4822,
19913,
11,
266,
9460,
1359,
607,
9353,
13,
8421,
607,
11,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
18484,
9178,
306,
11,
329,
339,
550,
1775,
262,
3714,
11,
290,
5729,
339,
550,
407,
1865,
11638,
503,
326,
339,
373
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
3947,
8970,
287,
465,
2962,
11,
30534,
278,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
4769,
7138,
991,
355,
339,
13488,
329,
262,
288,
808,
284,
905,
2241,
517,
3938,
13,
2396,
881,
588,
257,
10988,
5044,
750,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
1283,
326,
21896,
2164,
271,
2048,
2938,
683,
284,
923,
256,
37843,
465,
3625,
355,
611,
1100,
1112,
284,
6076,
13,
1544,
3181,
530,
1021,
503,
878,
683,
11,
20883,
510,
465,
9848,
11,
290,
11686,
465,
9353,
284,
7766,
257,
1402,
6147,
2318,
13,
7556,
4386,
11,
2951,
31133,
278,
287,
262,
19634,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
2067,
13092,
13,
1544,
42261,
6364,
11,
26625,
11,
290,
465,
3809,
2540,
284,
4485,
287,
6115,
11,
465,
2456,
2406,
5443,
290,
517,
35701,
355,
339,
8278,
284,
257,
38879,
269,
411,
15695,
78,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
13176,
683,
416,
262,
3211,
13,
447,
250,
10814,
11,
18731,
3926,
447,
251,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
3016,
39283,
319,
465,
2456,
13,
1544,
5954,
1497,
7323,
11,
16143,
4878,
18117,
379,
262,
8531,
306,
45702,
24603,
13,
1544,
1816,
826,
736,
284,
2962,
319,
262,
23959,
11,
3211,
290,
10883,
7515,
503,
878,
683,
13,
1544,
3947,
2407,
781,
436,
1068,
290,
2407,
6824,
477,
379,
1752,
11,
6189,
2111,
284,
1064,
465,
2496,
290,
465,
49994,
878,
339,
2626,
262,
2589,
13,
447,
250,
10814,
11,
18731,
11,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
531,
757,
11,
655,
355,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
10282,
1752,
517,
13,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
45236,
34425,
290,
20821,
465,
17841,
625,
607,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
1392,
257,
4822,
267,
447,
247,
23145,
3780,
329,
331,
263,
944,
393,
18842,
7046,
30,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
1965,
13,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
18484,
379,
607,
355,
611,
673,
550,
2626,
607,
2000,
11,
788,
2900,
736,
284,
262,
3074,
878,
683,
290,
355,
339,
2540,
3867,
465,
5101,
656,
4822,
19913,
2292,
757,
11,
339,
9373,
49206,
11,
564,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2067,
31138,
329,
465,
14357,
24667,
1752,
517,
11,
290,
8941,
4978,
262,
12085,
618,
21896,
2164,
271,
12703,
8712,
11,
564,
250,
10248,
13,
447,
251,
38,
4685,
17359,
2978,
750,
1254,
262,
24603,
447,
247,
82,
1913,
1021,
23905,
1327,
1028,
465,
736,
11,
996,
11,
290,
2936,
340,
517,
13795,
306,
355,
262,
24603,
447,
247,
82,
584,
1021,
31213,
510,
1022,
465,
7405,
284,
5552,
683,
416,
262,
45885,
13,
1544,
5257,
284,
910,
11,
564,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
475,
326,
373,
477,
11,
355,
21896,
2164,
271,
13663,
683,
625,
607,
1182,
290,
21730,
683,
736,
625,
607,
8163,
290,
625,
262,
35614,
11,
656,
262,
2684,
31223,
6028,
13,
3673,
772,
41656,
284,
1210,
1088,
290,
21099,
607,
1021,
72,
1818,
11,
262,
24603,
3214,
826,
656,
607,
898,
4822,
19913,
11,
266,
9460,
1359,
607,
9353,
13,
8421,
607,
11,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
18484,
9178,
306,
11,
329,
339,
550,
1775,
262,
3714,
11,
290,
5729,
339,
550,
407,
1865,
11638,
503,
326,
339,
373
] |
dnd505
|
“Ye should o’ stood still.”Effron’s mind spun as he tried to sort it out, but one thing seemed crystal clear to him: The dwarf had cast a spell of holding over him and Afafrenfere.Ambergris laughed, hoisted her great mace in both hands, and charged at him.“Alegni!” Effron cried desperately, and he became a wraith and dived into the stone just an eye-blink before the sweeping mace of Ambergris.Alegni heard the shout and it stole his momentum.He faded back from the fight just a bit and managed to look back into the primordial chamber, hoping that Effron’s cry signaled the arrival of the reinforcements.Where were they?And worse, what was he looking at?He saw the dwarf rush off out of view to his right, mace in hand—had enemies come in behind them?Had the dark elves arrived?The warlord swallowed hard at that awful thought and shoved the remaining shade up before him to join the other three in their defensive line.Alegni turned back as he did, to see Dahlia in full retreat.Had his forces swung around to block that end of the tunnel, he wondered and hoped?Were his forces detained in the forge room, battling the drow?“Kill them!” he ordered the four shades before him, and he fell back, cautiously but quickly, trying to make sense of a situation that suddenly seemed to be fast deteriorating.With Herzgo Alegni dropping back from the fight, Drizzt and Entreri soon came up to even footing against the four before them, and while they couldn’t make much headway in the narrow tunnel, neither could the shades gain any advantages against the two supremely skilled warriors.“Go!” Drizzt bade Entreri.“Run with Dahlia!”“To what end, you noble fool?” Entreri asked, his question coming forth in choppy inflection as he parried a sword thrust with his own sword, then caught a second attack with his dagger and deftly turned it aside.“You’ve got the sword!”Drizzt growled and batted aside a well-coordinated attack from the two before him.“You go,” Entreri yelled at him.“Better for me to die than to be caught again by that wretched blade!”But Drizzt was thinking that if Entreri did run off, he could hold back these four for a few moments, then sprint in pursuit, his anklets giving him the ground he needed to be away.“Go!” he shouted back at Entreri, even as the assassin shouted the same to him.And both of their cries got cut short by the screech of a giant bird, coming in fast behind them!Both dropped low and drove forward, even going to their knees as they forced down the attention and the blades of their opponents.Dahlia the Crow soared over them and bashed into and through the shade line, scattering the four, knocking two to the ground in the process.“Oh, good girl,” Drizzt said, leaping back to his feet beside Entreri, for now they had the advantage, all integrity of the defensive line before them broken.Perhaps momentarily, but momentarily was all that Drizzt Do’Urden and Artemis Entreri fighting in concert would ever need.Herzgo Alegni widened his eyes in shock as he saw Effron come up out of the floor far to the side, and saw the Cavus Dun dwarf charging at the warlock, mace in hand.“Treachery,” the warlord breathed as he began to sort it out.The monk still had not moved, obviously held by some magical spell.And Glorfathel was nowhere to be seen.And this dwarf attacked Effron.Alegni dived aside and to the ground, catching a sudden and overwhelming movement out of the corner of his eye.He got clipped by a clawing talon, and used it to enhance his roll and bring him back to his feet.He could only watch in shock as that giant bird—Dahlia, he knew—dived out of sight, over the ledge and down into the mist.Where were the reinforcements?Alegni thought of the dwarf running for the corridor to fetch them.And then he understood.This one’s treachery had been complete.Alegni winced as Effron launched a spell at the dwarf, but one that met with magical defenses and hardly slowed her charge.Again at the last moment, Effron slipped into a crack in the floor.But the dwarf skidded to a stop, laughing, so confident.“Ye canno’ get away like that for long, ye little sneaker!” she proclaimed, and truly she seemed to be enjoying herself.The warlord spun back to the tunnel, where four defending shades had become two, and where the superb skill and coordination of Barrabus the Gray and this drow ranger would soon win out.And no reinforcements would be coming.“Damn you,” he whispered at Ambergris, at Barrabus, at Dahlia, at them all, for he had lost again.He yelled out to Effron, who was coming back to his three-dimensional form far to the other side of the chamber, back near the corridor to the forge room, “Effron, be gone!To the Shadowfell!Get away!”He turned back to the tunnel and saw the last of his shade warriors go down before a cut of Barrabus’s deadly sword, saw the drow ranger already coming for him.Bitterly, Herzgo Alegni had to accept the truth: His side had failed.“Be gone, Effron!” he called again, and he began to shadowstep, thinking of all the curses he would scream against Draygo Quick and the treacherous Cavus Dun before the Netherese Council.The world began to fade into shadow.But an image came to him, then, and it jarred him indeed.Herzgo Alegni saw his beloved red-bladed sword spinning down into the maw of the primordial, to be eaten by the fiery beast.The sword cried out in his mind, begging him to fight on, promising him that it would help him, that it could control Barrabus.Promising Herzgo Alegni that he and Claw would win.The tiefling warlord ended his dimensional step and came back to Toril fully, the shadows around him dissipated.Drizzt the ranger stood barely ten strides away, holding Claw out before him.
|
“Ye should o’ stood still.”Effron’s mind spun as he tried to sort it out, but one thing seemed crystal clear to him: The dwarf had cast a spell of holding over him and Afafrenfere.Ambergris laughed, hoisted her great mace in both hands, and charged at him.“Alegni!” Effron cried desperately, and he became a wraith and dived into the stone just an eye-blink before the sweeping mace of Ambergris.Alegni heard the shout and it stole his momentum.He faded back from the fight just a bit and managed to look back into the primordial chamber, hoping that Effron’s cry signaled the arrival of the reinforcements.Where were they?And worse, what was he looking at?He saw the dwarf rush off out of view to his right, mace in hand—had enemies come in behind them?Had the dark elves arrived?The warlord swallowed hard at that awful thought and shoved the remaining shade up before him to join the other three in their defensive line.Alegni turned back as he did, to see Dahlia in full retreat.Had his forces swung around to block that end of the tunnel, he wondered and hoped?Were his forces detained in the forge room, battling the drow?“Kill them!” he ordered the four shades before him, and he fell back, cautiously but quickly, trying to make sense of a situation that suddenly seemed to be fast deteriorating.With Herzgo Alegni dropping back from the fight, Drizzt and Entreri soon came up to even footing against the four before them, and while they couldn’t make much headway in the narrow tunnel, neither could the shades gain any advantages against the two supremely skilled warriors.“Go!” Drizzt bade Entreri.“Run with Dahlia!”“To what end, you noble fool?” Entreri asked, his question coming forth in choppy inflection as he parried a sword thrust with his own sword, then caught a second attack with his dagger and deftly turned it aside.“You’ve got the sword!”Drizzt growled and batted aside a well-coordinated attack from the two before him.“You go,” Entreri yelled at him.“Better for me to die than to be caught again by that wretched blade!”But Drizzt was thinking that if Entreri did run off, he could hold back these four for a few moments, then sprint in pursuit, his anklets giving him the ground he needed to be away.“Go!” he shouted back at Entreri, even as the assassin shouted the same to him.And both of their cries got cut short by the screech of a giant bird, coming in fast behind them!Both dropped low and drove forward, even going to their knees as they forced down the attention and the blades of their opponents.Dahlia the Crow soared over them and bashed into and through the shade line, scattering the four, knocking two to the ground in the process.“Oh, good girl,” Drizzt said, leaping back to his feet beside Entreri, for now they had the advantage, all integrity of the defensive line before them broken.Perhaps momentarily, but momentarily was all that Drizzt Do’Urden and Artemis Entreri fighting in concert would ever need.Herzgo Alegni widened his eyes in shock as he saw Effron come up out of the floor far to the side, and saw the Cavus Dun dwarf charging at the warlock, mace in hand.“Treachery,” the warlord breathed as he began to sort it out.The monk still had not moved, obviously held by some magical spell.And Glorfathel was nowhere to be seen.And this dwarf attacked Effron.Alegni dived aside and to the ground, catching a sudden and overwhelming movement out of the corner of his eye.He got clipped by a clawing talon, and used it to enhance his roll and bring him back to his feet.He could only watch in shock as that giant bird—Dahlia, he knew—dived out of sight, over the ledge and down into the mist.Where were the reinforcements?Alegni thought of the dwarf running for the corridor to fetch them.And then he understood.This one’s treachery had been complete.Alegni winced as Effron launched a spell at the dwarf, but one that met with magical defenses and hardly slowed her charge.Again at the last moment, Effron slipped into a crack in the floor.But the dwarf skidded to a stop, laughing, so confident.“Ye canno’ get away like that for long, ye little sneaker!” she proclaimed, and truly she seemed to be enjoying herself.The warlord spun back to the tunnel, where four defending shades had become two, and where the superb skill and coordination of Barrabus the Gray and this drow ranger would soon win out.And no reinforcements would be coming.“Damn you,” he whispered at Ambergris, at Barrabus, at Dahlia, at them all, for he had lost again.He yelled out to Effron, who was coming back to his three-dimensional form far to the other side of the chamber, back near the corridor to the forge room, “Effron, be gone!To the Shadowfell!Get away!”He turned back to the tunnel and saw the last of his shade warriors go down before a cut of Barrabus’s deadly sword, saw the drow ranger already coming for him.Bitterly, Herzgo Alegni had to accept the truth: His side had failed.“Be gone, Effron!” he called again, and he began to shadowstep, thinking of all the curses he would scream against Draygo Quick and the treacherous Cavus Dun before the Netherese Council.The world began to fade into shadow.But an image came to him, then, and it jarred him indeed.Herzgo Alegni saw his beloved red-bladed sword spinning down into the maw of the primordial, to be eaten by the fiery beast.The sword cried out in his mind, begging him to fight on, promising him that it would help him, that it could control Barrabus.Promising Herzgo Alegni that he and Claw would win.The tiefling warlord ended his dimensional step and came back to Toril fully, the shadows around him dissipated.Drizzt the ranger stood barely ten strides away, holding Claw out before him.
|
[
447,
250,
35543,
815,
267,
447,
247,
6204,
991,
13,
447,
251,
36,
487,
1313,
447,
247,
82,
2000,
26843,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
3297,
340,
503,
11,
475,
530,
1517,
3947,
15121,
1598,
284,
683,
25,
383,
24603,
550,
3350,
257,
4822,
286,
4769,
625,
683,
290,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
13818,
11,
8169,
6347,
607,
1049,
285,
558,
287,
1111,
2832,
11,
290,
5047,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1455,
8461,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
16459,
11,
290,
339,
2627,
257,
7917,
342,
290,
288,
1572,
656,
262,
7815,
655,
281,
4151,
12,
2436,
676,
878,
262,
18404,
285,
558,
286,
21896,
2164,
271,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
2982,
262,
9191,
290,
340,
18240,
465,
12858,
13,
1544,
24887,
736,
422,
262,
1907,
655,
257,
1643,
290,
5257,
284,
804,
736,
656,
262,
2684,
31223,
11847,
11,
7725,
326,
27848,
1313,
447,
247,
82,
3960,
34676,
262,
10325,
286,
262,
38578,
13,
8496,
547,
484,
30,
1870,
4785,
11,
644,
373,
339,
2045,
379,
30,
1544,
2497,
262,
24603,
10484,
572,
503,
286,
1570,
284,
465,
826,
11,
285,
558,
287,
1021,
960,
18108,
5775,
1282,
287,
2157,
606,
30,
25383,
262,
3223,
31959,
5284,
30,
464,
1175,
10572,
27961,
1327,
379,
326,
12659,
1807,
290,
35137,
262,
5637,
17979,
510,
878,
683,
284,
4654,
262,
584,
1115,
287,
511,
6110,
1627,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
2900,
736,
355,
339,
750,
11,
284,
766,
41471,
544,
287,
1336,
13703,
13,
25383,
465,
3386,
28507,
1088,
284,
2512,
326,
886,
286,
262,
13275,
11,
339,
14028,
290,
10719,
30,
35653,
465,
3386,
14847,
287,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
20581,
262,
288,
808,
30,
447,
250,
27100,
606,
0,
447,
251,
339,
6149,
262,
1440,
23787,
878,
683,
11,
290,
339,
3214,
736,
11,
39640,
475,
2952,
11,
2111,
284,
787,
2565,
286,
257,
3074,
326,
6451,
3947,
284,
307,
3049,
43229,
13,
3152,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
12047,
736,
422,
262,
1907,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2582,
1625,
510,
284,
772,
32687,
1028,
262,
1440,
878,
606,
11,
290,
981,
484,
3521,
447,
247,
83,
787,
881,
1182,
1014,
287,
262,
7135,
13275,
11,
6159,
714,
262,
23787,
4461,
597,
13391,
1028,
262,
734,
17700,
306,
14297,
17119,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
275,
671,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
351,
41471,
544,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2514,
644,
886,
11,
345,
15581,
9192,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
11,
465,
1808,
2406,
6071,
287,
1727,
14097,
1167,
1564,
355,
339,
1582,
2228,
257,
8429,
14613,
351,
465,
898,
8429,
11,
788,
4978,
257,
1218,
1368,
351,
465,
31322,
290,
46208,
306,
2900,
340,
7263,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
247,
303,
1392,
262,
8429,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
1663,
992,
290,
45754,
7263,
257,
880,
12,
37652,
3898,
1368,
422,
262,
734,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
467,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
22760,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
28971,
329,
502
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
35543,
815,
267,
447,
247,
6204,
991,
13,
447,
251,
36,
487,
1313,
447,
247,
82,
2000,
26843,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
3297,
340,
503,
11,
475,
530,
1517,
3947,
15121,
1598,
284,
683,
25,
383,
24603,
550,
3350,
257,
4822,
286,
4769,
625,
683,
290,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
13818,
11,
8169,
6347,
607,
1049,
285,
558,
287,
1111,
2832,
11,
290,
5047,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1455,
8461,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
16459,
11,
290,
339,
2627,
257,
7917,
342,
290,
288,
1572,
656,
262,
7815,
655,
281,
4151,
12,
2436,
676,
878,
262,
18404,
285,
558,
286,
21896,
2164,
271,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
2982,
262,
9191,
290,
340,
18240,
465,
12858,
13,
1544,
24887,
736,
422,
262,
1907,
655,
257,
1643,
290,
5257,
284,
804,
736,
656,
262,
2684,
31223,
11847,
11,
7725,
326,
27848,
1313,
447,
247,
82,
3960,
34676,
262,
10325,
286,
262,
38578,
13,
8496,
547,
484,
30,
1870,
4785,
11,
644,
373,
339,
2045,
379,
30,
1544,
2497,
262,
24603,
10484,
572,
503,
286,
1570,
284,
465,
826,
11,
285,
558,
287,
1021,
960,
18108,
5775,
1282,
287,
2157,
606,
30,
25383,
262,
3223,
31959,
5284,
30,
464,
1175,
10572,
27961,
1327,
379,
326,
12659,
1807,
290,
35137,
262,
5637,
17979,
510,
878,
683,
284,
4654,
262,
584,
1115,
287,
511,
6110,
1627,
13,
32,
1455,
8461,
2900,
736,
355,
339,
750,
11,
284,
766,
41471,
544,
287,
1336,
13703,
13,
25383,
465,
3386,
28507,
1088,
284,
2512,
326,
886,
286,
262,
13275,
11,
339,
14028,
290,
10719,
30,
35653,
465,
3386,
14847,
287,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
20581,
262,
288,
808,
30,
447,
250,
27100,
606,
0,
447,
251,
339,
6149,
262,
1440,
23787,
878,
683,
11,
290,
339,
3214,
736,
11,
39640,
475,
2952,
11,
2111,
284,
787,
2565,
286,
257,
3074,
326,
6451,
3947,
284,
307,
3049,
43229,
13,
3152,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
12047,
736,
422,
262,
1907,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2582,
1625,
510,
284,
772,
32687,
1028,
262,
1440,
878,
606,
11,
290,
981,
484,
3521,
447,
247,
83,
787,
881,
1182,
1014,
287,
262,
7135,
13275,
11,
6159,
714,
262,
23787,
4461,
597,
13391,
1028,
262,
734,
17700,
306,
14297,
17119,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
275,
671,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
10987,
351,
41471,
544,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2514,
644,
886,
11,
345,
15581,
9192,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
11,
465,
1808,
2406,
6071,
287,
1727,
14097,
1167,
1564,
355,
339,
1582,
2228,
257,
8429,
14613,
351,
465,
898,
8429,
11,
788,
4978,
257,
1218,
1368,
351,
465,
31322,
290,
46208,
306,
2900,
340,
7263,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
247,
303,
1392,
262,
8429,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
1663,
992,
290,
45754,
7263,
257,
880,
12,
37652,
3898,
1368,
422,
262,
734,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
467,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
22760,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
28971,
329,
502
] |
dnd506
|
This dangerous enemy reached out at Herzgo Alegni through the telepathic power of that sword, promising him, coaxing him, coercing him.The crow swooped in.The huge bird rolled over in mid-air and became an elf female, flying down at the distracted Alegni’s back from on high, tingling with arcing bolts of pent-up lightning magic, her face locked in a murderous expression.“Father!” Effron screamed, seeing it all before him, seeing her drop upon the unsuspecting tiefling from behind, her muscles snapping in perfect coordination and timing to lead with a tremendous chop of her magical staff.Herzgo Alegni glanced at Effron, his twisted son, his expression revealing a deep lament.The explosion of Dahlia’s staff, the release of lightning, the momentum of her wild charge as she crashed down upon him, sent horn and bone and smoking hair and flesh flying aside and drove the mighty tiefling to his knees.“Father!” Effron cried again, tears streaming from his strange eyes, red and blue.“Get over here, ye little rat!” Ambergris yelled at him, and the ferocious dwarf closed furiously, mace ready to split his skull.IDIOCY OR HOPE?WHY DRIZZT, HOW VERY CLEVER AND IMMORAL OF YOU,” ARTEMIS ENTRERI said, walking up beside the drow, who stood very still with Claw held vertically before him, locked in telepathic combat with the dangerous sentient sword.“I do believe there’s hope for you,” Entreri added.Those words, from that man, reached right through the drow’s telepathic connection to stab Drizzt in his soul.In an instinctive moment of anger and denial, Drizzt gave in to the demands of the sword then, sending a shot of pain at Entreri.The instant the man began to lurch, however, the drow fought back against the vile and torturous impulses of the evil sword.Entreri turned on him hatefully, eyes threatening retribution, and Claw warned Drizzt to press the attack, to lay this dangerous enemy low.But Drizzt growled and slid the sword away, and he continued to growl in protest as he stared at Entreri.Entreri wanted to leap at him—he recognized that clearly enough on the angry assassin’s face.But Drizzt didn’t draw his weapons.A cry from the other direction, beyond the assassin, broke the moment of tension.It was Dahlia’s cry.After crashing into Alegni and driving him to his knees, she had bounced violently and rolled away, but any injuries or pain from the punishing descent obviously mattered not at all to her, for she went right back at the warlord, who seemed already dead, breaking her staff into flails and launching a tirade, a barrage, upon Alegni.Her spinning poles crashed against his head and face repeatedly, viciously, the woman spitting curses at him with every blow, issuing words and feral sounds that seemed to come from a place far removed from her consciousness.Artemis Entreri’s sudden expression revealed to Drizzt that he understood that place and those sounds, and the drow had to admit that such recognition from Entreri stung him.The assassin spun away from Drizzt and charged into the room, falling over Dahlia, hugging her arms in close to her sides as he dragged her away—and even then, in her thrashing, she managed to lift her foot and kick the tiefling warlord in what was left of his face.Drizzt moved to the edge of the chamber and tried to sort out the curious sights before him.Alegni was dead, of that there could be no doubt.He knelt upright, but only because in the barrage of blows left and right, he simply hadn’t fallen over.His head had been mashed to pulp, there was no life showing in his remaining eye, just the dull haze of death.Entreri continued to drag Dahlia aside, to Drizzt’s left.Beyond them, a familiar female dwarf rushed about, laughing crazily and beating at the stone floor with a large mace.She rushed past another shade, one Drizzt recognized from an earlier fight in the forest.This one just stood perfectly still, magically immobilized.And another shade, the twisted warlock, appeared not far from Drizzt.The drow grabbed for his scimitars, but the broken tiefling paid him no heed and staggered to fall over Alegni in a desperate hug as he screamed, “Father!”At the sound of that, Dahlia gave a sudden cry, and Drizzt watched her melt into Entreri’s arms, as if all the strength had just been yanked out from within her.She just went limp, shaking and crying and gasping for breath.The suddenness of that moment took Drizzt’s breath away, as if a gigantic thunderclap had just stunned them all.Even the crazed dwarf skidded to a stop and simply stared.“Curse you!” the twisted warlock shouted at Dahlia.“Murderess!Damn you and curse you!Once you tried to kill me and now you killed him!”If his every word had instead been a punch into Dahlia’s face, she would not have been more staggered or wounded.Drizzt wanted to leap over and silence this broken tiefling forever, but something held him back, some understanding that there was so much more to this story that he did not know.“I will find you, Mother,” the twisted warlock said, and Drizzt, too, felt as if he had just been slugged.“Oh, I will,” the shade promised, and he began to fade, stepping back to the Shadowfell.Entreri hugged Dahlia closer.“Ye’ve got no’ much time,” the dwarf said then, addressing Drizzt.She lowered her mace and paced toward the drow.
|
This dangerous enemy reached out at Herzgo Alegni through the telepathic power of that sword, promising him, coaxing him, coercing him.The crow swooped in.The huge bird rolled over in mid-air and became an elf female, flying down at the distracted Alegni’s back from on high, tingling with arcing bolts of pent-up lightning magic, her face locked in a murderous expression.“Father!” Effron screamed, seeing it all before him, seeing her drop upon the unsuspecting tiefling from behind, her muscles snapping in perfect coordination and timing to lead with a tremendous chop of her magical staff.Herzgo Alegni glanced at Effron, his twisted son, his expression revealing a deep lament.The explosion of Dahlia’s staff, the release of lightning, the momentum of her wild charge as she crashed down upon him, sent horn and bone and smoking hair and flesh flying aside and drove the mighty tiefling to his knees.“Father!” Effron cried again, tears streaming from his strange eyes, red and blue.“Get over here, ye little rat!” Ambergris yelled at him, and the ferocious dwarf closed furiously, mace ready to split his skull.IDIOCY OR HOPE?WHY DRIZZT, HOW VERY CLEVER AND IMMORAL OF YOU,” ARTEMIS ENTRERI said, walking up beside the drow, who stood very still with Claw held vertically before him, locked in telepathic combat with the dangerous sentient sword.“I do believe there’s hope for you,” Entreri added.Those words, from that man, reached right through the drow’s telepathic connection to stab Drizzt in his soul.In an instinctive moment of anger and denial, Drizzt gave in to the demands of the sword then, sending a shot of pain at Entreri.The instant the man began to lurch, however, the drow fought back against the vile and torturous impulses of the evil sword.Entreri turned on him hatefully, eyes threatening retribution, and Claw warned Drizzt to press the attack, to lay this dangerous enemy low.But Drizzt growled and slid the sword away, and he continued to growl in protest as he stared at Entreri.Entreri wanted to leap at him—he recognized that clearly enough on the angry assassin’s face.But Drizzt didn’t draw his weapons.A cry from the other direction, beyond the assassin, broke the moment of tension.It was Dahlia’s cry.After crashing into Alegni and driving him to his knees, she had bounced violently and rolled away, but any injuries or pain from the punishing descent obviously mattered not at all to her, for she went right back at the warlord, who seemed already dead, breaking her staff into flails and launching a tirade, a barrage, upon Alegni.Her spinning poles crashed against his head and face repeatedly, viciously, the woman spitting curses at him with every blow, issuing words and feral sounds that seemed to come from a place far removed from her consciousness.Artemis Entreri’s sudden expression revealed to Drizzt that he understood that place and those sounds, and the drow had to admit that such recognition from Entreri stung him.The assassin spun away from Drizzt and charged into the room, falling over Dahlia, hugging her arms in close to her sides as he dragged her away—and even then, in her thrashing, she managed to lift her foot and kick the tiefling warlord in what was left of his face.Drizzt moved to the edge of the chamber and tried to sort out the curious sights before him.Alegni was dead, of that there could be no doubt.He knelt upright, but only because in the barrage of blows left and right, he simply hadn’t fallen over.His head had been mashed to pulp, there was no life showing in his remaining eye, just the dull haze of death.Entreri continued to drag Dahlia aside, to Drizzt’s left.Beyond them, a familiar female dwarf rushed about, laughing crazily and beating at the stone floor with a large mace.She rushed past another shade, one Drizzt recognized from an earlier fight in the forest.This one just stood perfectly still, magically immobilized.And another shade, the twisted warlock, appeared not far from Drizzt.The drow grabbed for his scimitars, but the broken tiefling paid him no heed and staggered to fall over Alegni in a desperate hug as he screamed, “Father!”At the sound of that, Dahlia gave a sudden cry, and Drizzt watched her melt into Entreri’s arms, as if all the strength had just been yanked out from within her.She just went limp, shaking and crying and gasping for breath.The suddenness of that moment took Drizzt’s breath away, as if a gigantic thunderclap had just stunned them all.Even the crazed dwarf skidded to a stop and simply stared.“Curse you!” the twisted warlock shouted at Dahlia.“Murderess!Damn you and curse you!Once you tried to kill me and now you killed him!”If his every word had instead been a punch into Dahlia’s face, she would not have been more staggered or wounded.Drizzt wanted to leap over and silence this broken tiefling forever, but something held him back, some understanding that there was so much more to this story that he did not know.“I will find you, Mother,” the twisted warlock said, and Drizzt, too, felt as if he had just been slugged.“Oh, I will,” the shade promised, and he began to fade, stepping back to the Shadowfell.Entreri hugged Dahlia closer.“Ye’ve got no’ much time,” the dwarf said then, addressing Drizzt.She lowered her mace and paced toward the drow.
|
[
1212,
4923,
4472,
4251,
503,
379,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
832,
262,
5735,
38829,
1176,
286,
326,
8429,
11,
11781,
683,
11,
37700,
278,
683,
11,
31255,
2259,
683,
13,
464,
37593,
38527,
276,
287,
13,
464,
3236,
6512,
11686,
625,
287,
3095,
12,
958,
290,
2627,
281,
23878,
4048,
11,
7348,
866,
379,
262,
22943,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
736,
422,
319,
1029,
11,
256,
278,
1359,
351,
610,
2259,
24667,
286,
28145,
12,
929,
14357,
5536,
11,
607,
1986,
8970,
287,
257,
34082,
5408,
13,
447,
250,
34823,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25421,
11,
4379,
340,
477,
878,
683,
11,
4379,
607,
4268,
2402,
262,
41975,
256,
2086,
1359,
422,
2157,
11,
607,
12749,
35733,
287,
2818,
19877,
290,
10576,
284,
1085,
351,
257,
12465,
30506,
286,
607,
10883,
3085,
13,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
27846,
379,
27848,
1313,
11,
465,
19074,
3367,
11,
465,
5408,
13477,
257,
2769,
23146,
13,
464,
11278,
286,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
3085,
11,
262,
2650,
286,
14357,
11,
262,
12858,
286,
607,
4295,
3877,
355,
673,
14997,
866,
2402,
683,
11,
1908,
12718,
290,
9970,
290,
9216,
4190,
290,
11222,
7348,
7263,
290,
10357,
262,
18680,
256,
2086,
1359,
284,
465,
14475,
13,
447,
250,
34823,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
757,
11,
10953,
11305,
422,
465,
6283,
2951,
11,
2266,
290,
4171,
13,
447,
250,
3855,
625,
994,
11,
9838,
1310,
4227,
0,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
22760,
379,
683,
11,
290,
262,
40831,
24603,
4838,
44896,
11,
285,
558,
3492,
284,
6626,
465,
14511,
13,
2389,
40,
4503,
56,
6375,
367,
32135,
30,
12418,
56,
360,
7112,
30148,
51,
11,
29630,
29550,
30301,
5959,
5357,
8959,
44,
1581,
1847,
3963,
7013,
11,
447,
251,
24278,
3620,
1797,
12964,
5446,
1137,
40,
531,
11,
6155,
510,
13970,
262,
288,
808,
11,
508,
6204,
845,
991,
351,
30358,
2714,
31677,
878,
683,
11,
8970,
287,
5735,
38829,
5249,
351,
262,
4923,
36834,
8429,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
1975,
612,
447,
247,
82,
2911,
329,
345,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
2087,
13,
9627,
2456,
11,
422,
326,
582,
11,
4251,
826,
832,
262,
288,
808,
447,
247,
82,
5735,
38829,
4637,
284,
8303,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
465,
5848,
13,
818,
281,
13311,
425,
2589,
286,
8993,
290,
14425,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2921,
287,
284,
262,
8665,
286,
262,
8429,
788,
11,
7216,
257,
2823,
286,
2356,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
464,
9113,
262,
582,
2540,
284,
300,
2575,
11,
2158,
11,
262,
288,
808,
8350,
736,
1028,
262,
34942,
290,
7619,
29277,
37505,
286,
262,
6181,
8429,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
319,
683,
5465,
2759,
11,
2951,
11123,
40788,
11,
290,
30358,
7728,
5809,
3019,
83,
284,
1803,
262,
1368,
11,
284,
3830,
428,
4923,
4472,
1877,
13,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
1663,
992,
290,
27803,
262,
8429,
1497,
11,
290,
339,
3767,
284,
1663,
75,
287,
5402,
355,
339,
18484,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2227,
284,
16470,
379,
683,
960,
258,
8018,
326
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1212,
4923,
4472,
4251,
503,
379,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
832,
262,
5735,
38829,
1176,
286,
326,
8429,
11,
11781,
683,
11,
37700,
278,
683,
11,
31255,
2259,
683,
13,
464,
37593,
38527,
276,
287,
13,
464,
3236,
6512,
11686,
625,
287,
3095,
12,
958,
290,
2627,
281,
23878,
4048,
11,
7348,
866,
379,
262,
22943,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
736,
422,
319,
1029,
11,
256,
278,
1359,
351,
610,
2259,
24667,
286,
28145,
12,
929,
14357,
5536,
11,
607,
1986,
8970,
287,
257,
34082,
5408,
13,
447,
250,
34823,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25421,
11,
4379,
340,
477,
878,
683,
11,
4379,
607,
4268,
2402,
262,
41975,
256,
2086,
1359,
422,
2157,
11,
607,
12749,
35733,
287,
2818,
19877,
290,
10576,
284,
1085,
351,
257,
12465,
30506,
286,
607,
10883,
3085,
13,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
27846,
379,
27848,
1313,
11,
465,
19074,
3367,
11,
465,
5408,
13477,
257,
2769,
23146,
13,
464,
11278,
286,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
3085,
11,
262,
2650,
286,
14357,
11,
262,
12858,
286,
607,
4295,
3877,
355,
673,
14997,
866,
2402,
683,
11,
1908,
12718,
290,
9970,
290,
9216,
4190,
290,
11222,
7348,
7263,
290,
10357,
262,
18680,
256,
2086,
1359,
284,
465,
14475,
13,
447,
250,
34823,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
757,
11,
10953,
11305,
422,
465,
6283,
2951,
11,
2266,
290,
4171,
13,
447,
250,
3855,
625,
994,
11,
9838,
1310,
4227,
0,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
22760,
379,
683,
11,
290,
262,
40831,
24603,
4838,
44896,
11,
285,
558,
3492,
284,
6626,
465,
14511,
13,
2389,
40,
4503,
56,
6375,
367,
32135,
30,
12418,
56,
360,
7112,
30148,
51,
11,
29630,
29550,
30301,
5959,
5357,
8959,
44,
1581,
1847,
3963,
7013,
11,
447,
251,
24278,
3620,
1797,
12964,
5446,
1137,
40,
531,
11,
6155,
510,
13970,
262,
288,
808,
11,
508,
6204,
845,
991,
351,
30358,
2714,
31677,
878,
683,
11,
8970,
287,
5735,
38829,
5249,
351,
262,
4923,
36834,
8429,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
1975,
612,
447,
247,
82,
2911,
329,
345,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
2087,
13,
9627,
2456,
11,
422,
326,
582,
11,
4251,
826,
832,
262,
288,
808,
447,
247,
82,
5735,
38829,
4637,
284,
8303,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
465,
5848,
13,
818,
281,
13311,
425,
2589,
286,
8993,
290,
14425,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2921,
287,
284,
262,
8665,
286,
262,
8429,
788,
11,
7216,
257,
2823,
286,
2356,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
464,
9113,
262,
582,
2540,
284,
300,
2575,
11,
2158,
11,
262,
288,
808,
8350,
736,
1028,
262,
34942,
290,
7619,
29277,
37505,
286,
262,
6181,
8429,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
319,
683,
5465,
2759,
11,
2951,
11123,
40788,
11,
290,
30358,
7728,
5809,
3019,
83,
284,
1803,
262,
1368,
11,
284,
3830,
428,
4923,
4472,
1877,
13,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
1663,
992,
290,
27803,
262,
8429,
1497,
11,
290,
339,
3767,
284,
1663,
75,
287,
5402,
355,
339,
18484,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2227,
284,
16470,
379,
683,
960,
258,
8018,
326
] |
dnd507
|
“I put a spell o’ silence in that hall,” she explained, pointing to the corridor to the forge room, “but they’ll be comin’ along anyway, don’t ye doubt.”“Who are you?” Drizzt demanded as he tried to sort it out, and indeed, there flickered some recognition.“You were in Neverwinter …” He recalled this grinning dwarf indeed, though her skin hadn’t been this particular shade of gray, from the inn where he, Entreri, and Dahlia recovered from their wounds with help from the clerics, including this very dwarf.Drizzt looked past her to the immobilized shade, her companion now, and her companion before, in the forest fight.“You were there,” he accused.“Aye, Amber,” the dwarf happily replied.“Castin’ me spells to fix yer wounds.”“In the forest,” Drizzt clarified.“In a fight.”The dwarf sobered immediately.“Ah, so ye seen me then, did ye.”Drizzt’s hands went to his blades.“Aye, and I saved yer life, drow, when ye was hangin’ upside down on the side o’ the hill.Was meself that pushed that one”—she nodded toward the immobilized human shade—“aside when he wanted to leap upon ye for killin’ his dearest.”“As I asked, who are you?”“Amber Gristle O’Maul, o’ the Adbar O’Mauls, as I telled ye in the town,” the dwarf said with a bow.“Ambergris to me friends.When I heared in the Shadowfell that ye was the target o’ this hunt, I figured any good dwarf’d owe King Bruenor to see what good I might be doing.”“You’re a shade,” Entreri said from the side, where he still held the sobbing Dahlia.He had finally managed to get her back to her feet, at least.“Aye, a bit, and right back to yerself, gray one.” She looked to Drizzt.“I’ll be tellin’ ye all about it if we’re gettin’ out o’ here, and I be thinking that we should be gettin’ out o’ here.”The other shade stirred a bit, the magical hold lessening its grip.“What of him?” Drizzt asked as the dwarf walked up to stand right before the dark man.“Brother Afafrenfere,” Ambergris said to Drizzt, and she focused on the shade fully.“I know ye’re hearin’ me now, me monk friend,” she said, nudging Drizzt aside.“We’re setting out through that burned tunnel.Yerself’s going through one hole or th’other.” As she said that, she pointed back over her shoulder at the primordial pit.“No other choices for ye.”Ambergris looked around him to Drizzt and offered an exaggerated wink.“He’s a good enough sort,” she explained.“And not so dumb that he’d be goin’ against us.Come on, then.”She grabbed the monk and began sliding him along toward the room’s exit.Drizzt turned back to his companions, just in time to see Artemis Entreri press close to Dahlia and kiss her intensely, passionately.He spun away to face Drizzt, smiling widely.“You always wanted to kill me, Drizzt Do’Urden,” Entreri said, and he nodded toward the pit.“This is your chance.”Drizzt eyed Entreri every step as he walked near to the primordial pit.He quickly pulled the sword off his back and tossed it to the stone nearer the pit, for he didn’t want to hold it long enough to have to battle its intrusions again.
|
“I put a spell o’ silence in that hall,” she explained, pointing to the corridor to the forge room, “but they’ll be comin’ along anyway, don’t ye doubt.”“Who are you?” Drizzt demanded as he tried to sort it out, and indeed, there flickered some recognition.“You were in Neverwinter …” He recalled this grinning dwarf indeed, though her skin hadn’t been this particular shade of gray, from the inn where he, Entreri, and Dahlia recovered from their wounds with help from the clerics, including this very dwarf.Drizzt looked past her to the immobilized shade, her companion now, and her companion before, in the forest fight.“You were there,” he accused.“Aye, Amber,” the dwarf happily replied.“Castin’ me spells to fix yer wounds.”“In the forest,” Drizzt clarified.“In a fight.”The dwarf sobered immediately.“Ah, so ye seen me then, did ye.”Drizzt’s hands went to his blades.“Aye, and I saved yer life, drow, when ye was hangin’ upside down on the side o’ the hill.Was meself that pushed that one”—she nodded toward the immobilized human shade—“aside when he wanted to leap upon ye for killin’ his dearest.”“As I asked, who are you?”“Amber Gristle O’Maul, o’ the Adbar O’Mauls, as I telled ye in the town,” the dwarf said with a bow.“Ambergris to me friends.When I heared in the Shadowfell that ye was the target o’ this hunt, I figured any good dwarf’d owe King Bruenor to see what good I might be doing.”“You’re a shade,” Entreri said from the side, where he still held the sobbing Dahlia.He had finally managed to get her back to her feet, at least.“Aye, a bit, and right back to yerself, gray one.” She looked to Drizzt.“I’ll be tellin’ ye all about it if we’re gettin’ out o’ here, and I be thinking that we should be gettin’ out o’ here.”The other shade stirred a bit, the magical hold lessening its grip.“What of him?” Drizzt asked as the dwarf walked up to stand right before the dark man.“Brother Afafrenfere,” Ambergris said to Drizzt, and she focused on the shade fully.“I know ye’re hearin’ me now, me monk friend,” she said, nudging Drizzt aside.“We’re setting out through that burned tunnel.Yerself’s going through one hole or th’other.” As she said that, she pointed back over her shoulder at the primordial pit.“No other choices for ye.”Ambergris looked around him to Drizzt and offered an exaggerated wink.“He’s a good enough sort,” she explained.“And not so dumb that he’d be goin’ against us.Come on, then.”She grabbed the monk and began sliding him along toward the room’s exit.Drizzt turned back to his companions, just in time to see Artemis Entreri press close to Dahlia and kiss her intensely, passionately.He spun away to face Drizzt, smiling widely.“You always wanted to kill me, Drizzt Do’Urden,” Entreri said, and he nodded toward the pit.“This is your chance.”Drizzt eyed Entreri every step as he walked near to the primordial pit.He quickly pulled the sword off his back and tossed it to the stone nearer the pit, for he didn’t want to hold it long enough to have to battle its intrusions again.
|
[
447,
250,
40,
1234,
257,
4822,
267,
447,
247,
9550,
287,
326,
6899,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
11,
10609,
284,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
484,
447,
247,
297,
307,
401,
259,
447,
247,
1863,
6949,
11,
836,
447,
247,
83,
9838,
4719,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
12284,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
3297,
340,
503,
11,
290,
5600,
11,
612,
277,
677,
28970,
617,
9465,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
547,
287,
7236,
40078,
3926,
447,
251,
679,
12433,
428,
45702,
24603,
5600,
11,
996,
607,
4168,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
587,
428,
1948,
17979,
286,
12768,
11,
422,
262,
3527,
810,
339,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
290,
41471,
544,
11911,
422,
511,
14129,
351,
1037,
422,
262,
47964,
11,
1390,
428,
845,
24603,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
3114,
1613,
607,
284,
262,
47800,
1143,
17979,
11,
607,
15185,
783,
11,
290,
607,
15185,
878,
11,
287,
262,
8222,
1907,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
547,
612,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5371,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
21896,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
18177,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
19248,
259,
447,
247,
502,
10377,
284,
4259,
331,
263,
14129,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
818,
262,
8222,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
28464,
13,
447,
250,
818,
257,
1907,
13,
447,
251,
464,
24603,
523,
9451,
3393,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
523,
9838,
1775,
502,
788,
11,
750,
9838,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
447,
247,
82,
2832,
1816,
284,
465,
20784,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
290,
314,
7448,
331,
263,
1204,
11,
288,
808,
11,
618,
9838,
373,
8181,
259,
447,
247,
17196,
866,
319,
262,
1735,
267,
447,
247,
262,
12788,
13,
16973,
18842,
7046,
326,
7121,
326,
530,
447,
251,
960,
7091,
14464,
3812,
262,
47800,
1143,
1692,
17979,
960,
447,
250,
292,
485,
618,
339,
2227,
284,
16470,
2402,
9838,
329,
1494,
259,
447,
247,
465,
390,
12423,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1722,
314,
1965,
11,
508,
389,
345,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
1916,
402,
1585,
293,
440,
447,
247,
44,
2518,
11,
267,
447,
247,
262,
1215,
5657,
440,
447,
247,
44,
2518,
82,
11,
355,
314,
1560,
276,
9838,
287,
262,
3240,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
531,
351,
257,
9563,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
284,
502,
2460,
13,
2215,
314,
339,
1144,
287,
262,
8843,
23299,
326,
9838,
373,
262,
2496,
267,
447,
247,
428,
12601,
11,
314,
11638,
597,
922,
24603,
447,
247,
67,
19059,
2677,
8274,
268,
273,
284,
766,
644,
922,
314,
1244,
307,
1804,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
247,
260,
257,
17979,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
422,
262,
1735,
11,
810,
339,
991,
2714,
262,
27355,
4623,
41471,
544,
13,
1544,
550,
3443,
5257,
284,
651,
607,
736,
284,
607,
3625,
11,
379,
1551,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
257,
1643,
11,
290,
826,
736,
284,
331,
263,
944,
11,
12768,
530,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
3114
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
40,
1234,
257,
4822,
267,
447,
247,
9550,
287,
326,
6899,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
11,
10609,
284,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
484,
447,
247,
297,
307,
401,
259,
447,
247,
1863,
6949,
11,
836,
447,
247,
83,
9838,
4719,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
12284,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
3297,
340,
503,
11,
290,
5600,
11,
612,
277,
677,
28970,
617,
9465,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
547,
287,
7236,
40078,
3926,
447,
251,
679,
12433,
428,
45702,
24603,
5600,
11,
996,
607,
4168,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
587,
428,
1948,
17979,
286,
12768,
11,
422,
262,
3527,
810,
339,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
290,
41471,
544,
11911,
422,
511,
14129,
351,
1037,
422,
262,
47964,
11,
1390,
428,
845,
24603,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
3114,
1613,
607,
284,
262,
47800,
1143,
17979,
11,
607,
15185,
783,
11,
290,
607,
15185,
878,
11,
287,
262,
8222,
1907,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
547,
612,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5371,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
21896,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
18177,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
19248,
259,
447,
247,
502,
10377,
284,
4259,
331,
263,
14129,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
818,
262,
8222,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
28464,
13,
447,
250,
818,
257,
1907,
13,
447,
251,
464,
24603,
523,
9451,
3393,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
523,
9838,
1775,
502,
788,
11,
750,
9838,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
447,
247,
82,
2832,
1816,
284,
465,
20784,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
290,
314,
7448,
331,
263,
1204,
11,
288,
808,
11,
618,
9838,
373,
8181,
259,
447,
247,
17196,
866,
319,
262,
1735,
267,
447,
247,
262,
12788,
13,
16973,
18842,
7046,
326,
7121,
326,
530,
447,
251,
960,
7091,
14464,
3812,
262,
47800,
1143,
1692,
17979,
960,
447,
250,
292,
485,
618,
339,
2227,
284,
16470,
2402,
9838,
329,
1494,
259,
447,
247,
465,
390,
12423,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1722,
314,
1965,
11,
508,
389,
345,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
1916,
402,
1585,
293,
440,
447,
247,
44,
2518,
11,
267,
447,
247,
262,
1215,
5657,
440,
447,
247,
44,
2518,
82,
11,
355,
314,
1560,
276,
9838,
287,
262,
3240,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
531,
351,
257,
9563,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
284,
502,
2460,
13,
2215,
314,
339,
1144,
287,
262,
8843,
23299,
326,
9838,
373,
262,
2496,
267,
447,
247,
428,
12601,
11,
314,
11638,
597,
922,
24603,
447,
247,
67,
19059,
2677,
8274,
268,
273,
284,
766,
644,
922,
314,
1244,
307,
1804,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
247,
260,
257,
17979,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
422,
262,
1735,
11,
810,
339,
991,
2714,
262,
27355,
4623,
41471,
544,
13,
1544,
550,
3443,
5257,
284,
651,
607,
736,
284,
607,
3625,
11,
379,
1551,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
257,
1643,
11,
290,
826,
736,
284,
331,
263,
944,
11,
12768,
530,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
3114
] |
dnd508
|
He was on edge after witnessing that kiss, after all, and he feared that Charon’s Claw might convince him to take a more conventional route to be rid of Artemis Entreri.“No!” Dahlia cried frantically.“Yes,” Entreri answered.Drizzt stared at his lover, but no stabs of jealousy assailed him.He was glad of that realization, glad of the confirmation that his insecurity had been an exploitation of the sword—at least, for the most part.Many other things assailed him at that moment.Dahlia had a child?This twisted tiefling was her offspring?He considered her visceral hatred of Herzgo Alegni then, and so much came clear to him.He had to run to her, to hug her and comfort her, but he found that he could not.They hadn’t the time!Too much was yet to do, and quickly, if they ever hoped to be away from this place alive.He and Dahlia, at least, he thought, as he looked at Entreri.“It’s all right,” Entreri said to the elf woman gently, and he grasped her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.“It’s time.” He turned to Drizzt and started walking for the pit.“Long past time.”“You do it,” Drizzt said to him, and the drow stepped back from the sword.Entreri looked at it, then back at Drizzt.“That was cruel.”Drizzt swallowed hard, unable to deny the charge.He knew that Entreri could not approach the sword and throw it in, or even kick it in.If he neared the red-bladed sword, Charon’s Claw would likely enthrall him again.“You owe me nothing,” Entreri admitted.“I cannot ask this as a friend.Mutual respect, then?Or might I simply appeal to your sense of honor, and remind you that the world would be a far better place without the likes of me in it?” He gave a helpless little laugh, but sobered quickly, raised his empty hands, and begged, “Please.”“Often have I entertained the thoughts of a redeemed Artemis Entreri,” Drizzt admitted.“A man of your skills could contribute—”“Spare me your idiocy,” Entreri said, jolting Drizzt.So be it.Drizzt moved to kick the sword, but bent low and picked it up again.Immediately, Claw’s powers assaulted him.He could feel the swirl of desperation, of rage, of threats and tantalizing promises mingled together in a confused and confusing jumble.“Idiocy?” Drizzt echoed with a shrug.“Hardly.
|
He was on edge after witnessing that kiss, after all, and he feared that Charon’s Claw might convince him to take a more conventional route to be rid of Artemis Entreri.“No!” Dahlia cried frantically.“Yes,” Entreri answered.Drizzt stared at his lover, but no stabs of jealousy assailed him.He was glad of that realization, glad of the confirmation that his insecurity had been an exploitation of the sword—at least, for the most part.Many other things assailed him at that moment.Dahlia had a child?This twisted tiefling was her offspring?He considered her visceral hatred of Herzgo Alegni then, and so much came clear to him.He had to run to her, to hug her and comfort her, but he found that he could not.They hadn’t the time!Too much was yet to do, and quickly, if they ever hoped to be away from this place alive.He and Dahlia, at least, he thought, as he looked at Entreri.“It’s all right,” Entreri said to the elf woman gently, and he grasped her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.“It’s time.” He turned to Drizzt and started walking for the pit.“Long past time.”“You do it,” Drizzt said to him, and the drow stepped back from the sword.Entreri looked at it, then back at Drizzt.“That was cruel.”Drizzt swallowed hard, unable to deny the charge.He knew that Entreri could not approach the sword and throw it in, or even kick it in.If he neared the red-bladed sword, Charon’s Claw would likely enthrall him again.“You owe me nothing,” Entreri admitted.“I cannot ask this as a friend.Mutual respect, then?Or might I simply appeal to your sense of honor, and remind you that the world would be a far better place without the likes of me in it?” He gave a helpless little laugh, but sobered quickly, raised his empty hands, and begged, “Please.”“Often have I entertained the thoughts of a redeemed Artemis Entreri,” Drizzt admitted.“A man of your skills could contribute—”“Spare me your idiocy,” Entreri said, jolting Drizzt.So be it.Drizzt moved to kick the sword, but bent low and picked it up again.Immediately, Claw’s powers assaulted him.He could feel the swirl of desperation, of rage, of threats and tantalizing promises mingled together in a confused and confusing jumble.“Idiocy?” Drizzt echoed with a shrug.“Hardly.
|
[
1544,
373,
319,
5743,
706,
31121,
326,
9245,
11,
706,
477,
11,
290,
339,
15240,
326,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
1244,
11508,
683,
284,
1011,
257,
517,
10224,
6339,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
16896,
42352,
13,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
9373,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
18484,
379,
465,
18854,
11,
475,
645,
8303,
82,
286,
35394,
840,
6255,
683,
13,
1544,
373,
9675,
286,
326,
23258,
11,
9675,
286,
262,
12641,
326,
465,
33837,
550,
587,
281,
17238,
286,
262,
8429,
960,
265,
1551,
11,
329,
262,
749,
636,
13,
7085,
584,
1243,
840,
6255,
683,
379,
326,
2589,
13,
35,
15668,
544,
550,
257,
1200,
30,
1212,
19074,
256,
2086,
1359,
373,
607,
20791,
30,
1544,
3177,
607,
38259,
13763,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
788,
11,
290,
523,
881,
1625,
1598,
284,
683,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
1057,
284,
607,
11,
284,
16225,
607,
290,
4467,
607,
11,
475,
339,
1043,
326,
339,
714,
407,
13,
2990,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
262,
640,
0,
23307,
881,
373,
1865,
284,
466,
11,
290,
2952,
11,
611,
484,
1683,
10719,
284,
307,
1497,
422,
428,
1295,
6776,
13,
1544,
290,
41471,
544,
11,
379,
1551,
11,
339,
1807,
11,
355,
339,
3114,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
247,
82,
477,
826,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
262,
23878,
2415,
15165,
11,
290,
339,
45569,
607,
416,
262,
12450,
290,
3114,
656,
607,
2951,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
247,
82,
640,
13,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
2067,
6155,
329,
262,
6028,
13,
447,
250,
14617,
1613,
640,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
466,
340,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
531,
284,
683,
11,
290,
262,
288,
808,
10764,
736,
422,
262,
8429,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3114,
379,
340,
11,
788,
736,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
373,
12177,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
27961,
1327,
11,
5906,
284,
10129,
262,
3877,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
714,
407,
3164,
262,
8429,
290,
3714,
340,
287,
11,
393,
772,
4829,
340,
287,
13,
1532,
339,
497,
1144,
262,
2266,
12,
2436,
5286,
8429,
11,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
561,
1884,
920,
11840,
439,
683,
757,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
19059,
502,
2147,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
6848,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2314,
1265,
428,
355,
257,
1545,
13,
41603,
723,
2461,
11,
788,
30,
5574,
1244,
314,
2391,
5198,
284,
534,
2565,
286,
7522,
11,
290,
7101,
345,
326,
262,
995,
561,
307,
257,
1290,
1365,
1295,
1231,
262,
7832,
286,
502,
287,
340,
30,
447,
251,
679,
2921,
257,
21144,
1310,
6487,
11,
475,
523,
9451,
2952,
11,
4376,
465,
6565,
2832,
11,
290,
32946,
11,
564,
250,
5492,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
37288,
423,
314,
34988,
262,
6066,
286,
257,
42013,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
6848,
13,
447
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
373,
319,
5743,
706,
31121,
326,
9245,
11,
706,
477,
11,
290,
339,
15240,
326,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
1244,
11508,
683,
284,
1011,
257,
517,
10224,
6339,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
41471,
544,
16896,
42352,
13,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
9373,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
18484,
379,
465,
18854,
11,
475,
645,
8303,
82,
286,
35394,
840,
6255,
683,
13,
1544,
373,
9675,
286,
326,
23258,
11,
9675,
286,
262,
12641,
326,
465,
33837,
550,
587,
281,
17238,
286,
262,
8429,
960,
265,
1551,
11,
329,
262,
749,
636,
13,
7085,
584,
1243,
840,
6255,
683,
379,
326,
2589,
13,
35,
15668,
544,
550,
257,
1200,
30,
1212,
19074,
256,
2086,
1359,
373,
607,
20791,
30,
1544,
3177,
607,
38259,
13763,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
788,
11,
290,
523,
881,
1625,
1598,
284,
683,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
1057,
284,
607,
11,
284,
16225,
607,
290,
4467,
607,
11,
475,
339,
1043,
326,
339,
714,
407,
13,
2990,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
262,
640,
0,
23307,
881,
373,
1865,
284,
466,
11,
290,
2952,
11,
611,
484,
1683,
10719,
284,
307,
1497,
422,
428,
1295,
6776,
13,
1544,
290,
41471,
544,
11,
379,
1551,
11,
339,
1807,
11,
355,
339,
3114,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
247,
82,
477,
826,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
284,
262,
23878,
2415,
15165,
11,
290,
339,
45569,
607,
416,
262,
12450,
290,
3114,
656,
607,
2951,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
247,
82,
640,
13,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
2067,
6155,
329,
262,
6028,
13,
447,
250,
14617,
1613,
640,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
466,
340,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
531,
284,
683,
11,
290,
262,
288,
808,
10764,
736,
422,
262,
8429,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3114,
379,
340,
11,
788,
736,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
373,
12177,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
27961,
1327,
11,
5906,
284,
10129,
262,
3877,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
714,
407,
3164,
262,
8429,
290,
3714,
340,
287,
11,
393,
772,
4829,
340,
287,
13,
1532,
339,
497,
1144,
262,
2266,
12,
2436,
5286,
8429,
11,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
561,
1884,
920,
11840,
439,
683,
757,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
19059,
502,
2147,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
6848,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2314,
1265,
428,
355,
257,
1545,
13,
41603,
723,
2461,
11,
788,
30,
5574,
1244,
314,
2391,
5198,
284,
534,
2565,
286,
7522,
11,
290,
7101,
345,
326,
262,
995,
561,
307,
257,
1290,
1365,
1295,
1231,
262,
7832,
286,
502,
287,
340,
30,
447,
251,
679,
2921,
257,
21144,
1310,
6487,
11,
475,
523,
9451,
2952,
11,
4376,
465,
6565,
2832,
11,
290,
32946,
11,
564,
250,
5492,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
37288,
423,
314,
34988,
262,
6066,
286,
257,
42013,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
6848,
13,
447
] |
dnd509
|
You never understood it, Artemis Entreri.Alas!Idiocy, you say, but hope is never that.”With a resigned shrug, Drizzt tossed the sword over the rim.“I have forever envied you, Drizzt Do’Urden,” Entreri cried out quickly, knowing that he had but a heartbeat left.“Envied you, and not for your skill with your blades!”Artemis Entreri closed his eyes and leaned his head back, accepting the cool blackness, the sweet release, of death.EXPECTATIONSEFFRON STAGGERED AROUND THE SHADOWFELL, TEARS CLOUDING HIS VISION.He had been caught quite off guard by his reaction to the fall of Herzgo Alegni, his father, for he had profoundly hated the tiefling.Never in his life had he measured up to Alegni’s expectations, not from the moment of his rescue at the base of a wind-blown cliff to the moment of Herzgo Alegni’s crushing death.Herzgo Alegni prized strength of arm, and his broken son hardly fit that description.And indeed, the warlord had made his feelings quite clear to Effron.How many times had Effron entertained the fantasy of killing the brutish tiefling?Yet, now that Alegni had been killed, right before him, the twisted warlock could experience nothing but grief and the most profound pain.And the most profound hatred.Dahlia had done this.The elf who had borne him, the witch who had cast him from the cliff, had done this.Gradually the shaken warlock made his way to Draygo Quick, who seemed unsurprised to see him.“The sword?” the Netherese lord asked immediately.“Herzgo Alegni is dead,” Effron said, and the pain of speaking the words had him blubbering again, his legs going weak beneath him so he had to put his hand to the wall to stop himself from toppling over.“The sword?” Draygo Quick demanded again.“Doomed,” Effron whispered.“Destroyed, certainly, for they gained the primordial chamber.”“They?Dahlia and her companions?”The twisted warlock nodded.“And they killed Lord Alegni?”Effron just stared at him.“Impressive,” the withered old lord whispered.“Twice now he faced them, and twice he lost.Few who knew Herzgo Alegni would have wagered on such an outcome.”Effron winced with every callous word.Draygo Quick grinned at him with yellow teeth.“Callous, yes,” he admitted, reading Effron’s expression.“Forgive me, broken one.”“I will kill her for this,” Effron vowed.“Dahlia?”“Dahlia, and any who stand beside her.You must afford me an army, that I …”“No.”Effron stared at him as if he had been slapped.“Herzgo Alegni must be avenged!”The old warlock shook his head.“The sword!” Effron protested.“We’ll have our diviners seek its magical call.If it is destroyed, as you believe, then so be it.Better that than to have it fall into the hands of an enemy once more.”“I must avenge him!”“What you plan to do is of no concern to me,” Draygo Quick retorted sharply.“I will grant you that much, and nothing more.
|
You never understood it, Artemis Entreri.Alas!Idiocy, you say, but hope is never that.”With a resigned shrug, Drizzt tossed the sword over the rim.“I have forever envied you, Drizzt Do’Urden,” Entreri cried out quickly, knowing that he had but a heartbeat left.“Envied you, and not for your skill with your blades!”Artemis Entreri closed his eyes and leaned his head back, accepting the cool blackness, the sweet release, of death.EXPECTATIONSEFFRON STAGGERED AROUND THE SHADOWFELL, TEARS CLOUDING HIS VISION.He had been caught quite off guard by his reaction to the fall of Herzgo Alegni, his father, for he had profoundly hated the tiefling.Never in his life had he measured up to Alegni’s expectations, not from the moment of his rescue at the base of a wind-blown cliff to the moment of Herzgo Alegni’s crushing death.Herzgo Alegni prized strength of arm, and his broken son hardly fit that description.And indeed, the warlord had made his feelings quite clear to Effron.How many times had Effron entertained the fantasy of killing the brutish tiefling?Yet, now that Alegni had been killed, right before him, the twisted warlock could experience nothing but grief and the most profound pain.And the most profound hatred.Dahlia had done this.The elf who had borne him, the witch who had cast him from the cliff, had done this.Gradually the shaken warlock made his way to Draygo Quick, who seemed unsurprised to see him.“The sword?” the Netherese lord asked immediately.“Herzgo Alegni is dead,” Effron said, and the pain of speaking the words had him blubbering again, his legs going weak beneath him so he had to put his hand to the wall to stop himself from toppling over.“The sword?” Draygo Quick demanded again.“Doomed,” Effron whispered.“Destroyed, certainly, for they gained the primordial chamber.”“They?Dahlia and her companions?”The twisted warlock nodded.“And they killed Lord Alegni?”Effron just stared at him.“Impressive,” the withered old lord whispered.“Twice now he faced them, and twice he lost.Few who knew Herzgo Alegni would have wagered on such an outcome.”Effron winced with every callous word.Draygo Quick grinned at him with yellow teeth.“Callous, yes,” he admitted, reading Effron’s expression.“Forgive me, broken one.”“I will kill her for this,” Effron vowed.“Dahlia?”“Dahlia, and any who stand beside her.You must afford me an army, that I …”“No.”Effron stared at him as if he had been slapped.“Herzgo Alegni must be avenged!”The old warlock shook his head.“The sword!” Effron protested.“We’ll have our diviners seek its magical call.If it is destroyed, as you believe, then so be it.Better that than to have it fall into the hands of an enemy once more.”“I must avenge him!”“What you plan to do is of no concern to me,” Draygo Quick retorted sharply.“I will grant you that much, and nothing more.
|
[
1639,
1239,
7247,
340,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
2348,
292,
0,
7390,
72,
13733,
11,
345,
910,
11,
475,
2911,
318,
1239,
326,
13,
447,
251,
3152,
257,
16542,
32545,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
22591,
262,
8429,
625,
262,
20254,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
8097,
17365,
798,
345,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
16896,
503,
2952,
11,
6970,
326,
339,
550,
475,
257,
36051,
1364,
13,
447,
250,
4834,
85,
798,
345,
11,
290,
407,
329,
534,
5032,
351,
534,
20784,
0,
447,
251,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
4838,
465,
2951,
290,
23831,
465,
1182,
736,
11,
12598,
262,
3608,
2042,
1108,
11,
262,
6029,
2650,
11,
286,
1918,
13,
49864,
9782,
6234,
5188,
5777,
45806,
3563,
4760,
30373,
1961,
5923,
15919,
3336,
6006,
2885,
3913,
15112,
3069,
11,
13368,
27415,
7852,
2606,
35,
2751,
33700,
569,
42446,
13,
1544,
550,
587,
4978,
2407,
572,
4860,
416,
465,
6317,
284,
262,
2121,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
11,
465,
2988,
11,
329,
339,
550,
27377,
16563,
262,
256,
2086,
1359,
13,
12295,
287,
465,
1204,
550,
339,
8630,
510,
284,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
9027,
11,
407,
422,
262,
2589,
286,
465,
9992,
379,
262,
2779,
286,
257,
2344,
12,
31290,
19516,
284,
262,
2589,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
24949,
1918,
13,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
37768,
4202,
286,
3211,
11,
290,
465,
5445,
3367,
8941,
4197,
326,
6764,
13,
1870,
5600,
11,
262,
1175,
10572,
550,
925,
465,
7666,
2407,
1598,
284,
27848,
1313,
13,
2437,
867,
1661,
550,
27848,
1313,
34988,
262,
8842,
286,
5170,
262,
8938,
680,
256,
2086,
1359,
30,
11486,
11,
783,
326,
317,
1455,
8461,
550,
587,
2923,
11,
826,
878,
683,
11,
262,
19074,
1175,
5354,
714,
1998,
2147,
475,
18522,
290,
262,
749,
11982,
2356,
13,
1870,
262,
749,
11982,
13763,
13,
35,
15668,
544,
550,
1760,
428,
13,
464,
23878,
508,
550,
28068,
683,
11,
262,
16365,
508,
550,
3350,
683,
422,
262,
19516,
11,
550,
1760,
428,
13,
42731,
935,
262,
27821,
1175,
5354,
925,
465,
835,
284,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
11,
508,
3947,
31035,
1050,
1417,
284,
766,
683,
13,
447,
250,
464,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
262,
3433,
1456,
325,
15876,
1965,
3393,
13,
447,
250,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
318,
2636,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
531,
11,
290,
262,
2356,
286,
5486,
262,
2456,
550,
683,
698,
549,
527,
278,
757,
11,
465,
7405,
1016,
4939,
11061,
683,
523,
339,
550,
284,
1234,
465,
1021,
284,
262,
3355,
284,
2245,
2241,
422,
23126,
1359,
625,
13,
447,
250,
464,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
12284,
757,
13,
447,
250,
35,
4207,
276,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25029,
13,
447,
250,
49174,
276,
11,
3729,
11,
329,
484,
8618,
262,
2684,
31223,
11847,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2990,
30,
35,
15668,
544,
290,
607,
19429,
30,
447,
251,
464,
19074,
1175,
5354,
14464,
13,
447,
250
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1639,
1239,
7247,
340,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
2348,
292,
0,
7390,
72,
13733,
11,
345,
910,
11,
475,
2911,
318,
1239,
326,
13,
447,
251,
3152,
257,
16542,
32545,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
22591,
262,
8429,
625,
262,
20254,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
8097,
17365,
798,
345,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
16896,
503,
2952,
11,
6970,
326,
339,
550,
475,
257,
36051,
1364,
13,
447,
250,
4834,
85,
798,
345,
11,
290,
407,
329,
534,
5032,
351,
534,
20784,
0,
447,
251,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
4838,
465,
2951,
290,
23831,
465,
1182,
736,
11,
12598,
262,
3608,
2042,
1108,
11,
262,
6029,
2650,
11,
286,
1918,
13,
49864,
9782,
6234,
5188,
5777,
45806,
3563,
4760,
30373,
1961,
5923,
15919,
3336,
6006,
2885,
3913,
15112,
3069,
11,
13368,
27415,
7852,
2606,
35,
2751,
33700,
569,
42446,
13,
1544,
550,
587,
4978,
2407,
572,
4860,
416,
465,
6317,
284,
262,
2121,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
11,
465,
2988,
11,
329,
339,
550,
27377,
16563,
262,
256,
2086,
1359,
13,
12295,
287,
465,
1204,
550,
339,
8630,
510,
284,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
9027,
11,
407,
422,
262,
2589,
286,
465,
9992,
379,
262,
2779,
286,
257,
2344,
12,
31290,
19516,
284,
262,
2589,
286,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
24949,
1918,
13,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
37768,
4202,
286,
3211,
11,
290,
465,
5445,
3367,
8941,
4197,
326,
6764,
13,
1870,
5600,
11,
262,
1175,
10572,
550,
925,
465,
7666,
2407,
1598,
284,
27848,
1313,
13,
2437,
867,
1661,
550,
27848,
1313,
34988,
262,
8842,
286,
5170,
262,
8938,
680,
256,
2086,
1359,
30,
11486,
11,
783,
326,
317,
1455,
8461,
550,
587,
2923,
11,
826,
878,
683,
11,
262,
19074,
1175,
5354,
714,
1998,
2147,
475,
18522,
290,
262,
749,
11982,
2356,
13,
1870,
262,
749,
11982,
13763,
13,
35,
15668,
544,
550,
1760,
428,
13,
464,
23878,
508,
550,
28068,
683,
11,
262,
16365,
508,
550,
3350,
683,
422,
262,
19516,
11,
550,
1760,
428,
13,
42731,
935,
262,
27821,
1175,
5354,
925,
465,
835,
284,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
11,
508,
3947,
31035,
1050,
1417,
284,
766,
683,
13,
447,
250,
464,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
262,
3433,
1456,
325,
15876,
1965,
3393,
13,
447,
250,
9360,
89,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
318,
2636,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
531,
11,
290,
262,
2356,
286,
5486,
262,
2456,
550,
683,
698,
549,
527,
278,
757,
11,
465,
7405,
1016,
4939,
11061,
683,
523,
339,
550,
284,
1234,
465,
1021,
284,
262,
3355,
284,
2245,
2241,
422,
23126,
1359,
625,
13,
447,
250,
464,
8429,
30,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
12284,
757,
13,
447,
250,
35,
4207,
276,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25029,
13,
447,
250,
49174,
276,
11,
3729,
11,
329,
484,
8618,
262,
2684,
31223,
11847,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2990,
30,
35,
15668,
544,
290,
607,
19429,
30,
447,
251,
464,
19074,
1175,
5354,
14464,
13,
447,
250
] |
dnd510
|
If you wish to hunt down Dahlia and her companions, then hunt.”“I will need support.”“More than you will ever understand.”“Grant me …” Effron started to say, but Draygo Quick cut him short.“Then hire some.You have friends with Cavus Dun, do you not?If you believe that I will grant you more forces after these abject and expensive failures, then you are a fool.”“Cavus Dun!” Effron cried as if he had hit on something.“They betrayed us!”Draygo Quick looked at him curiously.“Do tell.”“The wizard Glorfathel fled the fight,” Effron explained.“And that filthy dwarf turned on me.She cast a spell of holding, but I avoided it.Alas, the monk did not—and the dwarf chased me around, preventing me from helping Lord Alegni in his desperate fight.Swinging her mace and laughing all the while!Were I less skilled and clever …”Draygo Quick waved a wrinkled hand in the air to silence the young warlock.“Interesting,” he muttered.“I shall demand recompense!” Effron proclaimed.“Cavus Dun will repay me.”“Your attitude will surely get you cut into little pieces,” said the old warlock.“If you consider that to be repayment, then truly you are an easy buy.”“We must go to them!” Effron demanded.“We?”“You cannot allow this to stand!The Shifter failed me, and now the treachery of the hirelings …”“Easy, young one,” Draygo Quick said.“I will speak with the Grandfather of Cavus Dun to learn what I may.You avoid them.Trust my judgment on this.”The way he finished the response told Effron to hold silent, and so he did, staring obediently at the great warlock, awaiting instructions.“You should rethink your course.”“I will kill her,” Effron said.“Family matters,” Draygo said with a sigh.“Ah, by the gods.Well enough, then, young fool, I grant you my leave.Go as you will.”“I will have the panther.”“You will not!”There was no bargain to be found in that tone, Effron knew.“Will you not help me?” the twisted warlock begged.“On this fool’s errand?Surely not.
|
If you wish to hunt down Dahlia and her companions, then hunt.”“I will need support.”“More than you will ever understand.”“Grant me …” Effron started to say, but Draygo Quick cut him short.“Then hire some.You have friends with Cavus Dun, do you not?If you believe that I will grant you more forces after these abject and expensive failures, then you are a fool.”“Cavus Dun!” Effron cried as if he had hit on something.“They betrayed us!”Draygo Quick looked at him curiously.“Do tell.”“The wizard Glorfathel fled the fight,” Effron explained.“And that filthy dwarf turned on me.She cast a spell of holding, but I avoided it.Alas, the monk did not—and the dwarf chased me around, preventing me from helping Lord Alegni in his desperate fight.Swinging her mace and laughing all the while!Were I less skilled and clever …”Draygo Quick waved a wrinkled hand in the air to silence the young warlock.“Interesting,” he muttered.“I shall demand recompense!” Effron proclaimed.“Cavus Dun will repay me.”“Your attitude will surely get you cut into little pieces,” said the old warlock.“If you consider that to be repayment, then truly you are an easy buy.”“We must go to them!” Effron demanded.“We?”“You cannot allow this to stand!The Shifter failed me, and now the treachery of the hirelings …”“Easy, young one,” Draygo Quick said.“I will speak with the Grandfather of Cavus Dun to learn what I may.You avoid them.Trust my judgment on this.”The way he finished the response told Effron to hold silent, and so he did, staring obediently at the great warlock, awaiting instructions.“You should rethink your course.”“I will kill her,” Effron said.“Family matters,” Draygo said with a sigh.“Ah, by the gods.Well enough, then, young fool, I grant you my leave.Go as you will.”“I will have the panther.”“You will not!”There was no bargain to be found in that tone, Effron knew.“Will you not help me?” the twisted warlock begged.“On this fool’s errand?Surely not.
|
[
1532,
345,
4601,
284,
12601,
866,
41471,
544,
290,
607,
19429,
11,
788,
12601,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
761,
1104,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5167,
621,
345,
481,
1683,
1833,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45431,
502,
3926,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
2067,
284,
910,
11,
475,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
2005,
683,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
11078,
617,
13,
1639,
423,
2460,
351,
19931,
385,
5648,
11,
466,
345,
407,
30,
1532,
345,
1975,
326,
314,
481,
7264,
345,
517,
3386,
706,
777,
450,
752,
290,
5789,
15536,
11,
788,
345,
389,
257,
9192,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
34,
615,
385,
5648,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
355,
611,
339,
550,
2277,
319,
1223,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
26281,
514,
0,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
3114,
379,
683,
43211,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1560,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
18731,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
11468,
262,
1907,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
326,
35677,
24603,
2900,
319,
502,
13,
3347,
3350,
257,
4822,
286,
4769,
11,
475,
314,
13941,
340,
13,
2348,
292,
11,
262,
27266,
750,
407,
960,
392,
262,
24603,
26172,
502,
1088,
11,
12174,
502,
422,
5742,
4453,
317,
1455,
8461,
287,
465,
12111,
1907,
13,
50,
5469,
278,
607,
285,
558,
290,
14376,
477,
262,
981,
0,
35653,
314,
1342,
14297,
290,
14169,
3926,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
26834,
257,
34866,
992,
1021,
287,
262,
1633,
284,
9550,
262,
1862,
1175,
5354,
13,
447,
250,
19302,
278,
11,
447,
251,
339,
34042,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
3512,
48765,
1072,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25546,
13,
447,
250,
34,
615,
385,
5648,
481,
20152,
502,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
7120,
9408,
481,
10403,
651,
345,
2005,
656,
1310,
5207,
11,
447,
251,
531,
262,
1468,
1175,
5354,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
2074,
326,
284,
307,
36411,
11,
788,
4988,
345,
389,
281,
2562,
2822,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
1276,
467,
284,
606,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
1249,
428,
284,
1302,
0,
464,
911,
18171,
4054,
502,
11,
290,
783,
262,
32550,
88,
286,
262,
11078,
17783,
3926,
447,
251,
447,
250,
28406,
11,
1862,
530,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
531,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2740,
351,
262,
5675,
11358,
286,
19931,
385,
5648,
284,
2193,
644,
314,
743,
13,
1639,
3368,
606,
13,
33814,
616,
8492,
319,
428,
13,
447,
251,
464,
835,
339,
5201,
262,
2882,
1297,
27848,
1313,
284,
1745,
10574,
11,
290,
523,
339,
750,
11,
16143,
41652,
306,
379,
262,
1049,
1175,
5354,
11,
21859,
7729,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
815,
36437,
534,
1781,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
1494,
607,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
531,
13,
447,
250,
24094,
6067,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
531,
351,
257,
19680,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
416,
262,
11858,
13,
5779,
1576,
11,
788,
11,
1862,
9192,
11,
314,
7264,
345
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1532,
345,
4601,
284,
12601,
866,
41471,
544,
290,
607,
19429,
11,
788,
12601,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
761,
1104,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5167,
621,
345,
481,
1683,
1833,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45431,
502,
3926,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
2067,
284,
910,
11,
475,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
2005,
683,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
11078,
617,
13,
1639,
423,
2460,
351,
19931,
385,
5648,
11,
466,
345,
407,
30,
1532,
345,
1975,
326,
314,
481,
7264,
345,
517,
3386,
706,
777,
450,
752,
290,
5789,
15536,
11,
788,
345,
389,
257,
9192,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
34,
615,
385,
5648,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
16896,
355,
611,
339,
550,
2277,
319,
1223,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
26281,
514,
0,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
3114,
379,
683,
43211,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1560,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
18731,
2671,
273,
17359,
2978,
11468,
262,
1907,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
326,
35677,
24603,
2900,
319,
502,
13,
3347,
3350,
257,
4822,
286,
4769,
11,
475,
314,
13941,
340,
13,
2348,
292,
11,
262,
27266,
750,
407,
960,
392,
262,
24603,
26172,
502,
1088,
11,
12174,
502,
422,
5742,
4453,
317,
1455,
8461,
287,
465,
12111,
1907,
13,
50,
5469,
278,
607,
285,
558,
290,
14376,
477,
262,
981,
0,
35653,
314,
1342,
14297,
290,
14169,
3926,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
26834,
257,
34866,
992,
1021,
287,
262,
1633,
284,
9550,
262,
1862,
1175,
5354,
13,
447,
250,
19302,
278,
11,
447,
251,
339,
34042,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
3512,
48765,
1072,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
25546,
13,
447,
250,
34,
615,
385,
5648,
481,
20152,
502,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
7120,
9408,
481,
10403,
651,
345,
2005,
656,
1310,
5207,
11,
447,
251,
531,
262,
1468,
1175,
5354,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
2074,
326,
284,
307,
36411,
11,
788,
4988,
345,
389,
281,
2562,
2822,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
1276,
467,
284,
606,
0,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
1249,
428,
284,
1302,
0,
464,
911,
18171,
4054,
502,
11,
290,
783,
262,
32550,
88,
286,
262,
11078,
17783,
3926,
447,
251,
447,
250,
28406,
11,
1862,
530,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
531,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2740,
351,
262,
5675,
11358,
286,
19931,
385,
5648,
284,
2193,
644,
314,
743,
13,
1639,
3368,
606,
13,
33814,
616,
8492,
319,
428,
13,
447,
251,
464,
835,
339,
5201,
262,
2882,
1297,
27848,
1313,
284,
1745,
10574,
11,
290,
523,
339,
750,
11,
16143,
41652,
306,
379,
262,
1049,
1175,
5354,
11,
21859,
7729,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
815,
36437,
534,
1781,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
481,
1494,
607,
11,
447,
251,
27848,
1313,
531,
13,
447,
250,
24094,
6067,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
531,
351,
257,
19680,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
416,
262,
11858,
13,
5779,
1576,
11,
788,
11,
1862,
9192,
11,
314,
7264,
345
] |
dnd511
|
Your father failed by underestimating this band you hunt, and failed again in his attempt to right his wrong.He lost Charon’s Claw, and that is no small thing.Better that he died trying to recover the blade than return without it.That is the way of the world.”His casual attitude surprised Effron, until the young tiefling realized that Alegni’s failure was just that: Alegni’s failure.It could not reflect on Draygo Quick any longer, and surely the old wretch was somewhat relieved to be rid of the troublesome Herzgo Alegni.“Go and find her, then,” Draygo Quick said.“You may use my crystal ball if it will guide you to Toril properly.I understand the formidability of your enemies and will not expect your return.”“I must.”Draygo Quick waved him away.“I will hear no more of this,” the old wretch said, his tone becoming very sharp suddenly.He chortled and laughed at Effron.“Idiot boy, I only kept you alive out of respect for your father.Now that he is no more, I am done with you.Be gone, then.Go and hunt her, young fool, that you might see your father again so soon, in the darker lands.”He waved Effron away.Effron staggered out of the room, heading for his own chamber, tears welling in his strange eyes once more as he tried to deny the stinging words of merciless Draygo Quick.He replaced that wound with anger, stopped, and turned around, making for the warlock’s room of scrying instead.“That was harsh, Master Quick, even by your standards,” said Parise Ulfbinder, a warlock and peer of Draygo Quick.Parise, too, was a Netherese lord of great repute, and an old friend of Draygo’s, though Draygo Quick had not seen him in person in a long while, the two preferring to correspond through their respective scrying devices.The mere fact that Parise had come to Draygo’s tower in person had tipped the old warlock off to the importance of the visit.He entered from a concealed door even as Effron departed.“Are they recalled?”“Indeed,” said Parise.“We have opened the gates and most of our forces are safely back within the Shadowfell.”“You heard what Effron said of the Cavus Dun trio?”“Glorfathel, Ambergris, and Afafrenfere are not to be found among the returned,” the other warlock confirmed, though his tone revealed that he really didn’t care about that particular curiosity.“It is possible that Effron speaks the truth.”Draygo Quick looked to the door where Effron had departed and nodded, his expression one of great lament.Despite his parting words, Draygo had come to care for this pathetic and twisted creature, he had to admit, privately at least.“These enemies are formidable, yet you would allow your young understudy to go in pursuit?” the handsome Netherese warrior asked.Draygo Quick didn’t lash out at the blunt remark, but merely nodded again.
|
Your father failed by underestimating this band you hunt, and failed again in his attempt to right his wrong.He lost Charon’s Claw, and that is no small thing.Better that he died trying to recover the blade than return without it.That is the way of the world.”His casual attitude surprised Effron, until the young tiefling realized that Alegni’s failure was just that: Alegni’s failure.It could not reflect on Draygo Quick any longer, and surely the old wretch was somewhat relieved to be rid of the troublesome Herzgo Alegni.“Go and find her, then,” Draygo Quick said.“You may use my crystal ball if it will guide you to Toril properly.I understand the formidability of your enemies and will not expect your return.”“I must.”Draygo Quick waved him away.“I will hear no more of this,” the old wretch said, his tone becoming very sharp suddenly.He chortled and laughed at Effron.“Idiot boy, I only kept you alive out of respect for your father.Now that he is no more, I am done with you.Be gone, then.Go and hunt her, young fool, that you might see your father again so soon, in the darker lands.”He waved Effron away.Effron staggered out of the room, heading for his own chamber, tears welling in his strange eyes once more as he tried to deny the stinging words of merciless Draygo Quick.He replaced that wound with anger, stopped, and turned around, making for the warlock’s room of scrying instead.“That was harsh, Master Quick, even by your standards,” said Parise Ulfbinder, a warlock and peer of Draygo Quick.Parise, too, was a Netherese lord of great repute, and an old friend of Draygo’s, though Draygo Quick had not seen him in person in a long while, the two preferring to correspond through their respective scrying devices.The mere fact that Parise had come to Draygo’s tower in person had tipped the old warlock off to the importance of the visit.He entered from a concealed door even as Effron departed.“Are they recalled?”“Indeed,” said Parise.“We have opened the gates and most of our forces are safely back within the Shadowfell.”“You heard what Effron said of the Cavus Dun trio?”“Glorfathel, Ambergris, and Afafrenfere are not to be found among the returned,” the other warlock confirmed, though his tone revealed that he really didn’t care about that particular curiosity.“It is possible that Effron speaks the truth.”Draygo Quick looked to the door where Effron had departed and nodded, his expression one of great lament.Despite his parting words, Draygo had come to care for this pathetic and twisted creature, he had to admit, privately at least.“These enemies are formidable, yet you would allow your young understudy to go in pursuit?” the handsome Netherese warrior asked.Draygo Quick didn’t lash out at the blunt remark, but merely nodded again.
|
[
7120,
2988,
4054,
416,
20164,
39204,
428,
4097,
345,
12601,
11,
290,
4054,
757,
287,
465,
2230,
284,
826,
465,
2642,
13,
1544,
2626,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
11,
290,
326,
318,
645,
1402,
1517,
13,
28971,
326,
339,
3724,
2111,
284,
8551,
262,
11865,
621,
1441,
1231,
340,
13,
2504,
318,
262,
835,
286,
262,
995,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
9341,
9408,
6655,
27848,
1313,
11,
1566,
262,
1862,
256,
2086,
1359,
6939,
326,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
5287,
373,
655,
326,
25,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
5287,
13,
1026,
714,
407,
4079,
319,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
597,
2392,
11,
290,
10403,
262,
1468,
266,
22592,
373,
6454,
22598,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
262,
35778,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
290,
1064,
607,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
779,
616,
15121,
2613,
611,
340,
481,
5698,
345,
284,
4022,
346,
6105,
13,
40,
1833,
262,
1296,
312,
1799,
286,
534,
5775,
290,
481,
407,
1607,
534,
1441,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
1276,
13,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
26834,
683,
1497,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
3285,
645,
517,
286,
428,
11,
447,
251,
262,
1468,
266,
22592,
531,
11,
465,
8216,
5033,
845,
7786,
6451,
13,
1544,
442,
419,
992,
290,
13818,
379,
27848,
1313,
13,
447,
250,
7390,
5151,
2933,
11,
314,
691,
4030,
345,
6776,
503,
286,
2461,
329,
534,
2988,
13,
3844,
326,
339,
318,
645,
517,
11,
314,
716,
1760,
351,
345,
13,
3856,
3750,
11,
788,
13,
5247,
290,
12601,
607,
11,
1862,
9192,
11,
326,
345,
1244,
766,
534,
2988,
757,
523,
2582,
11,
287,
262,
18646,
8604,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
26834,
27848,
1313,
1497,
13,
36,
487,
1313,
48480,
503,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
9087,
329,
465,
898,
11847,
11,
10953,
880,
278,
287,
465,
6283,
2951,
1752,
517,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
10129,
262,
336,
14146,
2456,
286,
40618,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
13,
1544,
6928,
326,
11699,
351,
8993,
11,
5025,
11,
290,
2900,
1088,
11,
1642,
329,
262,
1175,
5354,
447,
247,
82,
2119,
286,
629,
14992,
2427,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
373,
11859,
11,
5599,
12029,
11,
772,
416,
534,
5423,
11,
447,
251,
531,
2547,
786,
471,
1652,
65,
5540,
11,
257,
1175,
5354,
290,
12720,
286,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
13,
10044,
786,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
257,
3433,
1456,
325,
15876,
286,
1049,
1128,
1133,
11,
290,
281,
1468,
1545,
286,
1583,
323,
2188,
447,
247,
82,
11,
996,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
550,
407,
1775,
683,
287,
1048,
287,
257,
890,
981,
11,
262,
734,
41109,
284,
6053,
832,
511,
11756,
629,
14992,
4410,
13,
464,
5019,
1109,
326,
2547,
786,
550,
1282,
284,
1583,
323,
2188,
447,
247,
82,
10580,
287,
1048,
550,
28395,
262,
1468,
1175,
5354,
572,
284,
262,
6817,
286,
262,
3187,
13,
1544,
5982,
422,
257,
18176,
3420,
772,
355,
27848,
1313,
24057,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
484,
12433,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
17854
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
7120,
2988,
4054,
416,
20164,
39204,
428,
4097,
345,
12601,
11,
290,
4054,
757,
287,
465,
2230,
284,
826,
465,
2642,
13,
1544,
2626,
3178,
261,
447,
247,
82,
30358,
11,
290,
326,
318,
645,
1402,
1517,
13,
28971,
326,
339,
3724,
2111,
284,
8551,
262,
11865,
621,
1441,
1231,
340,
13,
2504,
318,
262,
835,
286,
262,
995,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
9341,
9408,
6655,
27848,
1313,
11,
1566,
262,
1862,
256,
2086,
1359,
6939,
326,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
5287,
373,
655,
326,
25,
317,
1455,
8461,
447,
247,
82,
5287,
13,
1026,
714,
407,
4079,
319,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
597,
2392,
11,
290,
10403,
262,
1468,
266,
22592,
373,
6454,
22598,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
262,
35778,
34321,
2188,
317,
1455,
8461,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
290,
1064,
607,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
779,
616,
15121,
2613,
611,
340,
481,
5698,
345,
284,
4022,
346,
6105,
13,
40,
1833,
262,
1296,
312,
1799,
286,
534,
5775,
290,
481,
407,
1607,
534,
1441,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
1276,
13,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
26834,
683,
1497,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
3285,
645,
517,
286,
428,
11,
447,
251,
262,
1468,
266,
22592,
531,
11,
465,
8216,
5033,
845,
7786,
6451,
13,
1544,
442,
419,
992,
290,
13818,
379,
27848,
1313,
13,
447,
250,
7390,
5151,
2933,
11,
314,
691,
4030,
345,
6776,
503,
286,
2461,
329,
534,
2988,
13,
3844,
326,
339,
318,
645,
517,
11,
314,
716,
1760,
351,
345,
13,
3856,
3750,
11,
788,
13,
5247,
290,
12601,
607,
11,
1862,
9192,
11,
326,
345,
1244,
766,
534,
2988,
757,
523,
2582,
11,
287,
262,
18646,
8604,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
26834,
27848,
1313,
1497,
13,
36,
487,
1313,
48480,
503,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
9087,
329,
465,
898,
11847,
11,
10953,
880,
278,
287,
465,
6283,
2951,
1752,
517,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
10129,
262,
336,
14146,
2456,
286,
40618,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
13,
1544,
6928,
326,
11699,
351,
8993,
11,
5025,
11,
290,
2900,
1088,
11,
1642,
329,
262,
1175,
5354,
447,
247,
82,
2119,
286,
629,
14992,
2427,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
373,
11859,
11,
5599,
12029,
11,
772,
416,
534,
5423,
11,
447,
251,
531,
2547,
786,
471,
1652,
65,
5540,
11,
257,
1175,
5354,
290,
12720,
286,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
13,
10044,
786,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
257,
3433,
1456,
325,
15876,
286,
1049,
1128,
1133,
11,
290,
281,
1468,
1545,
286,
1583,
323,
2188,
447,
247,
82,
11,
996,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
550,
407,
1775,
683,
287,
1048,
287,
257,
890,
981,
11,
262,
734,
41109,
284,
6053,
832,
511,
11756,
629,
14992,
4410,
13,
464,
5019,
1109,
326,
2547,
786,
550,
1282,
284,
1583,
323,
2188,
447,
247,
82,
10580,
287,
1048,
550,
28395,
262,
1468,
1175,
5354,
572,
284,
262,
6817,
286,
262,
3187,
13,
1544,
5982,
422,
257,
18176,
3420,
772,
355,
27848,
1313,
24057,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
484,
12433,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
17854
] |
dnd512
|
“He must do this.He is tied to that one, Dahlia.He must find his revenge.”“Or his death?”“We all die,” Draygo Quick replied.“True, but it is best to choose when we allow, or cause, others to do so,” Parise Ulfbinder remarked slyly, drawing Draygo Quick’s full attention.“I wish to talk to you about this curious drow who has associated himself with our enemies.”“Drizzt Do’Urden.”“Yes,” Parise said with a nod.“There may be more to him than you know, and likely more to him than he knows.”Draygo Quick’s eyes widened as he considered that curious statement in the context of the speaker, a Netherese theorist who had been whispering dire warnings to any lord who might listen.Down the hallway several doors, Effron lit a single candle and moved to a small table.Atop it rested an item covered by a red cloth.Effron pulled the cloth back, and a skull-sized ball of pure crystal glistened in the candlelight before him.“Ah, Dahlia Sin’Dalay, murderess,” he said, and his eyes sparkled in reflection.“You think you have won, Mother.You are wrong.”Many heartbeats passed, not a one in the room daring to even draw breath.Entreri just stood there, head and shoulders thrown back, awaiting death.But death did not visit him.Gradually, the assassin opened his eyes and glanced over at the others.“You threw it in?” he asked.Drizzt glanced over the rim, into the pit, and shrugged.“You threw it in?” Entreri asked again.“The primordial has it, surely.”“Ye think?” Ambergris put in with a snort.“Do you feel anything?” Drizzt asked.“Pain?A sense of impending doom?”“Are you asking, or hoping?” Entreri replied, and Ambergris laughed all the louder.At that moment, the monk broke away from her and leaped at Drizzt—or started to, for the dwarf kicked Afafrenfere’s trailing ankle, tripping him up, and he skidded down to all fours.Before he could regain his footing, Ambergris grabbed him roughly by the shirt and his hair and hoisted him to his feet.“Now ye hear me, boy, and ye hear me good!” the dwarf roared in his face.Still holding him by the hair, she dropped her other hand into her pouch and brought it forth, her fat thumb covered in some blue substance.As the others looked on, perplexed, she used it to draw a symbol on the monk’s face, and she chanted out what seemed to be a spell in the ancient Dwarvish tongue.“Now ye’re geased,” she announced, letting go and shoving Afafrenfere backward.“What?”“Ye got me god’s wrath lurkin’ on yer forehead, ye dolt,” Ambergris explained.“Ye make a move at me drow friend here, or either o’ his friends, and Dumathoin’s sure to melt yer brains that they’ll flow from yer nose like so much snot.”“B-but …” Afafrenfere stuttered, hopping all around and stabbing his finger in Drizzt’s direction.“He killed Parbid!”“Bah, yerselfs started the fight and ye lost, and so be it.”“But … Parbid!” Afafrenfere said with a great wail and keen.Ambergris rushed up and grabbed him by the hair again and pulled him very close, so that her long and fat nose touched his.“If ye’re wantin’ to see yer dearest boy again, then go and strike at the drow,” she said.“Been hoping to watch a good brain melt—been years and years since the last I seen.”Afafrenfere stuttered and gasped, but when Ambergris let him go, he moved back and said no more.“Well, what of ye?” the dwarf asked of Entreri.“Ye dyin’ yet?”Entreri stared at her incredulously.“Then let’s be gone afore we’re all dying,” the dwarf said.“That silence spell I throwed in the hallway ain’t for lastin’!”She started off, slapping Afafrenfere to fall in line beside her as she made for the elemental’s tunnel.
|
“He must do this.He is tied to that one, Dahlia.He must find his revenge.”“Or his death?”“We all die,” Draygo Quick replied.“True, but it is best to choose when we allow, or cause, others to do so,” Parise Ulfbinder remarked slyly, drawing Draygo Quick’s full attention.“I wish to talk to you about this curious drow who has associated himself with our enemies.”“Drizzt Do’Urden.”“Yes,” Parise said with a nod.“There may be more to him than you know, and likely more to him than he knows.”Draygo Quick’s eyes widened as he considered that curious statement in the context of the speaker, a Netherese theorist who had been whispering dire warnings to any lord who might listen.Down the hallway several doors, Effron lit a single candle and moved to a small table.Atop it rested an item covered by a red cloth.Effron pulled the cloth back, and a skull-sized ball of pure crystal glistened in the candlelight before him.“Ah, Dahlia Sin’Dalay, murderess,” he said, and his eyes sparkled in reflection.“You think you have won, Mother.You are wrong.”Many heartbeats passed, not a one in the room daring to even draw breath.Entreri just stood there, head and shoulders thrown back, awaiting death.But death did not visit him.Gradually, the assassin opened his eyes and glanced over at the others.“You threw it in?” he asked.Drizzt glanced over the rim, into the pit, and shrugged.“You threw it in?” Entreri asked again.“The primordial has it, surely.”“Ye think?” Ambergris put in with a snort.“Do you feel anything?” Drizzt asked.“Pain?A sense of impending doom?”“Are you asking, or hoping?” Entreri replied, and Ambergris laughed all the louder.At that moment, the monk broke away from her and leaped at Drizzt—or started to, for the dwarf kicked Afafrenfere’s trailing ankle, tripping him up, and he skidded down to all fours.Before he could regain his footing, Ambergris grabbed him roughly by the shirt and his hair and hoisted him to his feet.“Now ye hear me, boy, and ye hear me good!” the dwarf roared in his face.Still holding him by the hair, she dropped her other hand into her pouch and brought it forth, her fat thumb covered in some blue substance.As the others looked on, perplexed, she used it to draw a symbol on the monk’s face, and she chanted out what seemed to be a spell in the ancient Dwarvish tongue.“Now ye’re geased,” she announced, letting go and shoving Afafrenfere backward.“What?”“Ye got me god’s wrath lurkin’ on yer forehead, ye dolt,” Ambergris explained.“Ye make a move at me drow friend here, or either o’ his friends, and Dumathoin’s sure to melt yer brains that they’ll flow from yer nose like so much snot.”“B-but …” Afafrenfere stuttered, hopping all around and stabbing his finger in Drizzt’s direction.“He killed Parbid!”“Bah, yerselfs started the fight and ye lost, and so be it.”“But … Parbid!” Afafrenfere said with a great wail and keen.Ambergris rushed up and grabbed him by the hair again and pulled him very close, so that her long and fat nose touched his.“If ye’re wantin’ to see yer dearest boy again, then go and strike at the drow,” she said.“Been hoping to watch a good brain melt—been years and years since the last I seen.”Afafrenfere stuttered and gasped, but when Ambergris let him go, he moved back and said no more.“Well, what of ye?” the dwarf asked of Entreri.“Ye dyin’ yet?”Entreri stared at her incredulously.“Then let’s be gone afore we’re all dying,” the dwarf said.“That silence spell I throwed in the hallway ain’t for lastin’!”She started off, slapping Afafrenfere to fall in line beside her as she made for the elemental’s tunnel.
|
[
447,
250,
1544,
1276,
466,
428,
13,
1544,
318,
8165,
284,
326,
530,
11,
41471,
544,
13,
1544,
1276,
1064,
465,
15827,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5574,
465,
1918,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
477,
4656,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
17821,
11,
475,
340,
318,
1266,
284,
3853,
618,
356,
1249,
11,
393,
2728,
11,
1854,
284,
466,
523,
11,
447,
251,
2547,
786,
471,
1652,
65,
5540,
24998,
49822,
306,
11,
8263,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
447,
247,
82,
1336,
3241,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4601,
284,
1561,
284,
345,
546,
428,
11040,
288,
808,
508,
468,
3917,
2241,
351,
674,
5775,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
2547,
786,
531,
351,
257,
18666,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
743,
307,
517,
284,
683,
621,
345,
760,
11,
290,
1884,
517,
284,
683,
621,
339,
4206,
13,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
447,
247,
82,
2951,
36405,
355,
339,
3177,
326,
11040,
2643,
287,
262,
4732,
286,
262,
10834,
11,
257,
3433,
1456,
325,
46410,
508,
550,
587,
48508,
19958,
14601,
284,
597,
15876,
508,
1244,
6004,
13,
8048,
262,
23959,
1811,
8215,
11,
27848,
1313,
6578,
257,
2060,
26839,
290,
3888,
284,
257,
1402,
3084,
13,
2953,
404,
340,
29263,
281,
2378,
5017,
416,
257,
2266,
16270,
13,
36,
487,
1313,
5954,
262,
16270,
736,
11,
290,
257,
14511,
12,
13982,
2613,
286,
5899,
15121,
1278,
396,
2945,
287,
262,
26839,
2971,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
41471,
544,
10884,
447,
247,
35,
282,
323,
11,
7847,
68,
601,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
290,
465,
2951,
9009,
992,
287,
14580,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
892,
345,
423,
1839,
11,
10584,
13,
1639,
389,
2642,
13,
447,
251,
7085,
2612,
1350,
1381,
3804,
11,
407,
257,
530,
287,
262,
2119,
27939,
284,
772,
3197,
8033,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
655,
6204,
612,
11,
1182,
290,
12450,
8754,
736,
11,
21859,
1918,
13,
1537,
1918,
750,
407,
3187,
683,
13,
42731,
935,
11,
262,
31120,
4721,
465,
2951,
290,
27846,
625,
379,
262,
1854,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
9617,
340,
287,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
27846,
625,
262,
20254,
11,
656,
262,
6028,
11,
290,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
9617,
340,
287,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
757,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2684,
31223,
468,
340,
11,
10403,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
892,
30,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
1234,
287,
351,
257,
3013,
419,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
345,
1254,
1997,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
38490,
30,
32,
2565,
286,
27523,
27666,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
4737,
11,
393,
7725,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
11,
290,
21896,
2164,
271,
13818,
477,
262,
27089,
13,
2953,
326,
2589,
11,
262,
27266,
6265,
1497,
422,
607,
290,
443,
5813,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
960,
273,
2067,
284,
11,
329,
262,
24603
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1544,
1276,
466,
428,
13,
1544,
318,
8165,
284,
326,
530,
11,
41471,
544,
13,
1544,
1276,
1064,
465,
15827,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5574,
465,
1918,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
477,
4656,
11,
447,
251,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
17821,
11,
475,
340,
318,
1266,
284,
3853,
618,
356,
1249,
11,
393,
2728,
11,
1854,
284,
466,
523,
11,
447,
251,
2547,
786,
471,
1652,
65,
5540,
24998,
49822,
306,
11,
8263,
1583,
323,
2188,
12029,
447,
247,
82,
1336,
3241,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4601,
284,
1561,
284,
345,
546,
428,
11040,
288,
808,
508,
468,
3917,
2241,
351,
674,
5775,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
2547,
786,
531,
351,
257,
18666,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
743,
307,
517,
284,
683,
621,
345,
760,
11,
290,
1884,
517,
284,
683,
621,
339,
4206,
13,
447,
251,
35,
2433,
2188,
12029,
447,
247,
82,
2951,
36405,
355,
339,
3177,
326,
11040,
2643,
287,
262,
4732,
286,
262,
10834,
11,
257,
3433,
1456,
325,
46410,
508,
550,
587,
48508,
19958,
14601,
284,
597,
15876,
508,
1244,
6004,
13,
8048,
262,
23959,
1811,
8215,
11,
27848,
1313,
6578,
257,
2060,
26839,
290,
3888,
284,
257,
1402,
3084,
13,
2953,
404,
340,
29263,
281,
2378,
5017,
416,
257,
2266,
16270,
13,
36,
487,
1313,
5954,
262,
16270,
736,
11,
290,
257,
14511,
12,
13982,
2613,
286,
5899,
15121,
1278,
396,
2945,
287,
262,
26839,
2971,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
41471,
544,
10884,
447,
247,
35,
282,
323,
11,
7847,
68,
601,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
290,
465,
2951,
9009,
992,
287,
14580,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
892,
345,
423,
1839,
11,
10584,
13,
1639,
389,
2642,
13,
447,
251,
7085,
2612,
1350,
1381,
3804,
11,
407,
257,
530,
287,
262,
2119,
27939,
284,
772,
3197,
8033,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
655,
6204,
612,
11,
1182,
290,
12450,
8754,
736,
11,
21859,
1918,
13,
1537,
1918,
750,
407,
3187,
683,
13,
42731,
935,
11,
262,
31120,
4721,
465,
2951,
290,
27846,
625,
379,
262,
1854,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
9617,
340,
287,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
27846,
625,
262,
20254,
11,
656,
262,
6028,
11,
290,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
9617,
340,
287,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
757,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2684,
31223,
468,
340,
11,
10403,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
892,
30,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
1234,
287,
351,
257,
3013,
419,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
345,
1254,
1997,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
38490,
30,
32,
2565,
286,
27523,
27666,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
4737,
11,
393,
7725,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
11,
290,
21896,
2164,
271,
13818,
477,
262,
27089,
13,
2953,
326,
2589,
11,
262,
27266,
6265,
1497,
422,
607,
290,
443,
5813,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
960,
273,
2067,
284,
11,
329,
262,
24603
] |
dnd513
|
She pulled out her magical decanter as she entered and summoned its spraying water once more, wetting the hot stones before her, and laughing indeed as the swirls of steam arose around her.“Nothing?” Drizzt asked Entreri again.He walked over and crouched beside the sobbing Dahlia, hugging her close.“Well?” he asked of Entreri yet again.The assassin just shrugged.If he was dying, he didn’t feel it.Drizzt gently pulled Dahlia up beside him and started off.Entreri fell in line, following the dwarf.Entreri looked at Drizzt coldly.“Not even a bit of pain?” Drizzt asked, and he tried hard to sound disappointed.Artemis Entreri snorted and looked away.He was alive.How could it be?For the sword had been keeping him alive for all of these decades, surely, and now the sword was gone.Or perhaps the primordial hadn’t destroyed it—perhaps its magic was strong enough to survive the bite of that most ancient and powerful beast.Or maybe it was destroyed, and the mortal coil of Entreri would begin to age again, that he might live out the remainder of his life as if he had been in stasis all these years.Either way, he figured, he was still alive, and more than that, and he knew it profoundly: he was free.He put his arm around Dahlia and pulled her close, signaling for Drizzt, who seemed less than thrilled at that movement, to take up the lead.They moved through the complex with all speed, and encountered no shades, who, unbeknownst to them, were fast departing through magical gateways, and encountered no Menzoberranyr drow, who had moved to the deeper tunnels of the Underdark to weather the Shadovar advance.Expecting pursuit, of course, Drizzt didn’t slow the pace at all.With the help of Dahlia’s raven cape, they got through to the upper levels and pressed on to the throne room and the complex exit.Many hours later, Tiago Baenre and Gol’fanin moved quietly to the entrance of the forge room and peered in.The battle of elementals continued, water against fire, but were much diminished, for the floor was ankle-deep in water, a situation surely not conducive to the spawning of creatures of fire.Still, the forges glowed orange, overheated by the flow of primordial power, and every so often, one erupted, spewing forth a line of blazing flames that hissed angrily across the giant puddle and sent swirls of steam into the air.We can get to the underchamber, Tiago’s hands flashed.Where we’ll be cornered and slaughtered?the old blacksmith signaled back.By whom?Gol’fanin looked at him doubtfully.“They’ve left,” Tiago announced aloud, for if he believed those words, after all, then why was he bothering to use the silent hand language?“All of them?”“We’ve seen no sign of the Shadovar.”“We’ve gone no farther than this place,” Gol’fanin reminded.“Perhaps they came in and engaged in battle with the elemental forces in the forge, then fell back to a more defensible position.Would that not be your own choice, as it was Ravel’s?”Tiago had to admit that.“Wait for the scouts,” Gol’fanin advised.“Before we go in there, let us make sure that our efforts are worthwhile.”Tiago put a hand on Byok’s saddlebag and the unfinished sword and translucent shield strapped beneath it.Truly he was torn, for in those few moments before the primordial had broken free and chased them from the room, Tiago had felt the promise of Lullaby and Spiderweb.“If we restore control of the room and the Shadovar come back to this magnificent place, will they so willingly depart a second time?” Gol’fanin asked.Despite his desires, Tiago knew that he was waging a losing argument.“It will take tendays to ensure that they are truly gone from this vast complex,” Tiago lamented.“I’ll not wait that long.”Gol’fanin stared into the room for a few moments before offering a compromise.“We can discern in but a few hours if our enemies are far enough removed from the forge room for us to venture in.So let us not restore it until we are certain of the security of the complex.Not fully, at least.For I need only the one forge fired, and only for short amounts of time.
|
She pulled out her magical decanter as she entered and summoned its spraying water once more, wetting the hot stones before her, and laughing indeed as the swirls of steam arose around her.“Nothing?” Drizzt asked Entreri again.He walked over and crouched beside the sobbing Dahlia, hugging her close.“Well?” he asked of Entreri yet again.The assassin just shrugged.If he was dying, he didn’t feel it.Drizzt gently pulled Dahlia up beside him and started off.Entreri fell in line, following the dwarf.Entreri looked at Drizzt coldly.“Not even a bit of pain?” Drizzt asked, and he tried hard to sound disappointed.Artemis Entreri snorted and looked away.He was alive.How could it be?For the sword had been keeping him alive for all of these decades, surely, and now the sword was gone.Or perhaps the primordial hadn’t destroyed it—perhaps its magic was strong enough to survive the bite of that most ancient and powerful beast.Or maybe it was destroyed, and the mortal coil of Entreri would begin to age again, that he might live out the remainder of his life as if he had been in stasis all these years.Either way, he figured, he was still alive, and more than that, and he knew it profoundly: he was free.He put his arm around Dahlia and pulled her close, signaling for Drizzt, who seemed less than thrilled at that movement, to take up the lead.They moved through the complex with all speed, and encountered no shades, who, unbeknownst to them, were fast departing through magical gateways, and encountered no Menzoberranyr drow, who had moved to the deeper tunnels of the Underdark to weather the Shadovar advance.Expecting pursuit, of course, Drizzt didn’t slow the pace at all.With the help of Dahlia’s raven cape, they got through to the upper levels and pressed on to the throne room and the complex exit.Many hours later, Tiago Baenre and Gol’fanin moved quietly to the entrance of the forge room and peered in.The battle of elementals continued, water against fire, but were much diminished, for the floor was ankle-deep in water, a situation surely not conducive to the spawning of creatures of fire.Still, the forges glowed orange, overheated by the flow of primordial power, and every so often, one erupted, spewing forth a line of blazing flames that hissed angrily across the giant puddle and sent swirls of steam into the air.We can get to the underchamber, Tiago’s hands flashed.Where we’ll be cornered and slaughtered?the old blacksmith signaled back.By whom?Gol’fanin looked at him doubtfully.“They’ve left,” Tiago announced aloud, for if he believed those words, after all, then why was he bothering to use the silent hand language?“All of them?”“We’ve seen no sign of the Shadovar.”“We’ve gone no farther than this place,” Gol’fanin reminded.“Perhaps they came in and engaged in battle with the elemental forces in the forge, then fell back to a more defensible position.Would that not be your own choice, as it was Ravel’s?”Tiago had to admit that.“Wait for the scouts,” Gol’fanin advised.“Before we go in there, let us make sure that our efforts are worthwhile.”Tiago put a hand on Byok’s saddlebag and the unfinished sword and translucent shield strapped beneath it.Truly he was torn, for in those few moments before the primordial had broken free and chased them from the room, Tiago had felt the promise of Lullaby and Spiderweb.“If we restore control of the room and the Shadovar come back to this magnificent place, will they so willingly depart a second time?” Gol’fanin asked.Despite his desires, Tiago knew that he was waging a losing argument.“It will take tendays to ensure that they are truly gone from this vast complex,” Tiago lamented.“I’ll not wait that long.”Gol’fanin stared into the room for a few moments before offering a compromise.“We can discern in but a few hours if our enemies are far enough removed from the forge room for us to venture in.So let us not restore it until we are certain of the security of the complex.Not fully, at least.For I need only the one forge fired, and only for short amounts of time.
|
[
3347,
5954,
503,
607,
10883,
875,
272,
353,
355,
673,
5982,
290,
20056,
663,
40170,
1660,
1752,
517,
11,
9583,
889,
262,
3024,
14966,
878,
607,
11,
290,
14376,
5600,
355,
262,
42835,
82,
286,
13324,
21172,
1088,
607,
13,
447,
250,
18465,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
7232,
260,
380,
757,
13,
1544,
6807,
625,
290,
33838,
1740,
13970,
262,
27355,
4623,
41471,
544,
11,
46292,
607,
1969,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
1865,
757,
13,
464,
31120,
655,
28271,
13,
1532,
339,
373,
9950,
11,
339,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
1254,
340,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
15165,
5954,
41471,
544,
510,
13970,
683,
290,
2067,
572,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3214,
287,
1627,
11,
1708,
262,
24603,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3114,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
4692,
306,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
772,
257,
1643,
286,
2356,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
11,
290,
339,
3088,
1327,
284,
2128,
11679,
13,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
3013,
9741,
290,
3114,
1497,
13,
1544,
373,
6776,
13,
2437,
714,
340,
307,
30,
1890,
262,
8429,
550,
587,
5291,
683,
6776,
329,
477,
286,
777,
4647,
11,
10403,
11,
290,
783,
262,
8429,
373,
3750,
13,
5574,
3737,
262,
2684,
31223,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
6572,
340,
960,
28998,
663,
5536,
373,
1913,
1576,
284,
7866,
262,
13197,
286,
326,
749,
6156,
290,
3665,
13824,
13,
5574,
3863,
340,
373,
6572,
11,
290,
262,
22122,
25661,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
561,
2221,
284,
2479,
757,
11,
326,
339,
1244,
2107,
503,
262,
17675,
286,
465,
1204,
355,
611,
339,
550,
587,
287,
336,
17765,
477,
777,
812,
13,
32478,
835,
11,
339,
11638,
11,
339,
373,
991,
6776,
11,
290,
517,
621,
326,
11,
290,
339,
2993,
340,
27377,
25,
339,
373,
1479,
13,
1544,
1234,
465,
3211,
1088,
41471,
544,
290,
5954,
607,
1969,
11,
22049,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
508,
3947,
1342,
621,
20536,
379,
326,
3356,
11,
284,
1011,
510,
262,
1085,
13,
2990,
3888,
832,
262,
3716,
351,
477,
2866,
11,
290,
12956,
645,
23787,
11,
508,
11,
22619,
988,
3408,
301,
284,
606,
11,
547,
3049,
37717,
832,
10883,
8946,
1322,
11,
290,
12956,
645,
6065,
89,
2023,
81,
1092,
81,
288,
808,
11,
508,
550,
3888,
284,
262,
9211,
22642,
286,
262,
4698,
21953,
284,
6193,
262,
46961,
709,
283,
5963,
13,
3109,
35570,
14748,
11,
286,
1781,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
3105,
262,
8761,
379,
477,
13,
3152,
262,
1037,
286,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
37735,
36023,
11,
484,
1392,
832,
284,
262,
6727,
2974,
290,
12070,
319,
284,
262,
19262,
2119,
290,
262,
3716,
8420,
13,
7085,
2250,
1568,
11,
16953,
3839,
8999,
268,
260,
290,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
3888,
12703,
284,
262,
10384,
286,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
613,
1068,
287,
13,
464,
3344,
286,
5002,
874,
3767,
11,
1660,
1028,
2046,
11,
475,
547,
881,
23476,
11,
329,
262,
4314,
373,
19847,
12,
22089,
287,
1660,
11,
257,
3074,
10403,
407,
45645
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
3347,
5954,
503,
607,
10883,
875,
272,
353,
355,
673,
5982,
290,
20056,
663,
40170,
1660,
1752,
517,
11,
9583,
889,
262,
3024,
14966,
878,
607,
11,
290,
14376,
5600,
355,
262,
42835,
82,
286,
13324,
21172,
1088,
607,
13,
447,
250,
18465,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
7232,
260,
380,
757,
13,
1544,
6807,
625,
290,
33838,
1740,
13970,
262,
27355,
4623,
41471,
544,
11,
46292,
607,
1969,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
1865,
757,
13,
464,
31120,
655,
28271,
13,
1532,
339,
373,
9950,
11,
339,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
1254,
340,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
15165,
5954,
41471,
544,
510,
13970,
683,
290,
2067,
572,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3214,
287,
1627,
11,
1708,
262,
24603,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3114,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
4692,
306,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
772,
257,
1643,
286,
2356,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
11,
290,
339,
3088,
1327,
284,
2128,
11679,
13,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
3013,
9741,
290,
3114,
1497,
13,
1544,
373,
6776,
13,
2437,
714,
340,
307,
30,
1890,
262,
8429,
550,
587,
5291,
683,
6776,
329,
477,
286,
777,
4647,
11,
10403,
11,
290,
783,
262,
8429,
373,
3750,
13,
5574,
3737,
262,
2684,
31223,
8020,
447,
247,
83,
6572,
340,
960,
28998,
663,
5536,
373,
1913,
1576,
284,
7866,
262,
13197,
286,
326,
749,
6156,
290,
3665,
13824,
13,
5574,
3863,
340,
373,
6572,
11,
290,
262,
22122,
25661,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
561,
2221,
284,
2479,
757,
11,
326,
339,
1244,
2107,
503,
262,
17675,
286,
465,
1204,
355,
611,
339,
550,
587,
287,
336,
17765,
477,
777,
812,
13,
32478,
835,
11,
339,
11638,
11,
339,
373,
991,
6776,
11,
290,
517,
621,
326,
11,
290,
339,
2993,
340,
27377,
25,
339,
373,
1479,
13,
1544,
1234,
465,
3211,
1088,
41471,
544,
290,
5954,
607,
1969,
11,
22049,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
508,
3947,
1342,
621,
20536,
379,
326,
3356,
11,
284,
1011,
510,
262,
1085,
13,
2990,
3888,
832,
262,
3716,
351,
477,
2866,
11,
290,
12956,
645,
23787,
11,
508,
11,
22619,
988,
3408,
301,
284,
606,
11,
547,
3049,
37717,
832,
10883,
8946,
1322,
11,
290,
12956,
645,
6065,
89,
2023,
81,
1092,
81,
288,
808,
11,
508,
550,
3888,
284,
262,
9211,
22642,
286,
262,
4698,
21953,
284,
6193,
262,
46961,
709,
283,
5963,
13,
3109,
35570,
14748,
11,
286,
1781,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
3105,
262,
8761,
379,
477,
13,
3152,
262,
1037,
286,
41471,
544,
447,
247,
82,
37735,
36023,
11,
484,
1392,
832,
284,
262,
6727,
2974,
290,
12070,
319,
284,
262,
19262,
2119,
290,
262,
3716,
8420,
13,
7085,
2250,
1568,
11,
16953,
3839,
8999,
268,
260,
290,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
3888,
12703,
284,
262,
10384,
286,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
613,
1068,
287,
13,
464,
3344,
286,
5002,
874,
3767,
11,
1660,
1028,
2046,
11,
475,
547,
881,
23476,
11,
329,
262,
4314,
373,
19847,
12,
22089,
287,
1660,
11,
257,
3074,
10403,
407,
45645
] |
dnd514
|
I understand the design of the subchamber well enough to facilitate that which is needed.”Tiago’s eyes flashed with hunger.“Then go.”“When the scouts—”“Go now,” Tiago ordered.“I will stay here and watch over you.The scouts will catch up to us soon enough, and I will put them all around the area.”The old blacksmith looked him over for a bit, then shook his head at the impatient young warrior and splashed into the room.He discerned the pattern of the fire-spewing forges easily enough and made his way to the trap door disguised as another forge.Fortunately, the chamber within the fake oven was not full of water, and when Gol’fanin managed to open the door, he saw that the room below was neither flooded nor full of fire.Still, the pipes below glowed angrily and threateningly, so the blacksmith adjusted and tightened his magical garments and put on his magical gloves before venturing below.Sometime later, Gol’fanin was back at the room’s great forge, implements and unfinished items at hand, preparing to continue his solemn work.The rest of the room continued to roar with unbridled fire, hiss with angry steam, and rain briny water, but Gol’fanin expected that would prove to be no more than a minor nuisance.Coincidentally, the blacksmith had just tapped his small finishing hammer against the flat of the shield, had just begun his actual work on the items, when he noted the return of Tiago, and surprisingly, the young Baenre approached from out of the corridor to the primordial pit, though Gol’fanin had not seen him go down that way, and as far as the blacksmith knew, there were no other entrances to that critical chamber.“We found the wayward Xorlarrin brother,” he said.“And Brack’thal has information?”“He is quite dead.”“My sympathies to the Xorlarrins,” Gol’fanin replied, and of course he meant no such thing.“He was killed by the blade,” Tiago explained.“And found in a new tunnel, recently dug, or melted, it seems.”Gol’fanin didn’t hide his intrigue, but Tiago had no answers for him.“Perhaps the work of his own pet elemental,” the young Baenre offered.“We cannot know.”“Your Xorlarrin lovers can find out.The dead are not so silent to the calls of a priestess.”Tiago shrugged as if it did not really matter.Berellip’s main concern and motivation in talking to the dead Xorlarrin mage would be to learn if Ravel or his agents had killed Brack’thal, which wasn’t likely the case.“And the Shadovar?” Gol’fanin asked.“We have found signs of their march to this place, but none of their retreat.Yet they are not to be found.”“Back to the Shadowfell, then.”“And so Gauntlgrym is ours.”“Counsel Ravel to proceed cautiously,” the blacksmith advised.“But you will continue your work?”“Of course.”“Then I hold no sense of urgency.”The five companions rested in Gauntlgrym’s great entry hall, far to the side of the great throne and the graves.“Touched it,” Ambergris said to Drizzt when he walked up beside her, to find her staring across at the throne.“Come,” Drizzt bade her, and he started that way.He led her right past the throne, though, to the small group of graves.“King Bruenor,” he explained, pointing to the largest.“Here in Gauntlgrym, he fell.”“Word was that he died in Mithral Hall,” Ambergris replied.“We held a great drunk in his honor.” She paused and laughed.“But we knowed, elf, we knowed,” she said.The way she addressed him, “elf,” had Drizzt back on his heels, for it was a nickname he had heard before, and spoken with similar inflection and affection.“Glad that he found his road,” Ambergris said solemnly.“His reputation always called him as one for the road and not the throne.”“His shield dwarf,” Drizzt explained as they paced to the other larger cairn.“The Pwent,” Ambergris mumbled, and that came as a bit of confirmation to Drizzt that this one could indeed be trusted.“And the others who fell in the fight for this place,” Drizzt explained of the other graves.“Battlehammer dwarves from Icewind Dale.”Ambergris nodded and quietly whispered a prayer for them all.Drizzt patted her on the shoulder and led her back to the others.
|
I understand the design of the subchamber well enough to facilitate that which is needed.”Tiago’s eyes flashed with hunger.“Then go.”“When the scouts—”“Go now,” Tiago ordered.“I will stay here and watch over you.The scouts will catch up to us soon enough, and I will put them all around the area.”The old blacksmith looked him over for a bit, then shook his head at the impatient young warrior and splashed into the room.He discerned the pattern of the fire-spewing forges easily enough and made his way to the trap door disguised as another forge.Fortunately, the chamber within the fake oven was not full of water, and when Gol’fanin managed to open the door, he saw that the room below was neither flooded nor full of fire.Still, the pipes below glowed angrily and threateningly, so the blacksmith adjusted and tightened his magical garments and put on his magical gloves before venturing below.Sometime later, Gol’fanin was back at the room’s great forge, implements and unfinished items at hand, preparing to continue his solemn work.The rest of the room continued to roar with unbridled fire, hiss with angry steam, and rain briny water, but Gol’fanin expected that would prove to be no more than a minor nuisance.Coincidentally, the blacksmith had just tapped his small finishing hammer against the flat of the shield, had just begun his actual work on the items, when he noted the return of Tiago, and surprisingly, the young Baenre approached from out of the corridor to the primordial pit, though Gol’fanin had not seen him go down that way, and as far as the blacksmith knew, there were no other entrances to that critical chamber.“We found the wayward Xorlarrin brother,” he said.“And Brack’thal has information?”“He is quite dead.”“My sympathies to the Xorlarrins,” Gol’fanin replied, and of course he meant no such thing.“He was killed by the blade,” Tiago explained.“And found in a new tunnel, recently dug, or melted, it seems.”Gol’fanin didn’t hide his intrigue, but Tiago had no answers for him.“Perhaps the work of his own pet elemental,” the young Baenre offered.“We cannot know.”“Your Xorlarrin lovers can find out.The dead are not so silent to the calls of a priestess.”Tiago shrugged as if it did not really matter.Berellip’s main concern and motivation in talking to the dead Xorlarrin mage would be to learn if Ravel or his agents had killed Brack’thal, which wasn’t likely the case.“And the Shadovar?” Gol’fanin asked.“We have found signs of their march to this place, but none of their retreat.Yet they are not to be found.”“Back to the Shadowfell, then.”“And so Gauntlgrym is ours.”“Counsel Ravel to proceed cautiously,” the blacksmith advised.“But you will continue your work?”“Of course.”“Then I hold no sense of urgency.”The five companions rested in Gauntlgrym’s great entry hall, far to the side of the great throne and the graves.“Touched it,” Ambergris said to Drizzt when he walked up beside her, to find her staring across at the throne.“Come,” Drizzt bade her, and he started that way.He led her right past the throne, though, to the small group of graves.“King Bruenor,” he explained, pointing to the largest.“Here in Gauntlgrym, he fell.”“Word was that he died in Mithral Hall,” Ambergris replied.“We held a great drunk in his honor.” She paused and laughed.“But we knowed, elf, we knowed,” she said.The way she addressed him, “elf,” had Drizzt back on his heels, for it was a nickname he had heard before, and spoken with similar inflection and affection.“Glad that he found his road,” Ambergris said solemnly.“His reputation always called him as one for the road and not the throne.”“His shield dwarf,” Drizzt explained as they paced to the other larger cairn.“The Pwent,” Ambergris mumbled, and that came as a bit of confirmation to Drizzt that this one could indeed be trusted.“And the others who fell in the fight for this place,” Drizzt explained of the other graves.“Battlehammer dwarves from Icewind Dale.”Ambergris nodded and quietly whispered a prayer for them all.Drizzt patted her on the shoulder and led her back to the others.
|
[
40,
1833,
262,
1486,
286,
262,
850,
354,
7789,
880,
1576,
284,
15570,
326,
543,
318,
2622,
13,
447,
251,
51,
29601,
447,
247,
82,
2951,
30050,
351,
16460,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
467,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2215,
262,
29663,
960,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5247,
783,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2652,
994,
290,
2342,
625,
345,
13,
464,
29663,
481,
4929,
510,
284,
514,
2582,
1576,
11,
290,
314,
481,
1234,
606,
477,
1088,
262,
1989,
13,
447,
251,
464,
1468,
2042,
21453,
3114,
683,
625,
329,
257,
1643,
11,
788,
14682,
465,
1182,
379,
262,
33440,
1862,
16491,
290,
4328,
5263,
656,
262,
2119,
13,
1544,
22024,
276,
262,
3912,
286,
262,
2046,
12,
2777,
413,
278,
329,
3212,
3538,
1576,
290,
925,
465,
835,
284,
262,
12840,
3420,
32192,
355,
1194,
28325,
13,
31276,
11,
262,
11847,
1626,
262,
8390,
14361,
373,
407,
1336,
286,
1660,
11,
290,
618,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
5257,
284,
1280,
262,
3420,
11,
339,
2497,
326,
262,
2119,
2174,
373,
6159,
21050,
4249,
1336,
286,
2046,
13,
9590,
11,
262,
19860,
2174,
1278,
6972,
34425,
290,
11123,
306,
11,
523,
262,
2042,
21453,
12328,
290,
37257,
465,
10883,
36097,
290,
1234,
319,
465,
10883,
18051,
878,
7435,
870,
2174,
13,
50,
47056,
1568,
11,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
373,
736,
379,
262,
2119,
447,
247,
82,
1049,
28325,
11,
23986,
290,
34419,
3709,
379,
1021,
11,
10629,
284,
2555,
465,
26322,
670,
13,
464,
1334,
286,
262,
2119,
3767,
284,
34532,
351,
555,
10236,
992,
2046,
11,
465,
82,
351,
7954,
13324,
11,
290,
6290,
865,
3541,
1660,
11,
475,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
2938,
326,
561,
5879,
284,
307,
645,
517,
621,
257,
4159,
36212,
13,
7222,
1939,
23961,
11,
262,
2042,
21453,
550,
655,
22499,
465,
1402,
12848,
15554,
1028,
262,
6228,
286,
262,
7614,
11,
550,
655,
9258,
465,
4036,
670,
319,
262,
3709,
11,
618,
339,
4367,
262,
1441,
286,
16953,
3839,
11,
290,
12362,
11,
262,
1862,
8999,
268,
260,
10448,
422,
503,
286,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
6028,
11,
996,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
550,
407,
1775,
683,
467,
866,
326,
835,
11,
290,
355,
1290,
355,
262,
2042,
21453,
2993,
11,
612,
547,
645,
584,
43818,
284,
326,
4688,
11847,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
1043,
262,
835,
904,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
259,
3956,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
468,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
2407,
2636,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3666,
23860,
444,
284,
262,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
1040,
11,
447,
251,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
8712,
11,
290,
286,
1781,
339,
4001,
645,
884,
1517,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
373,
2923,
416,
262,
11865,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1043,
287,
257,
649,
13275,
11,
2904,
18735,
11,
393,
24178,
11,
340,
2331,
13,
447,
251,
38,
349,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
7808,
465,
38520
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
40,
1833,
262,
1486,
286,
262,
850,
354,
7789,
880,
1576,
284,
15570,
326,
543,
318,
2622,
13,
447,
251,
51,
29601,
447,
247,
82,
2951,
30050,
351,
16460,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
467,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2215,
262,
29663,
960,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5247,
783,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
40,
481,
2652,
994,
290,
2342,
625,
345,
13,
464,
29663,
481,
4929,
510,
284,
514,
2582,
1576,
11,
290,
314,
481,
1234,
606,
477,
1088,
262,
1989,
13,
447,
251,
464,
1468,
2042,
21453,
3114,
683,
625,
329,
257,
1643,
11,
788,
14682,
465,
1182,
379,
262,
33440,
1862,
16491,
290,
4328,
5263,
656,
262,
2119,
13,
1544,
22024,
276,
262,
3912,
286,
262,
2046,
12,
2777,
413,
278,
329,
3212,
3538,
1576,
290,
925,
465,
835,
284,
262,
12840,
3420,
32192,
355,
1194,
28325,
13,
31276,
11,
262,
11847,
1626,
262,
8390,
14361,
373,
407,
1336,
286,
1660,
11,
290,
618,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
5257,
284,
1280,
262,
3420,
11,
339,
2497,
326,
262,
2119,
2174,
373,
6159,
21050,
4249,
1336,
286,
2046,
13,
9590,
11,
262,
19860,
2174,
1278,
6972,
34425,
290,
11123,
306,
11,
523,
262,
2042,
21453,
12328,
290,
37257,
465,
10883,
36097,
290,
1234,
319,
465,
10883,
18051,
878,
7435,
870,
2174,
13,
50,
47056,
1568,
11,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
373,
736,
379,
262,
2119,
447,
247,
82,
1049,
28325,
11,
23986,
290,
34419,
3709,
379,
1021,
11,
10629,
284,
2555,
465,
26322,
670,
13,
464,
1334,
286,
262,
2119,
3767,
284,
34532,
351,
555,
10236,
992,
2046,
11,
465,
82,
351,
7954,
13324,
11,
290,
6290,
865,
3541,
1660,
11,
475,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
2938,
326,
561,
5879,
284,
307,
645,
517,
621,
257,
4159,
36212,
13,
7222,
1939,
23961,
11,
262,
2042,
21453,
550,
655,
22499,
465,
1402,
12848,
15554,
1028,
262,
6228,
286,
262,
7614,
11,
550,
655,
9258,
465,
4036,
670,
319,
262,
3709,
11,
618,
339,
4367,
262,
1441,
286,
16953,
3839,
11,
290,
12362,
11,
262,
1862,
8999,
268,
260,
10448,
422,
503,
286,
262,
20749,
284,
262,
2684,
31223,
6028,
11,
996,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
550,
407,
1775,
683,
467,
866,
326,
835,
11,
290,
355,
1290,
355,
262,
2042,
21453,
2993,
11,
612,
547,
645,
584,
43818,
284,
326,
4688,
11847,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
1043,
262,
835,
904,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
259,
3956,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
468,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
2407,
2636,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3666,
23860,
444,
284,
262,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
1040,
11,
447,
251,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
8712,
11,
290,
286,
1781,
339,
4001,
645,
884,
1517,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
373,
2923,
416,
262,
11865,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1043,
287,
257,
649,
13275,
11,
2904,
18735,
11,
393,
24178,
11,
340,
2331,
13,
447,
251,
38,
349,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
7808,
465,
38520
] |
dnd515
|
He paused before he got there, though, and looked the dwarf straight in the eye.“Geas?” he asked, his voice full of suspicion.Ambergris looked at him stupidly.“Your shade friend,” Drizzt clarified, and the dwarf snickered.“Chalk,” she explained.“Blue chalk and nothing more … well, a bit o’ magic suggestion to convince the dolt.”“So if this Afafa … Afrenfafa …”“Afafrenfere,” Ambergris explained.“So if this Afafrenfere tries to kill me, I’ll not find Dumathoin coming to my rescue?”The dwarf showed a gap-toothed smile.“He won’t try,” she assured Drizzt.“That one’s a flower, but he ain’t hopin’ to be a daisy.Not the smartest, not the bravest, but a gooder heart than them Netherese butchers e’er deserved.Ye got me personal guarantee on that.”For some inexplicable reason, that seemed more than good enough to Drizzt.EPILOGUEIN THE DARK OF GAUNTLGRYM’S THRONE ROOM, A SHIFTING STONE STOLE THE quiet.Then came a grunt, and more sounds of rocks sliding against each other.A black-bearded dwarf crawled from under the pile, then reached back and grabbed at something he had left behind, grunting with exertion as he tried to extricate it.“Durned thing’s stuck,” he muttered, and with a great tug, he pulled free a most curious helmet, one set with a long and oft-bloodied spike.His effort sent him flying over backward to crash against the stones of the nearest cairn, where he lay on his back as the dust settled.“Durn it,” he cursed, seeing the trouble he had caused, and he rolled to his feet and began replacing the dislodged stones.“Don’t mean to be desecratin’ yer tomb …”The words caught in his throat, and the rocks fell from his hands.There in the disturbed tomb before him was a curious helm, with a single curving horn, the other having long before been broken away.The dwarf fell to his knees and dug the helm free, and saw too the face of the dead dwarf interred within.“Me king,” Thibbledorf Pwent breathed.Nay, not breathed, for creatures in the state of Thibbledorf Pwent did not draw breath.He fell back to his bum, staring in shock, his mouth wide in a silent scream.If he’d had a mirror, or a reflection that would actually show up in a mirror, Thibbledorf Pwent might have noticed his newest weapon: canine fangs.Arunika’s imp, released from its duties by the succubus, loped around the swirling mists of the lower planes, seeking its true master.It found the hulking balor seated atop a mushroom throne, clearly expecting the visitor.“The devil is done with you?” the great demon asked.“The threat to her domain is ended,” the imp replied.“The enemies have moved along.”“The enemies?” came the leading question.“The Shadovar.”“Only the Shadovar?I grow weary—”“Drizzt Do’Urden!” the imp spat, a name it, Druzil, hated as much as anything in all the world.“He has left Neverwinter.”“And you know where?” the demonic monster roared.Druzil shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.“You can find him?” the beast demanded.“Yes!Yes!Yes!” Druzil squealed, for a hint of anything but that response would have surely gotten the wretched little imp squished flat by the merciless balor.The demon began to utter a sound that seemed a cross between a purring giant cat and an avalanche.Druzil understood that, for it had been near to a hundred years, at least, and Errtu, twice-banished by this dark elf, Drizzt, was, or soon would be, free to carry out his revenge.More than a tenday passed before Berellip and the other priestesses joined Ravel and the others in the forge room.The lower reaches of the complex had been fully scouted, and some drow had even gone up to the top levels, though the stair remained folded, with no signs of Shadovar to be found.Now the work had begun in earnest to secure and repair the forge room, while a team of goblin masons worked to seal the strange second tunnel leading from the primordial chamber to the outer corridor.And Gol’fanin’s work on Lullaby and Spiderweb proceeded with all speed.Tiago was at his side, as usual, when the Xorlarrin nobles caught up to him.“It was Masoj and his companions who killed Brack’thal,” Ravel said, before they had even exchanged proper greetings.“Truly?” Tiago asked.“Truly,” Berellip said, her tone showing that she didn’t appreciate even being questioned on this matter, for it was she who had spoken to the spirit of her dead brother.Such conversations were usually vague and often unreliable, they all knew, but Berellip seemed quite confident.“Masoj?” Gol’fanin dared to ask, for it was not his place to interrupt the conversation of nobles.“Masoj Oblodra,” Tiago explained.“Of Bregan D’aerthe.”“Oblodra?” Gol’fanin said with surprise, before he could bite back the further indiscretion.“That is a name not often spoken among the folk of Menzoberranzan.Not since the Time of Troubles.”“An Oblodran captains Bregan D’aerthe,” Jearth reminded, referring to Kimmuriel.Gol’fanin seemed satisfied with that, and he went back to his work, but he muttered “Masoj?” repeatedly under his breath, as if trying to recall something.“There are implications here,” Berellip warned, staring at Tiago.“If the agents of Bregan D’aerthe killed your brother, then they did so in a battle of Brack’thal’s choosing,” the young Baenre answered evenly.“Bregan D’aerthe does not go against nobles of a major drow House.”“Without the permission of House Baenre,” Berellip added, making her suspicions clear.Tiago laughed at her.“If I had wanted your crazy brother dead, dear priestess, I would have killed him myself.”“Enough,” Ravel put in.
|
He paused before he got there, though, and looked the dwarf straight in the eye.“Geas?” he asked, his voice full of suspicion.Ambergris looked at him stupidly.“Your shade friend,” Drizzt clarified, and the dwarf snickered.“Chalk,” she explained.“Blue chalk and nothing more … well, a bit o’ magic suggestion to convince the dolt.”“So if this Afafa … Afrenfafa …”“Afafrenfere,” Ambergris explained.“So if this Afafrenfere tries to kill me, I’ll not find Dumathoin coming to my rescue?”The dwarf showed a gap-toothed smile.“He won’t try,” she assured Drizzt.“That one’s a flower, but he ain’t hopin’ to be a daisy.Not the smartest, not the bravest, but a gooder heart than them Netherese butchers e’er deserved.Ye got me personal guarantee on that.”For some inexplicable reason, that seemed more than good enough to Drizzt.EPILOGUEIN THE DARK OF GAUNTLGRYM’S THRONE ROOM, A SHIFTING STONE STOLE THE quiet.Then came a grunt, and more sounds of rocks sliding against each other.A black-bearded dwarf crawled from under the pile, then reached back and grabbed at something he had left behind, grunting with exertion as he tried to extricate it.“Durned thing’s stuck,” he muttered, and with a great tug, he pulled free a most curious helmet, one set with a long and oft-bloodied spike.His effort sent him flying over backward to crash against the stones of the nearest cairn, where he lay on his back as the dust settled.“Durn it,” he cursed, seeing the trouble he had caused, and he rolled to his feet and began replacing the dislodged stones.“Don’t mean to be desecratin’ yer tomb …”The words caught in his throat, and the rocks fell from his hands.There in the disturbed tomb before him was a curious helm, with a single curving horn, the other having long before been broken away.The dwarf fell to his knees and dug the helm free, and saw too the face of the dead dwarf interred within.“Me king,” Thibbledorf Pwent breathed.Nay, not breathed, for creatures in the state of Thibbledorf Pwent did not draw breath.He fell back to his bum, staring in shock, his mouth wide in a silent scream.If he’d had a mirror, or a reflection that would actually show up in a mirror, Thibbledorf Pwent might have noticed his newest weapon: canine fangs.Arunika’s imp, released from its duties by the succubus, loped around the swirling mists of the lower planes, seeking its true master.It found the hulking balor seated atop a mushroom throne, clearly expecting the visitor.“The devil is done with you?” the great demon asked.“The threat to her domain is ended,” the imp replied.“The enemies have moved along.”“The enemies?” came the leading question.“The Shadovar.”“Only the Shadovar?I grow weary—”“Drizzt Do’Urden!” the imp spat, a name it, Druzil, hated as much as anything in all the world.“He has left Neverwinter.”“And you know where?” the demonic monster roared.Druzil shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.“You can find him?” the beast demanded.“Yes!Yes!Yes!” Druzil squealed, for a hint of anything but that response would have surely gotten the wretched little imp squished flat by the merciless balor.The demon began to utter a sound that seemed a cross between a purring giant cat and an avalanche.Druzil understood that, for it had been near to a hundred years, at least, and Errtu, twice-banished by this dark elf, Drizzt, was, or soon would be, free to carry out his revenge.More than a tenday passed before Berellip and the other priestesses joined Ravel and the others in the forge room.The lower reaches of the complex had been fully scouted, and some drow had even gone up to the top levels, though the stair remained folded, with no signs of Shadovar to be found.Now the work had begun in earnest to secure and repair the forge room, while a team of goblin masons worked to seal the strange second tunnel leading from the primordial chamber to the outer corridor.And Gol’fanin’s work on Lullaby and Spiderweb proceeded with all speed.Tiago was at his side, as usual, when the Xorlarrin nobles caught up to him.“It was Masoj and his companions who killed Brack’thal,” Ravel said, before they had even exchanged proper greetings.“Truly?” Tiago asked.“Truly,” Berellip said, her tone showing that she didn’t appreciate even being questioned on this matter, for it was she who had spoken to the spirit of her dead brother.Such conversations were usually vague and often unreliable, they all knew, but Berellip seemed quite confident.“Masoj?” Gol’fanin dared to ask, for it was not his place to interrupt the conversation of nobles.“Masoj Oblodra,” Tiago explained.“Of Bregan D’aerthe.”“Oblodra?” Gol’fanin said with surprise, before he could bite back the further indiscretion.“That is a name not often spoken among the folk of Menzoberranzan.Not since the Time of Troubles.”“An Oblodran captains Bregan D’aerthe,” Jearth reminded, referring to Kimmuriel.Gol’fanin seemed satisfied with that, and he went back to his work, but he muttered “Masoj?” repeatedly under his breath, as if trying to recall something.“There are implications here,” Berellip warned, staring at Tiago.“If the agents of Bregan D’aerthe killed your brother, then they did so in a battle of Brack’thal’s choosing,” the young Baenre answered evenly.“Bregan D’aerthe does not go against nobles of a major drow House.”“Without the permission of House Baenre,” Berellip added, making her suspicions clear.Tiago laughed at her.“If I had wanted your crazy brother dead, dear priestess, I would have killed him myself.”“Enough,” Ravel put in.
|
[
1544,
24487,
878,
339,
1392,
612,
11,
996,
11,
290,
3114,
262,
24603,
3892,
287,
262,
4151,
13,
447,
250,
10082,
292,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11,
465,
3809,
1336,
286,
15123,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
3114,
379,
683,
8531,
306,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
17979,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
28464,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
3013,
291,
28970,
13,
447,
250,
1925,
971,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
14573,
30860,
290,
2147,
517,
3926,
880,
11,
257,
1643,
267,
447,
247,
5536,
13052,
284,
11508,
262,
288,
5978,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
611,
428,
2483,
28485,
3926,
2483,
918,
69,
28485,
3926,
447,
251,
447,
250,
17584,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
11,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
611,
428,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
8404,
284,
1494,
502,
11,
314,
447,
247,
297,
407,
1064,
30933,
776,
36743,
2406,
284,
616,
9992,
30,
447,
251,
464,
24603,
3751,
257,
7625,
12,
83,
1025,
704,
8212,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
1839,
447,
247,
83,
1949,
11,
447,
251,
673,
13933,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
530,
447,
247,
82,
257,
15061,
11,
475,
339,
18959,
447,
247,
83,
1725,
259,
447,
247,
284,
307,
257,
12379,
13560,
13,
3673,
262,
44730,
11,
407,
262,
49025,
395,
11,
475,
257,
922,
263,
2612,
621,
606,
3433,
1456,
325,
475,
3533,
304,
447,
247,
263,
20143,
13,
35543,
1392,
502,
2614,
9149,
319,
326,
13,
447,
251,
1890,
617,
49602,
1738,
11,
326,
3947,
517,
621,
922,
1576,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
8905,
4146,
7730,
8924,
1268,
3336,
46455,
3963,
14545,
4944,
14990,
10761,
56,
44,
447,
247,
50,
35383,
11651,
15107,
2662,
11,
317,
6006,
32297,
2751,
3563,
11651,
3563,
46,
2538,
3336,
5897,
13,
6423,
1625,
257,
45836,
11,
290,
517,
5238,
286,
12586,
22292,
1028,
1123,
584,
13,
32,
2042,
12,
1350,
10676,
24603,
45668,
422,
739,
262,
14540,
11,
788,
4251,
736,
290,
13176,
379,
1223,
339,
550,
1364,
2157,
11,
44397,
889,
351,
17596,
295,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
1070,
1173,
378,
340,
13,
447,
250,
35,
44866,
1517,
447,
247,
82,
7819,
11,
447,
251,
339,
34042,
11,
290,
351,
257,
1049,
27762,
11,
339,
5954,
1479,
257,
749,
11040,
14335,
11,
530,
900,
351,
257,
890,
290,
28639,
12,
18041,
798,
20240,
13,
6653,
3626,
1908,
683,
7348,
625,
19528,
284,
7014,
1028,
262,
14966,
286,
262,
16936,
269,
958,
77,
11,
810,
339,
3830,
319,
465,
736,
355,
262,
8977,
10282,
13,
447,
250,
35,
700,
340,
11,
447,
251,
339,
25155,
11,
4379,
262,
5876,
339,
550,
4073,
11,
290,
339,
11686,
284,
465,
3625,
290,
2540,
13586,
262,
19621,
375,
2004,
14966,
13,
447,
250,
3987,
447,
247,
83,
1612,
284,
307,
748,
721,
10366,
259,
447,
247,
331,
263,
22234,
3926,
447,
251,
464,
2456,
4978,
287,
465,
13589,
11,
290,
262,
12586,
3214,
422,
465,
2832,
13,
1858,
287,
262,
24069,
22234,
878,
683,
373,
257,
11040,
18030,
11,
351,
257,
2060,
1090,
1075,
12718
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
24487,
878,
339,
1392,
612,
11,
996,
11,
290,
3114,
262,
24603,
3892,
287,
262,
4151,
13,
447,
250,
10082,
292,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11,
465,
3809,
1336,
286,
15123,
13,
32,
1916,
2164,
271,
3114,
379,
683,
8531,
306,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
17979,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
28464,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
3013,
291,
28970,
13,
447,
250,
1925,
971,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
14573,
30860,
290,
2147,
517,
3926,
880,
11,
257,
1643,
267,
447,
247,
5536,
13052,
284,
11508,
262,
288,
5978,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
611,
428,
2483,
28485,
3926,
2483,
918,
69,
28485,
3926,
447,
251,
447,
250,
17584,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
11,
447,
251,
21896,
2164,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
611,
428,
2483,
1878,
918,
69,
567,
8404,
284,
1494,
502,
11,
314,
447,
247,
297,
407,
1064,
30933,
776,
36743,
2406,
284,
616,
9992,
30,
447,
251,
464,
24603,
3751,
257,
7625,
12,
83,
1025,
704,
8212,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
1839,
447,
247,
83,
1949,
11,
447,
251,
673,
13933,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
530,
447,
247,
82,
257,
15061,
11,
475,
339,
18959,
447,
247,
83,
1725,
259,
447,
247,
284,
307,
257,
12379,
13560,
13,
3673,
262,
44730,
11,
407,
262,
49025,
395,
11,
475,
257,
922,
263,
2612,
621,
606,
3433,
1456,
325,
475,
3533,
304,
447,
247,
263,
20143,
13,
35543,
1392,
502,
2614,
9149,
319,
326,
13,
447,
251,
1890,
617,
49602,
1738,
11,
326,
3947,
517,
621,
922,
1576,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
8905,
4146,
7730,
8924,
1268,
3336,
46455,
3963,
14545,
4944,
14990,
10761,
56,
44,
447,
247,
50,
35383,
11651,
15107,
2662,
11,
317,
6006,
32297,
2751,
3563,
11651,
3563,
46,
2538,
3336,
5897,
13,
6423,
1625,
257,
45836,
11,
290,
517,
5238,
286,
12586,
22292,
1028,
1123,
584,
13,
32,
2042,
12,
1350,
10676,
24603,
45668,
422,
739,
262,
14540,
11,
788,
4251,
736,
290,
13176,
379,
1223,
339,
550,
1364,
2157,
11,
44397,
889,
351,
17596,
295,
355,
339,
3088,
284,
1070,
1173,
378,
340,
13,
447,
250,
35,
44866,
1517,
447,
247,
82,
7819,
11,
447,
251,
339,
34042,
11,
290,
351,
257,
1049,
27762,
11,
339,
5954,
1479,
257,
749,
11040,
14335,
11,
530,
900,
351,
257,
890,
290,
28639,
12,
18041,
798,
20240,
13,
6653,
3626,
1908,
683,
7348,
625,
19528,
284,
7014,
1028,
262,
14966,
286,
262,
16936,
269,
958,
77,
11,
810,
339,
3830,
319,
465,
736,
355,
262,
8977,
10282,
13,
447,
250,
35,
700,
340,
11,
447,
251,
339,
25155,
11,
4379,
262,
5876,
339,
550,
4073,
11,
290,
339,
11686,
284,
465,
3625,
290,
2540,
13586,
262,
19621,
375,
2004,
14966,
13,
447,
250,
3987,
447,
247,
83,
1612,
284,
307,
748,
721,
10366,
259,
447,
247,
331,
263,
22234,
3926,
447,
251,
464,
2456,
4978,
287,
465,
13589,
11,
290,
262,
12586,
3214,
422,
465,
2832,
13,
1858,
287,
262,
24069,
22234,
878,
683,
373,
257,
11040,
18030,
11,
351,
257,
2060,
1090,
1075,
12718
] |
dnd516
|
“Let us continue our work and our exploration.We will discover soon enough why this happened.And we already know,” he added, looking hard at Berellip, “that Brack’thal almost surely initiated it.”“It was Brack’thal who sabotaged the forge room and drove us out,” Tiago said.“If it was Bregan D’aerthe, I should pay them well for saving us the trouble.”Berellip and Saribel both glared at him for that remark, but Tiago wasn’t about to back down.“Need I remind you of your brother’s … shall we say, instability?”Berellip huffed and swung around and swept out of the forge room, Saribel in her wake.With a helpless shake of his head to the impertinent Tiago, who was not making his job of keeping his sisters under control any easier, Ravel followed.“They are brilliant,” Jearth remarked a moment later, and Tiago turned to see the Xorlarrin weapons master admiring the half-finished sword and shield.“You met this Masoj … Oblodra?” Gol’fanin asked, never looking up from his work or indicating which of the warriors he was addressing.“Yes,” they both answered.“An agent of Bregan D’aerthe?”“So he claimed,” said Jearth.“So claimed his companions as well, a human and an elf.”The blacksmith gave a little laugh and did look up at that remarkable information.“A human who once came to Menzoberranzan, beside Jarlaxle,” Tiago added.“I knew of a Masoj once, though not an Oblodran,” said Gol’fanin, who didn’t hide the fact that he suspected much more than he was letting on, something that was not lost on the two warriors.“He was a wizard?”“A warrior,” said Tiago.“Carrying three blades,” Jearth added.“A great broadsword strapped across his back and a pair of scimitars.”The blacksmith nodded and went back to his work.With the conversation apparently at its end, Jearth excused himself and went back to his duties.“Do you think that Bregan D’aerthe will cause us trouble here?” Tiago quietly asked.“Surely Kimmuriel and Jarlaxle understand that the Xorlarrin move to Gauntlgrym was sanctioned by Matron Mother Quenthel …”“Bregan D’aerthe is no worry of yours,” Gol’fanin assured him.“But Masoj … ah, Masoj.”“What are you speaking of?” Tiago demanded.“Do they not teach history at Melee-Magthere any longer?” Gol’fanin asked.“You try my patience,” Tiago warned.“I make your weapons,” Gol’fanin retorted.“What, then?” Tiago demanded, or begged.“What do you know?”“I know only what you have told me.But I suspect more.”“What?” the exasperated Tiago shouted.Gol’fanin chuckled a bit more.“Scimitars?A drow carrying scimitars and traveling near the surface with iblith.”Tiago held up his hands, completely lost by the leading statement.“What more can you tell me about this curious rogue?” the blacksmith asked.Tiago snorted.“What color were his eyes?” Gol’fanin asked.Tiago started to answer “lavender,” but choked on the word.His eyes widened in shock and he gaped at Gol’fanin and breathed, “No.”“Is it possible that a noble drow of House Baenre, surely soon to ascend to the rank of weapons master of the First House of Menzoberranzan, came face to face with Drizzt Do’Urden and didn’t even realize it?” Gol’fanin asked.Tiago glanced all around, as if to ensure that no others had heard that statement.His thoughts were whirling as he tried to recall all that he knew of the history of that traitorous rogue named Drizzt, among the most coveted outlaws ever known in Menzoberranzan.Drizzt Do’Urden, guardian of another dwarven complex, Mithral Hall, where Matron Baenre herself had been killed!Drizzt Do’Urden, who had slain Dantrag Baenre, Tiago’s grandfather.Gol’fanin held up the unfinished sword and tapped it on the shield.“These prizes will make you a weapons master,” he said.
|
“Let us continue our work and our exploration.We will discover soon enough why this happened.And we already know,” he added, looking hard at Berellip, “that Brack’thal almost surely initiated it.”“It was Brack’thal who sabotaged the forge room and drove us out,” Tiago said.“If it was Bregan D’aerthe, I should pay them well for saving us the trouble.”Berellip and Saribel both glared at him for that remark, but Tiago wasn’t about to back down.“Need I remind you of your brother’s … shall we say, instability?”Berellip huffed and swung around and swept out of the forge room, Saribel in her wake.With a helpless shake of his head to the impertinent Tiago, who was not making his job of keeping his sisters under control any easier, Ravel followed.“They are brilliant,” Jearth remarked a moment later, and Tiago turned to see the Xorlarrin weapons master admiring the half-finished sword and shield.“You met this Masoj … Oblodra?” Gol’fanin asked, never looking up from his work or indicating which of the warriors he was addressing.“Yes,” they both answered.“An agent of Bregan D’aerthe?”“So he claimed,” said Jearth.“So claimed his companions as well, a human and an elf.”The blacksmith gave a little laugh and did look up at that remarkable information.“A human who once came to Menzoberranzan, beside Jarlaxle,” Tiago added.“I knew of a Masoj once, though not an Oblodran,” said Gol’fanin, who didn’t hide the fact that he suspected much more than he was letting on, something that was not lost on the two warriors.“He was a wizard?”“A warrior,” said Tiago.“Carrying three blades,” Jearth added.“A great broadsword strapped across his back and a pair of scimitars.”The blacksmith nodded and went back to his work.With the conversation apparently at its end, Jearth excused himself and went back to his duties.“Do you think that Bregan D’aerthe will cause us trouble here?” Tiago quietly asked.“Surely Kimmuriel and Jarlaxle understand that the Xorlarrin move to Gauntlgrym was sanctioned by Matron Mother Quenthel …”“Bregan D’aerthe is no worry of yours,” Gol’fanin assured him.“But Masoj … ah, Masoj.”“What are you speaking of?” Tiago demanded.“Do they not teach history at Melee-Magthere any longer?” Gol’fanin asked.“You try my patience,” Tiago warned.“I make your weapons,” Gol’fanin retorted.“What, then?” Tiago demanded, or begged.“What do you know?”“I know only what you have told me.But I suspect more.”“What?” the exasperated Tiago shouted.Gol’fanin chuckled a bit more.“Scimitars?A drow carrying scimitars and traveling near the surface with iblith.”Tiago held up his hands, completely lost by the leading statement.“What more can you tell me about this curious rogue?” the blacksmith asked.Tiago snorted.“What color were his eyes?” Gol’fanin asked.Tiago started to answer “lavender,” but choked on the word.His eyes widened in shock and he gaped at Gol’fanin and breathed, “No.”“Is it possible that a noble drow of House Baenre, surely soon to ascend to the rank of weapons master of the First House of Menzoberranzan, came face to face with Drizzt Do’Urden and didn’t even realize it?” Gol’fanin asked.Tiago glanced all around, as if to ensure that no others had heard that statement.His thoughts were whirling as he tried to recall all that he knew of the history of that traitorous rogue named Drizzt, among the most coveted outlaws ever known in Menzoberranzan.Drizzt Do’Urden, guardian of another dwarven complex, Mithral Hall, where Matron Baenre herself had been killed!Drizzt Do’Urden, who had slain Dantrag Baenre, Tiago’s grandfather.Gol’fanin held up the unfinished sword and tapped it on the shield.“These prizes will make you a weapons master,” he said.
|
[
447,
250,
5756,
514,
2555,
674,
670,
290,
674,
13936,
13,
1135,
481,
7073,
2582,
1576,
1521,
428,
3022,
13,
1870,
356,
1541,
760,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
11,
2045,
1327,
379,
37951,
297,
541,
11,
564,
250,
5562,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
2048,
10403,
16862,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
373,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
508,
25118,
1886,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
10357,
514,
503,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
373,
3719,
1030,
360,
447,
247,
64,
861,
258,
11,
314,
815,
1414,
606,
880,
329,
8914,
514,
262,
5876,
13,
447,
251,
33,
567,
297,
541,
290,
6866,
43837,
1111,
50030,
379,
683,
329,
326,
6919,
11,
475,
16953,
3839,
2492,
447,
247,
83,
546,
284,
736,
866,
13,
447,
250,
23037,
314,
7101,
345,
286,
534,
3956,
447,
247,
82,
3926,
2236,
356,
910,
11,
24842,
30,
447,
251,
33,
567,
297,
541,
289,
18339,
290,
28507,
1088,
290,
17676,
503,
286,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
6866,
43837,
287,
607,
7765,
13,
3152,
257,
21144,
13279,
286,
465,
1182,
284,
262,
11071,
83,
7233,
16953,
3839,
11,
508,
373,
407,
1642,
465,
1693,
286,
5291,
465,
15153,
739,
1630,
597,
4577,
11,
7567,
626,
3940,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
389,
10457,
11,
447,
251,
449,
16442,
24998,
257,
2589,
1568,
11,
290,
16953,
3839,
2900,
284,
766,
262,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
259,
3777,
4958,
6178,
3428,
262,
2063,
12,
43952,
8429,
290,
7614,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
1138,
428,
11066,
13210,
3926,
1835,
75,
375,
430,
30,
447,
251,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
1965,
11,
1239,
2045,
510,
422,
465,
670,
393,
12739,
543,
286,
262,
17119,
339,
373,
13593,
13,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
484,
1111,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
5797,
286,
3719,
1030,
360,
447,
247,
64,
861,
258,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
339,
4752,
11,
447,
251,
531,
449,
16442,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
4752,
465,
19429,
355,
880,
11,
257,
1692,
290,
281,
23878,
13,
447,
251,
464,
2042,
21453,
2921,
257,
1310,
6487,
290,
750,
804,
510,
379,
326,
11004,
1321,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1692,
508,
1752,
1625,
284,
6065,
89,
2023,
2596,
15201,
11,
13970,
449,
7063,
897,
293,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2993,
286,
257,
11066,
13210,
1752,
11,
996,
407,
281,
1835,
75,
375,
2596,
11,
447,
251,
531,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
11,
508,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
7808,
262,
1109,
326,
339,
9885,
881,
517,
621,
339,
373,
9616,
319,
11,
1223,
326,
373,
407,
2626,
319,
262,
734,
17119,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
373,
257,
18731,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
16491,
11,
447,
251,
531,
16953,
3839,
13,
447,
250,
34,
6532,
278,
1115,
20784,
11,
447,
251,
449,
16442,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1049,
3154,
30553,
37625,
1973,
465,
736,
290,
257,
5166,
286,
629,
320,
27745,
13,
447,
251,
464,
2042,
21453,
14464,
290,
1816,
736,
284,
465,
670,
13,
3152,
262,
5273,
5729,
379,
663,
886
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
5756,
514,
2555,
674,
670,
290,
674,
13936,
13,
1135,
481,
7073,
2582,
1576,
1521,
428,
3022,
13,
1870,
356,
1541,
760,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
11,
2045,
1327,
379,
37951,
297,
541,
11,
564,
250,
5562,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
2048,
10403,
16862,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
373,
1709,
441,
447,
247,
11669,
508,
25118,
1886,
262,
28325,
2119,
290,
10357,
514,
503,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
373,
3719,
1030,
360,
447,
247,
64,
861,
258,
11,
314,
815,
1414,
606,
880,
329,
8914,
514,
262,
5876,
13,
447,
251,
33,
567,
297,
541,
290,
6866,
43837,
1111,
50030,
379,
683,
329,
326,
6919,
11,
475,
16953,
3839,
2492,
447,
247,
83,
546,
284,
736,
866,
13,
447,
250,
23037,
314,
7101,
345,
286,
534,
3956,
447,
247,
82,
3926,
2236,
356,
910,
11,
24842,
30,
447,
251,
33,
567,
297,
541,
289,
18339,
290,
28507,
1088,
290,
17676,
503,
286,
262,
28325,
2119,
11,
6866,
43837,
287,
607,
7765,
13,
3152,
257,
21144,
13279,
286,
465,
1182,
284,
262,
11071,
83,
7233,
16953,
3839,
11,
508,
373,
407,
1642,
465,
1693,
286,
5291,
465,
15153,
739,
1630,
597,
4577,
11,
7567,
626,
3940,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
389,
10457,
11,
447,
251,
449,
16442,
24998,
257,
2589,
1568,
11,
290,
16953,
3839,
2900,
284,
766,
262,
1395,
273,
75,
3258,
259,
3777,
4958,
6178,
3428,
262,
2063,
12,
43952,
8429,
290,
7614,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
1138,
428,
11066,
13210,
3926,
1835,
75,
375,
430,
30,
447,
251,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
1965,
11,
1239,
2045,
510,
422,
465,
670,
393,
12739,
543,
286,
262,
17119,
339,
373,
13593,
13,
447,
250,
5297,
11,
447,
251,
484,
1111,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
5797,
286,
3719,
1030,
360,
447,
247,
64,
861,
258,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
339,
4752,
11,
447,
251,
531,
449,
16442,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
4752,
465,
19429,
355,
880,
11,
257,
1692,
290,
281,
23878,
13,
447,
251,
464,
2042,
21453,
2921,
257,
1310,
6487,
290,
750,
804,
510,
379,
326,
11004,
1321,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1692,
508,
1752,
1625,
284,
6065,
89,
2023,
2596,
15201,
11,
13970,
449,
7063,
897,
293,
11,
447,
251,
16953,
3839,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2993,
286,
257,
11066,
13210,
1752,
11,
996,
407,
281,
1835,
75,
375,
2596,
11,
447,
251,
531,
26849,
447,
247,
24408,
259,
11,
508,
1422,
447,
247,
83,
7808,
262,
1109,
326,
339,
9885,
881,
517,
621,
339,
373,
9616,
319,
11,
1223,
326,
373,
407,
2626,
319,
262,
734,
17119,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
373,
257,
18731,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
16491,
11,
447,
251,
531,
16953,
3839,
13,
447,
250,
34,
6532,
278,
1115,
20784,
11,
447,
251,
449,
16442,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1049,
3154,
30553,
37625,
1973,
465,
736,
290,
257,
5166,
286,
629,
320,
27745,
13,
447,
251,
464,
2042,
21453,
14464,
290,
1816,
736,
284,
465,
670,
13,
3152,
262,
5273,
5729,
379,
663,
886
] |
dnd517
|
“But the head of Drizzt Do’Urden?That prize will make you a legend.”He kept his cloak pulled tightly about him, though little light seeped in through the curtained windows, for this was his existence, secretive and alone.The way of the assassin.While other people went about their lives basking in the pleasures of the sunlight and the welcomed visibility of their neighbors, Artemis Entreri kept to the shadows, the dilated orbs of his eyes focused on the narrow path he must take to accomplish his latest mission.He truly was a professional, possibly the finest in the entire realms at his dark craft, and when he sniffed out the trail of his prey, the victim never escaped.So the assassin was unbothered by the empty house that he found in Bryn Shander, the principal city of the ten settlements in the wasteland of Icewind Dale.Entreri had suspected that the halfling had slipped out of Ten-Towns.But no matter; if this was indeed the same halfling that he had sought all the way from Calimport, a thousand miles and more to the south, he had made better progress than he ever could have hoped.His mark had no more than a two-week head start and the trail would be fresh indeed.Entreri moved through the house silently and calmly, seeking hints of the halfling‟s life here that would give him the edge in their inevitable confrontation.Clutter greeted him in every room–the halfling had left in a hurry, probably aware that the assassin was closing in.Entreri considered this a good sign, further heightening his suspicions that this halfling, Regis, was the same Regis who had served the Pasha Pook those years ago in the distant southern city.The assassin smiled evilly at the thought that the halfling knew he was being stalked, adding to the challenge of the hunt as Entreri pitted his stalking prowess against his intended victim‟s hiding ability.But the end result was predictable, Entreri knew, for a frightened person invariably made a fatal mistake.The assassin found what he was looking for in a desk drawer in the master bedroom.Fleeing in haste, Regis had neglected to take precautions to conceal his true identity.Entreri held the small ring up before his gleaming eyes, studying the inscription that clearly identified Regis as a member of Pasha Pook‟s thieves‟ guild in Calimport.Entreri closed his fist about the signet, the evil smile widening across his face.“I have found you, little thief,” he laughed into the emptiness of the room.“Your fate is sealed.There is nowhere for you to run!”His expression changed abruptly to one of alertness as the sound of a key, in the palatial house‟s front door echoed up the hallway of the grand staircase.He dropped the ring into his belt pouch and slipped, as silent as death, to the shadows of the top posts of the stairway‟s heavy banister.The large double doors swung open, and a man and a young woman stepped in from the porch ahead of two dwarves.Entreri knew the man, Cassius, the spokesman of Bryn Shander.This had been his home once, but he had relinquished it several months earlier to Regis, after the halfling‟s heroic actions in the town‟s battle against the evil wizard, Akar Kessell, and his goblin minions.Entreri had seen the other human before, as well, though he hadn‟t yet discovered her connection to Regis.Beautiful women were a rarity in this remote setting, and this young woman was indeed the exception.Shiny auburn locks danced gaily about her shoulders, the intense sparkle of her dark blue eyes enough to bind any man hopelessly within their depths.Her name, the assassin had learned, was Catti-brie.She lived with the dwarves in their valley north of the city, particularly with the leader of the dwarven clan, Bruenor, who had adopted her as his own a dozen years before when a goblin raid had left her orphaned.This could prove a valuable meeting, Entreri mused.He cocked an ear through the banister poles to hear the discussion below.“He‟s been gone but a week!” Catti-brie argued.“A week with no word,” snapped Cassius, obviously upset.
|
“But the head of Drizzt Do’Urden?That prize will make you a legend.”He kept his cloak pulled tightly about him, though little light seeped in through the curtained windows, for this was his existence, secretive and alone.The way of the assassin.While other people went about their lives basking in the pleasures of the sunlight and the welcomed visibility of their neighbors, Artemis Entreri kept to the shadows, the dilated orbs of his eyes focused on the narrow path he must take to accomplish his latest mission.He truly was a professional, possibly the finest in the entire realms at his dark craft, and when he sniffed out the trail of his prey, the victim never escaped.So the assassin was unbothered by the empty house that he found in Bryn Shander, the principal city of the ten settlements in the wasteland of Icewind Dale.Entreri had suspected that the halfling had slipped out of Ten-Towns.But no matter; if this was indeed the same halfling that he had sought all the way from Calimport, a thousand miles and more to the south, he had made better progress than he ever could have hoped.His mark had no more than a two-week head start and the trail would be fresh indeed.Entreri moved through the house silently and calmly, seeking hints of the halfling‟s life here that would give him the edge in their inevitable confrontation.Clutter greeted him in every room–the halfling had left in a hurry, probably aware that the assassin was closing in.Entreri considered this a good sign, further heightening his suspicions that this halfling, Regis, was the same Regis who had served the Pasha Pook those years ago in the distant southern city.The assassin smiled evilly at the thought that the halfling knew he was being stalked, adding to the challenge of the hunt as Entreri pitted his stalking prowess against his intended victim‟s hiding ability.But the end result was predictable, Entreri knew, for a frightened person invariably made a fatal mistake.The assassin found what he was looking for in a desk drawer in the master bedroom.Fleeing in haste, Regis had neglected to take precautions to conceal his true identity.Entreri held the small ring up before his gleaming eyes, studying the inscription that clearly identified Regis as a member of Pasha Pook‟s thieves‟ guild in Calimport.Entreri closed his fist about the signet, the evil smile widening across his face.“I have found you, little thief,” he laughed into the emptiness of the room.“Your fate is sealed.There is nowhere for you to run!”His expression changed abruptly to one of alertness as the sound of a key, in the palatial house‟s front door echoed up the hallway of the grand staircase.He dropped the ring into his belt pouch and slipped, as silent as death, to the shadows of the top posts of the stairway‟s heavy banister.The large double doors swung open, and a man and a young woman stepped in from the porch ahead of two dwarves.Entreri knew the man, Cassius, the spokesman of Bryn Shander.This had been his home once, but he had relinquished it several months earlier to Regis, after the halfling‟s heroic actions in the town‟s battle against the evil wizard, Akar Kessell, and his goblin minions.Entreri had seen the other human before, as well, though he hadn‟t yet discovered her connection to Regis.Beautiful women were a rarity in this remote setting, and this young woman was indeed the exception.Shiny auburn locks danced gaily about her shoulders, the intense sparkle of her dark blue eyes enough to bind any man hopelessly within their depths.Her name, the assassin had learned, was Catti-brie.She lived with the dwarves in their valley north of the city, particularly with the leader of the dwarven clan, Bruenor, who had adopted her as his own a dozen years before when a goblin raid had left her orphaned.This could prove a valuable meeting, Entreri mused.He cocked an ear through the banister poles to hear the discussion below.“He‟s been gone but a week!” Catti-brie argued.“A week with no word,” snapped Cassius, obviously upset.
|
[
447,
250,
1537,
262,
1182,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
30,
2504,
11596,
481,
787,
345,
257,
8177,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
4030,
465,
24117,
5954,
17707,
546,
683,
11,
996,
1310,
1657,
384,
538,
276,
287,
832,
262,
1090,
4644,
9168,
11,
329,
428,
373,
465,
6224,
11,
32654,
290,
3436,
13,
464,
835,
286,
262,
31120,
13,
3633,
584,
661,
1816,
546,
511,
3160,
1615,
3364,
287,
262,
35396,
286,
262,
19606,
290,
262,
15846,
20742,
286,
511,
12020,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
4030,
284,
262,
16187,
11,
262,
11844,
515,
37403,
286,
465,
2951,
5670,
319,
262,
7135,
3108,
339,
1276,
1011,
284,
9989,
465,
3452,
4365,
13,
1544,
4988,
373,
257,
4708,
11,
5457,
262,
18822,
287,
262,
2104,
35423,
379,
465,
3223,
5977,
11,
290,
618,
339,
26300,
276,
503,
262,
8025,
286,
465,
15974,
11,
262,
3117,
1239,
13537,
13,
2396,
262,
31120,
373,
555,
13645,
6083,
416,
262,
6565,
2156,
326,
339,
1043,
287,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
11,
262,
10033,
1748,
286,
262,
3478,
18573,
287,
262,
46045,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
9885,
326,
262,
2063,
1359,
550,
18859,
503,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1537,
645,
2300,
26,
611,
428,
373,
5600,
262,
976,
2063,
1359,
326,
339,
550,
7194,
477,
262,
835,
422,
2199,
11748,
11,
257,
7319,
4608,
290,
517,
284,
262,
5366,
11,
339,
550,
925,
1365,
4371,
621,
339,
1683,
714,
423,
10719,
13,
6653,
1317,
550,
645,
517,
621,
257,
734,
12,
10464,
1182,
923,
290,
262,
8025,
561,
307,
4713,
5600,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3888,
832,
262,
2156,
24595,
290,
30180,
11,
6095,
20269,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1204,
994,
326,
561,
1577,
683,
262,
5743,
287,
511,
13203,
19207,
13,
2601,
10381,
21272,
683,
287,
790,
2119,
1906,
1169,
2063,
1359,
550,
1364,
287,
257,
23290,
11,
2192,
3910,
326,
262,
31120,
373,
9605,
287,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3177,
428,
257,
922,
1051,
11,
2252,
6001,
3101,
465,
30508,
326,
428,
2063,
1359,
11,
3310,
271,
11,
373,
262,
976,
3310,
271,
508,
550,
4983,
262,
350,
14715,
350,
566,
883,
812,
2084,
287,
262,
12899,
8372,
1748,
13,
464,
31120,
13541,
819,
6548,
379,
262,
1807,
326,
262,
2063,
1359,
2993,
339,
373,
852,
31297,
276,
11,
4375,
284,
262,
4427,
286,
262,
12601,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
46852,
465,
34683,
30721,
1028,
465,
5292,
3117,
447,
253,
82,
11816,
2694,
13,
1537,
262,
886,
1255,
373,
20039,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
2993,
11,
329,
257,
24776,
1048,
31338,
925,
257,
10800,
7457,
13,
464,
31120,
1043,
644,
339,
373,
2045,
329,
287,
257,
6915,
33451,
287,
262,
4958,
14043,
13,
37,
7197,
278,
287,
36797,
11,
3310,
271,
550,
24007,
284,
1011,
31320,
284,
21363,
465,
2081,
5369,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2714,
262,
1402,
5858,
510,
878,
465,
26852,
3723,
2951,
11,
11065,
262,
40189,
326,
4084,
5174,
3310,
271,
355,
257,
2888,
286,
350,
14715,
350,
566,
447,
253,
82,
26655,
447,
253,
19806,
287
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1537,
262,
1182,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
247,
52,
4372,
268,
30,
2504,
11596,
481,
787,
345,
257,
8177,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
4030,
465,
24117,
5954,
17707,
546,
683,
11,
996,
1310,
1657,
384,
538,
276,
287,
832,
262,
1090,
4644,
9168,
11,
329,
428,
373,
465,
6224,
11,
32654,
290,
3436,
13,
464,
835,
286,
262,
31120,
13,
3633,
584,
661,
1816,
546,
511,
3160,
1615,
3364,
287,
262,
35396,
286,
262,
19606,
290,
262,
15846,
20742,
286,
511,
12020,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
4030,
284,
262,
16187,
11,
262,
11844,
515,
37403,
286,
465,
2951,
5670,
319,
262,
7135,
3108,
339,
1276,
1011,
284,
9989,
465,
3452,
4365,
13,
1544,
4988,
373,
257,
4708,
11,
5457,
262,
18822,
287,
262,
2104,
35423,
379,
465,
3223,
5977,
11,
290,
618,
339,
26300,
276,
503,
262,
8025,
286,
465,
15974,
11,
262,
3117,
1239,
13537,
13,
2396,
262,
31120,
373,
555,
13645,
6083,
416,
262,
6565,
2156,
326,
339,
1043,
287,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
11,
262,
10033,
1748,
286,
262,
3478,
18573,
287,
262,
46045,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
9885,
326,
262,
2063,
1359,
550,
18859,
503,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1537,
645,
2300,
26,
611,
428,
373,
5600,
262,
976,
2063,
1359,
326,
339,
550,
7194,
477,
262,
835,
422,
2199,
11748,
11,
257,
7319,
4608,
290,
517,
284,
262,
5366,
11,
339,
550,
925,
1365,
4371,
621,
339,
1683,
714,
423,
10719,
13,
6653,
1317,
550,
645,
517,
621,
257,
734,
12,
10464,
1182,
923,
290,
262,
8025,
561,
307,
4713,
5600,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3888,
832,
262,
2156,
24595,
290,
30180,
11,
6095,
20269,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1204,
994,
326,
561,
1577,
683,
262,
5743,
287,
511,
13203,
19207,
13,
2601,
10381,
21272,
683,
287,
790,
2119,
1906,
1169,
2063,
1359,
550,
1364,
287,
257,
23290,
11,
2192,
3910,
326,
262,
31120,
373,
9605,
287,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3177,
428,
257,
922,
1051,
11,
2252,
6001,
3101,
465,
30508,
326,
428,
2063,
1359,
11,
3310,
271,
11,
373,
262,
976,
3310,
271,
508,
550,
4983,
262,
350,
14715,
350,
566,
883,
812,
2084,
287,
262,
12899,
8372,
1748,
13,
464,
31120,
13541,
819,
6548,
379,
262,
1807,
326,
262,
2063,
1359,
2993,
339,
373,
852,
31297,
276,
11,
4375,
284,
262,
4427,
286,
262,
12601,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
46852,
465,
34683,
30721,
1028,
465,
5292,
3117,
447,
253,
82,
11816,
2694,
13,
1537,
262,
886,
1255,
373,
20039,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
2993,
11,
329,
257,
24776,
1048,
31338,
925,
257,
10800,
7457,
13,
464,
31120,
1043,
644,
339,
373,
2045,
329,
287,
257,
6915,
33451,
287,
262,
4958,
14043,
13,
37,
7197,
278,
287,
36797,
11,
3310,
271,
550,
24007,
284,
1011,
31320,
284,
21363,
465,
2081,
5369,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2714,
262,
1402,
5858,
510,
878,
465,
26852,
3723,
2951,
11,
11065,
262,
40189,
326,
4084,
5174,
3310,
271,
355,
257,
2888,
286,
350,
14715,
350,
566,
447,
253,
82,
26655,
447,
253,
19806,
287
] |
dnd518
|
“With my beautiful house empty Page 6and unguarded.Why, the front door was unlocked when I came by a few days ago!”“Ye gave the house to Regis,” Catti-brie reminded the man.“Loaned!” Cassius roared, though in truth the house had indeed been a gift.The spokesman had quickly regretted turning over to Regis the key to this palace, the grandest house north of Mirabar.In retrospect, Cassius understood that he had been caught up in the fervor of that tremendous victory over the goblins, and he suspected that Regis had lifted his emotions even a step further by using the reputed hypnotic powers of the ruby pendant.Like others who had been duped by the persuasive halfling, Cassius had come to a very different perspective on the events that had transpired, a perspective that painted Regis unfavorably.“No matter the name ye call it,” Catti-brie conceded, “ye should not be so hasty to decide that Regis has forsaken the house.”The spokesman‟s face reddened in fury.“Everything out today!” he demanded.“You have my list.I want all of the halfling‟s belongings out of my house!Any that remain when I return tomorrow shall become my own by the rights of possession!And I warn you, I shall be compensated dearly if any of my property is missing or damaged!” He turned on his heel and stormed out the doors.“He‟s got his hair up about this one,” chuckled Fender Mallot, one of the dwarves.“Never have I seen one whose friends swing from loyalty to hatred more than Regis!”Catti-brie nodded in agreement of Fender‟s observation.She knew that Regis played with magical charms, and she figured that his paradoxical relationships with those around him were an unfortunate side effect of his dabblings.“Do ye suppose he‟s off with Drizzt and Bruenor?” Fender asked.Up the stairs, Entreri shifted anxiously.“Not to doubt,” Catti-brie answered.“All winter they‟ve been asking him to join in the quest for Mithril Hall, an‟ to be sure, Wulfgar‟s joining added to the pressure.”“Then the little one‟s halfway to Luskan, or more,” reasoned Fender.“And Cassius is right in wantin‟ his house back.”“Then let us get to packing,” said Catti-brie.“Cassius has enough o‟ his own without adding to the hoard from Regis‟s goods.”Entreri leaned back against the banister.The name of Mithril Hall was unknown to him, but he knew the way to Luskan well enough.He grinned again, wondering if he might catch them before they ever reached the port city.First, though, he knew that there still might be some valuable information to be garnered here.Catti-brie and the dwarves set about the task of collecting the halfling‟s belongings, and as they moved from room to room, the black shadow of Artemis Entreri, as silent as death, hovered about them.They never suspected his presence, never would have guessed that the gentle ripple in the drapes was anything more than a draft flowing in from the edges of the window, or that the shadow behind a chair was disproportionately long.He managed to stay close enough to hear nearly all of their conversation, and Catti-brie and the dwarves spoke of little else than the four adventurers and their journey to Mithril Hall.But Entreri learned little for his efforts.He already knew of the halfling‟s famed companions–everyone in Ten-Towns spoke of them often: of Drizzt Do‟Urden, the renegade drow elf, who had forsaken his dark-skinned people in the bowels of the Realms and roamed the borders of Ten-Towns as a solitary guardian against the intrusions of the wilderness of Icewind Dale; of Bruenor Battlehammer, the rowdy leader of the dwarven clan that lived in the valley near Kelvin‟s Cairn; and most of all, of Wulfgar, the mighty barbarian, who was captured and raised to adulthood by Bruenor, returned with the savage tribes of the dale to defend Ten-Towns against the goblin army, then struck up a truce between all the peoples of Icewind Dale.
|
“With my beautiful house empty Page 6and unguarded.Why, the front door was unlocked when I came by a few days ago!”“Ye gave the house to Regis,” Catti-brie reminded the man.“Loaned!” Cassius roared, though in truth the house had indeed been a gift.The spokesman had quickly regretted turning over to Regis the key to this palace, the grandest house north of Mirabar.In retrospect, Cassius understood that he had been caught up in the fervor of that tremendous victory over the goblins, and he suspected that Regis had lifted his emotions even a step further by using the reputed hypnotic powers of the ruby pendant.Like others who had been duped by the persuasive halfling, Cassius had come to a very different perspective on the events that had transpired, a perspective that painted Regis unfavorably.“No matter the name ye call it,” Catti-brie conceded, “ye should not be so hasty to decide that Regis has forsaken the house.”The spokesman‟s face reddened in fury.“Everything out today!” he demanded.“You have my list.I want all of the halfling‟s belongings out of my house!Any that remain when I return tomorrow shall become my own by the rights of possession!And I warn you, I shall be compensated dearly if any of my property is missing or damaged!” He turned on his heel and stormed out the doors.“He‟s got his hair up about this one,” chuckled Fender Mallot, one of the dwarves.“Never have I seen one whose friends swing from loyalty to hatred more than Regis!”Catti-brie nodded in agreement of Fender‟s observation.She knew that Regis played with magical charms, and she figured that his paradoxical relationships with those around him were an unfortunate side effect of his dabblings.“Do ye suppose he‟s off with Drizzt and Bruenor?” Fender asked.Up the stairs, Entreri shifted anxiously.“Not to doubt,” Catti-brie answered.“All winter they‟ve been asking him to join in the quest for Mithril Hall, an‟ to be sure, Wulfgar‟s joining added to the pressure.”“Then the little one‟s halfway to Luskan, or more,” reasoned Fender.“And Cassius is right in wantin‟ his house back.”“Then let us get to packing,” said Catti-brie.“Cassius has enough o‟ his own without adding to the hoard from Regis‟s goods.”Entreri leaned back against the banister.The name of Mithril Hall was unknown to him, but he knew the way to Luskan well enough.He grinned again, wondering if he might catch them before they ever reached the port city.First, though, he knew that there still might be some valuable information to be garnered here.Catti-brie and the dwarves set about the task of collecting the halfling‟s belongings, and as they moved from room to room, the black shadow of Artemis Entreri, as silent as death, hovered about them.They never suspected his presence, never would have guessed that the gentle ripple in the drapes was anything more than a draft flowing in from the edges of the window, or that the shadow behind a chair was disproportionately long.He managed to stay close enough to hear nearly all of their conversation, and Catti-brie and the dwarves spoke of little else than the four adventurers and their journey to Mithril Hall.But Entreri learned little for his efforts.He already knew of the halfling‟s famed companions–everyone in Ten-Towns spoke of them often: of Drizzt Do‟Urden, the renegade drow elf, who had forsaken his dark-skinned people in the bowels of the Realms and roamed the borders of Ten-Towns as a solitary guardian against the intrusions of the wilderness of Icewind Dale; of Bruenor Battlehammer, the rowdy leader of the dwarven clan that lived in the valley near Kelvin‟s Cairn; and most of all, of Wulfgar, the mighty barbarian, who was captured and raised to adulthood by Bruenor, returned with the savage tribes of the dale to defend Ten-Towns against the goblin army, then struck up a truce between all the peoples of Icewind Dale.
|
[
447,
250,
3152,
616,
4950,
2156,
6565,
7873,
718,
392,
555,
5162,
10676,
13,
5195,
11,
262,
2166,
3420,
373,
14838,
618,
314,
1625,
416,
257,
1178,
1528,
2084,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
2921,
262,
2156,
284,
3310,
271,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14516,
262,
582,
13,
447,
250,
27654,
22739,
0,
447,
251,
14154,
3754,
45615,
11,
996,
287,
3872,
262,
2156,
550,
5600,
587,
257,
6979,
13,
464,
6523,
550,
2952,
44652,
6225,
625,
284,
3310,
271,
262,
1994,
284,
428,
20562,
11,
262,
4490,
395,
2156,
5093,
286,
7381,
397,
283,
13,
818,
23583,
11,
14154,
3754,
7247,
326,
339,
550,
587,
4978,
510,
287,
262,
28866,
273,
286,
326,
12465,
5373,
625,
262,
46220,
11,
290,
339,
9885,
326,
3310,
271,
550,
13663,
465,
10825,
772,
257,
2239,
2252,
416,
1262,
262,
1128,
7241,
36580,
291,
5635,
286,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
13,
7594,
1854,
508,
550,
587,
32597,
276,
416,
262,
40116,
2063,
1359,
11,
14154,
3754,
550,
1282,
284,
257,
845,
1180,
6650,
319,
262,
2995,
326,
550,
49243,
11,
257,
6650,
326,
13055,
3310,
271,
3684,
5570,
1346,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
2300,
262,
1438,
9838,
869,
340,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
24684,
11,
564,
250,
5948,
815,
407,
307,
523,
289,
7833,
284,
5409,
326,
3310,
271,
468,
46931,
1685,
262,
2156,
13,
447,
251,
464,
6523,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
14688,
2945,
287,
26206,
13,
447,
250,
19693,
503,
1909,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
616,
1351,
13,
40,
765,
477,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
30985,
503,
286,
616,
2156,
0,
7149,
326,
3520,
618,
314,
1441,
9439,
2236,
1716,
616,
898,
416,
262,
2489,
286,
7797,
0,
1870,
314,
9828,
345,
11,
314,
2236,
307,
34304,
46379,
611,
597,
286,
616,
3119,
318,
4814,
393,
9694,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
319,
465,
24703,
290,
33997,
503,
262,
8215,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
1392,
465,
4190,
510,
546,
428,
530,
11,
447,
251,
39889,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
11,
530,
286,
262,
40158,
13,
447,
250,
12295,
423,
314,
1775,
530,
3025,
2460,
9628,
422,
15843,
284,
13763,
517,
621,
3310,
271,
0,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14464,
287,
4381,
286,
376,
2194,
447,
253,
82,
13432,
13,
3347,
2993,
326,
3310,
271,
2826,
351,
10883,
41700,
11,
290,
673,
11638,
326,
465,
22226,
605,
6958,
351,
883,
1088,
683,
547,
281,
14855,
1735,
1245,
286,
465,
45553,
2436,
654,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
9838,
11691,
339,
447,
253,
82,
572,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
30,
447,
251,
376,
2194,
1965,
13,
4933,
262,
16046,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
14869,
7296,
6819,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
284,
4719,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
3237,
7374,
484,
447,
253,
303,
587,
4737,
683,
284,
4654,
287,
262,
1235,
329,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
281,
447,
253,
284,
307,
1654,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
9679,
2087
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
3152,
616,
4950,
2156,
6565,
7873,
718,
392,
555,
5162,
10676,
13,
5195,
11,
262,
2166,
3420,
373,
14838,
618,
314,
1625,
416,
257,
1178,
1528,
2084,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
2921,
262,
2156,
284,
3310,
271,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14516,
262,
582,
13,
447,
250,
27654,
22739,
0,
447,
251,
14154,
3754,
45615,
11,
996,
287,
3872,
262,
2156,
550,
5600,
587,
257,
6979,
13,
464,
6523,
550,
2952,
44652,
6225,
625,
284,
3310,
271,
262,
1994,
284,
428,
20562,
11,
262,
4490,
395,
2156,
5093,
286,
7381,
397,
283,
13,
818,
23583,
11,
14154,
3754,
7247,
326,
339,
550,
587,
4978,
510,
287,
262,
28866,
273,
286,
326,
12465,
5373,
625,
262,
46220,
11,
290,
339,
9885,
326,
3310,
271,
550,
13663,
465,
10825,
772,
257,
2239,
2252,
416,
1262,
262,
1128,
7241,
36580,
291,
5635,
286,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
13,
7594,
1854,
508,
550,
587,
32597,
276,
416,
262,
40116,
2063,
1359,
11,
14154,
3754,
550,
1282,
284,
257,
845,
1180,
6650,
319,
262,
2995,
326,
550,
49243,
11,
257,
6650,
326,
13055,
3310,
271,
3684,
5570,
1346,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
2300,
262,
1438,
9838,
869,
340,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
24684,
11,
564,
250,
5948,
815,
407,
307,
523,
289,
7833,
284,
5409,
326,
3310,
271,
468,
46931,
1685,
262,
2156,
13,
447,
251,
464,
6523,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
14688,
2945,
287,
26206,
13,
447,
250,
19693,
503,
1909,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
616,
1351,
13,
40,
765,
477,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
30985,
503,
286,
616,
2156,
0,
7149,
326,
3520,
618,
314,
1441,
9439,
2236,
1716,
616,
898,
416,
262,
2489,
286,
7797,
0,
1870,
314,
9828,
345,
11,
314,
2236,
307,
34304,
46379,
611,
597,
286,
616,
3119,
318,
4814,
393,
9694,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
319,
465,
24703,
290,
33997,
503,
262,
8215,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
1392,
465,
4190,
510,
546,
428,
530,
11,
447,
251,
39889,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
11,
530,
286,
262,
40158,
13,
447,
250,
12295,
423,
314,
1775,
530,
3025,
2460,
9628,
422,
15843,
284,
13763,
517,
621,
3310,
271,
0,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14464,
287,
4381,
286,
376,
2194,
447,
253,
82,
13432,
13,
3347,
2993,
326,
3310,
271,
2826,
351,
10883,
41700,
11,
290,
673,
11638,
326,
465,
22226,
605,
6958,
351,
883,
1088,
683,
547,
281,
14855,
1735,
1245,
286,
465,
45553,
2436,
654,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
9838,
11691,
339,
447,
253,
82,
572,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
30,
447,
251,
376,
2194,
1965,
13,
4933,
262,
16046,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
14869,
7296,
6819,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
284,
4719,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
9373,
13,
447,
250,
3237,
7374,
484,
447,
253,
303,
587,
4737,
683,
284,
4654,
287,
262,
1235,
329,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
281,
447,
253,
284,
307,
1654,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
9679,
2087
] |
dnd519
|
A bargain that had salvaged, and promised to enrich, the lives of all involved.“It seems that you have surrounded yourself with formidable allies, halfling,” Entreri mused, leaning against the back of a large chair, as Catti-brie and the dwarves moved into an adjoining room.“Little help they will offer.You are mine!”Page 7Catti-brie and the dwarves worked for about an hour, filling two large sacks, primarily with clothes.Catti-brie was astounded with the stock of possessions Regis had collected since his reputed heroics against Kessell and the goblins–mostly gifts from grateful citizens.Well aware of the halfling‟s love of comfort, she could not understand what had possessed him to run off down the road after the others.But what truly amazed her was that Regis hadn‟t hired porters to bring along at least a few of his belongings.And the more of his treasures that she discovered as she moved through the palace, the more this whole scenario of haste and impulse bothered her.It was too out of character for Regis.There had to be another factor, some missing element, that she hadn‟t yet weighed.“Well, we got more‟n we can carry, and most o‟ the stuff anyway!” declared Fender, hoisting a sack over his sturdy shoulder.“Leave the rest for Cassius to sort, I say!”“I would no‟ give Cassius the pleasure of claiming any of the things,” Catti-brie retorted.“There may yet be valued items to be found.Two of ye take the sacks back your rooms at the inn.I‟ll be finishing the work up here.”“Ah, yer too good to Cassius,” Fender grumbled.“Bruenor had him marked right as a man taking too much pleasure in counting what he owns!”“Be fair, Fender Mallot,” Catti-brie retorted, though her agreeing smile belied any harshness in her tone.“Cassius served the towns well in the war and has been a fine leader for the people of Bryn Shander.Ye‟ve seen as well as meself that Regis has a talent for putting up a cat‟s fur!”Fender chuckled in agreement.“For all his ways of gettin‟ what he wants, the little one has left a row or two of ruffled victims!” He patted the other dwarf on the shoulder and they headed for the main door.“Don‟t ye be late, girl,” Fender called back to Catti-brie.“We‟re to the mines again.Tomorrow, no later!”“Ye fret too much, Fender Mallot!” Catti-brie said, laughing.Entreri considered the last exchange and again a smile widened across his face.He knew well the wake of magical charms.The “ruffled victims” that Fender had spoken of described exactly the people that Pasha Pook had duped back in Calimport.People charmed by the ruby pendant.The double doors closed with a bang.Catti-brie was alone in the big house–or so she thought.She was still pondering Regis‟s uncharacteristic disappearance.
|
A bargain that had salvaged, and promised to enrich, the lives of all involved.“It seems that you have surrounded yourself with formidable allies, halfling,” Entreri mused, leaning against the back of a large chair, as Catti-brie and the dwarves moved into an adjoining room.“Little help they will offer.You are mine!”Page 7Catti-brie and the dwarves worked for about an hour, filling two large sacks, primarily with clothes.Catti-brie was astounded with the stock of possessions Regis had collected since his reputed heroics against Kessell and the goblins–mostly gifts from grateful citizens.Well aware of the halfling‟s love of comfort, she could not understand what had possessed him to run off down the road after the others.But what truly amazed her was that Regis hadn‟t hired porters to bring along at least a few of his belongings.And the more of his treasures that she discovered as she moved through the palace, the more this whole scenario of haste and impulse bothered her.It was too out of character for Regis.There had to be another factor, some missing element, that she hadn‟t yet weighed.“Well, we got more‟n we can carry, and most o‟ the stuff anyway!” declared Fender, hoisting a sack over his sturdy shoulder.“Leave the rest for Cassius to sort, I say!”“I would no‟ give Cassius the pleasure of claiming any of the things,” Catti-brie retorted.“There may yet be valued items to be found.Two of ye take the sacks back your rooms at the inn.I‟ll be finishing the work up here.”“Ah, yer too good to Cassius,” Fender grumbled.“Bruenor had him marked right as a man taking too much pleasure in counting what he owns!”“Be fair, Fender Mallot,” Catti-brie retorted, though her agreeing smile belied any harshness in her tone.“Cassius served the towns well in the war and has been a fine leader for the people of Bryn Shander.Ye‟ve seen as well as meself that Regis has a talent for putting up a cat‟s fur!”Fender chuckled in agreement.“For all his ways of gettin‟ what he wants, the little one has left a row or two of ruffled victims!” He patted the other dwarf on the shoulder and they headed for the main door.“Don‟t ye be late, girl,” Fender called back to Catti-brie.“We‟re to the mines again.Tomorrow, no later!”“Ye fret too much, Fender Mallot!” Catti-brie said, laughing.Entreri considered the last exchange and again a smile widened across his face.He knew well the wake of magical charms.The “ruffled victims” that Fender had spoken of described exactly the people that Pasha Pook had duped back in Calimport.People charmed by the ruby pendant.The double doors closed with a bang.Catti-brie was alone in the big house–or so she thought.She was still pondering Regis‟s uncharacteristic disappearance.
|
[
32,
22803,
326,
550,
24143,
1886,
11,
290,
8072,
284,
22465,
11,
262,
3160,
286,
477,
2950,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
2331,
326,
345,
423,
11191,
3511,
351,
24599,
7681,
11,
2063,
1359,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
285,
1484,
11,
21804,
1028,
262,
736,
286,
257,
1588,
5118,
11,
355,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
290,
262,
40158,
3888,
656,
281,
48106,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
22253,
1037,
484,
481,
2897,
13,
1639,
389,
6164,
0,
447,
251,
9876,
767,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
290,
262,
40158,
3111,
329,
546,
281,
1711,
11,
12591,
734,
1588,
23249,
11,
7525,
351,
8242,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
6468,
6302,
351,
262,
4283,
286,
23309,
3310,
271,
550,
7723,
1201,
465,
1128,
7241,
4293,
873,
1028,
40679,
7255,
290,
262,
46220,
1906,
29471,
13201,
422,
14066,
4290,
13,
5779,
3910,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1842,
286,
4467,
11,
673,
714,
407,
1833,
644,
550,
17273,
683,
284,
1057,
572,
866,
262,
2975,
706,
262,
1854,
13,
1537,
644,
4988,
24562,
607,
373,
326,
3310,
271,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
9657,
279,
3816,
284,
2222,
1863,
379,
1551,
257,
1178,
286,
465,
30985,
13,
1870,
262,
517,
286,
465,
29561,
326,
673,
5071,
355,
673,
3888,
832,
262,
20562,
11,
262,
517,
428,
2187,
8883,
286,
36797,
290,
25278,
20466,
607,
13,
1026,
373,
1165,
503,
286,
2095,
329,
3310,
271,
13,
1858,
550,
284,
307,
1194,
5766,
11,
617,
4814,
5002,
11,
326,
673,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
20261,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
356,
1392,
517,
447,
253,
77,
356,
460,
3283,
11,
290,
749,
267,
447,
253,
262,
3404,
6949,
0,
447,
251,
6875,
376,
2194,
11,
8169,
9665,
257,
23704,
625,
465,
28055,
8163,
13,
447,
250,
35087,
262,
1334,
329,
14154,
3754,
284,
3297,
11,
314,
910,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
561,
645,
447,
253,
1577,
14154,
3754,
262,
9476,
286,
8512,
597,
286,
262,
1243,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
743,
1865,
307,
17560,
3709,
284,
307,
1043,
13,
7571,
286,
9838,
1011,
262,
23249,
736,
534,
9519,
379,
262,
3527,
13,
40,
447,
253,
297,
307,
12848,
262,
670,
510,
994,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
331,
263,
1165,
922,
284,
14154,
3754,
11,
447,
251,
376,
2194,
1036,
11137,
13,
447,
250,
33,
622,
268,
273,
550,
683,
7498,
826,
355,
257,
582,
2263,
1165,
881,
9476,
287,
14143,
644,
339,
12216,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3856,
3148,
11,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1005,
9741,
11,
996,
607,
24093,
8212,
894,
798,
597,
11859,
1108,
287,
607,
8216,
13,
447,
250,
43529,
3754,
4983,
262,
11684,
880,
287,
262,
1175,
290,
468,
587,
257,
3734,
3554,
329,
262,
661,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
13,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
1775,
355,
880,
355,
18842,
7046,
326,
3310,
271,
468,
257,
7401,
329,
5137,
510,
257,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
9230,
0,
447,
251,
37,
2194,
39889
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
22803,
326,
550,
24143,
1886,
11,
290,
8072,
284,
22465,
11,
262,
3160,
286,
477,
2950,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
2331,
326,
345,
423,
11191,
3511,
351,
24599,
7681,
11,
2063,
1359,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
285,
1484,
11,
21804,
1028,
262,
736,
286,
257,
1588,
5118,
11,
355,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
290,
262,
40158,
3888,
656,
281,
48106,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
22253,
1037,
484,
481,
2897,
13,
1639,
389,
6164,
0,
447,
251,
9876,
767,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
290,
262,
40158,
3111,
329,
546,
281,
1711,
11,
12591,
734,
1588,
23249,
11,
7525,
351,
8242,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
6468,
6302,
351,
262,
4283,
286,
23309,
3310,
271,
550,
7723,
1201,
465,
1128,
7241,
4293,
873,
1028,
40679,
7255,
290,
262,
46220,
1906,
29471,
13201,
422,
14066,
4290,
13,
5779,
3910,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1842,
286,
4467,
11,
673,
714,
407,
1833,
644,
550,
17273,
683,
284,
1057,
572,
866,
262,
2975,
706,
262,
1854,
13,
1537,
644,
4988,
24562,
607,
373,
326,
3310,
271,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
9657,
279,
3816,
284,
2222,
1863,
379,
1551,
257,
1178,
286,
465,
30985,
13,
1870,
262,
517,
286,
465,
29561,
326,
673,
5071,
355,
673,
3888,
832,
262,
20562,
11,
262,
517,
428,
2187,
8883,
286,
36797,
290,
25278,
20466,
607,
13,
1026,
373,
1165,
503,
286,
2095,
329,
3310,
271,
13,
1858,
550,
284,
307,
1194,
5766,
11,
617,
4814,
5002,
11,
326,
673,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
20261,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
356,
1392,
517,
447,
253,
77,
356,
460,
3283,
11,
290,
749,
267,
447,
253,
262,
3404,
6949,
0,
447,
251,
6875,
376,
2194,
11,
8169,
9665,
257,
23704,
625,
465,
28055,
8163,
13,
447,
250,
35087,
262,
1334,
329,
14154,
3754,
284,
3297,
11,
314,
910,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
561,
645,
447,
253,
1577,
14154,
3754,
262,
9476,
286,
8512,
597,
286,
262,
1243,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
743,
1865,
307,
17560,
3709,
284,
307,
1043,
13,
7571,
286,
9838,
1011,
262,
23249,
736,
534,
9519,
379,
262,
3527,
13,
40,
447,
253,
297,
307,
12848,
262,
670,
510,
994,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
331,
263,
1165,
922,
284,
14154,
3754,
11,
447,
251,
376,
2194,
1036,
11137,
13,
447,
250,
33,
622,
268,
273,
550,
683,
7498,
826,
355,
257,
582,
2263,
1165,
881,
9476,
287,
14143,
644,
339,
12216,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3856,
3148,
11,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1005,
9741,
11,
996,
607,
24093,
8212,
894,
798,
597,
11859,
1108,
287,
607,
8216,
13,
447,
250,
43529,
3754,
4983,
262,
11684,
880,
287,
262,
1175,
290,
468,
587,
257,
3734,
3554,
329,
262,
661,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
13,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
1775,
355,
880,
355,
18842,
7046,
326,
3310,
271,
468,
257,
7401,
329,
5137,
510,
257,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
9230,
0,
447,
251,
37,
2194,
39889
] |
dnd520
|
Her continued suspicions that something was wrong, that some piece of the puzzle was missing, began to foster within her the sense that something was wrong here in the house, as well.Catti-brie suddenly became aware of every noise and shadow around her.The “click-click” of a pendulum clock.The rustle of papers on a desk in front of an open window.The swish of drapes.The scutterings of a mouse within the wooden walls.Her eyes darted back to the drapes, still trembling slightly from their last movement.It could have been a draft through a crack in the window, but the alert woman suspected differently.Reflexively dropping to a crouch and reaching for the dagger on her hip, she started toward the open doorway a few feet to the side of the drapes.Entreri had moved quickly.Suspecting that more could yet be learned from Catti-brie, and not willing to pass up the opportunity offered by the dwarves‟ departure, he had slipped into the most favorable position for an attack and now waited patiently atop the narrow perch of the open door, balanced as easily as a cat on a window sill.He listened for her approach, his dagger turning over casually in his hand.Catti-brie sensed the danger as soon as she reached the doorway and saw the black form dropping to her side.But as quick as her reactions were, her own dagger was not halfway from its sheath before the thin fingers of a cool hand had clamped over her mouth, stifling a cry, and the razored edge of a jeweled dagger had creased a light line on her throat.She was stunned and appalled.Never had she seen a man move so quickly, and the deadly precision of Entreri‟s strike unnerved her.A sudden tenseness in his muscles assured her that if she persisted in drawing her weapon, she would be dead long before she could use it.Releasing the hilt, she made no further move to resist.Page 8The assassin‟s strength also surprised her as he easily lifted her to a chair.He was a small man, slender as an elf and barely as tall as she, but every muscle on his compact frame was toned to its finest fighting edge.His very presence exuded an aura of strength and an unshakable confidence.This, too, unnerved Catti-brie, because it wasn‟t the brash cockiness of an exuberant youngster, but the cool air of superiority of one who had seen a thousand fights and had never been bested.Catti-brie‟s eyes never turned from Entreri‟s face as he quickly tied her to the chair.His angular features, striking cheekbones and a strong jaw line, were only sharpened by the straight cut of his raven black hair.The shadow of beard that darkened his face appeared as if no amount of shaving could ever lighten it.Far from unkempt, though, everything about the man spoke of control.Catti-brie might even have considered him handsome, except for his eyes.Their gray showed no sparkle.Lifeless, devoid of any hint of compassion or humanity, they marked this man as an instrument of death and nothing more.“What do ye want o‟ me?” Catti-brie asked when she mustered the nerve.Entreri answered with a stinging slap across her face.“The ruby pendant!” he demanded suddenly.“Does the halfling still wear the ruby pendant?”Catti-brie fought to stifle the tears welling in her eyes.She was disoriented and off guard and could not respond immediately to the man‟s question.The jeweled dagger flashed before her eyes and slowly traced the circumference of her face.“I have not much time,” Entreri declared flatly.
|
Her continued suspicions that something was wrong, that some piece of the puzzle was missing, began to foster within her the sense that something was wrong here in the house, as well.Catti-brie suddenly became aware of every noise and shadow around her.The “click-click” of a pendulum clock.The rustle of papers on a desk in front of an open window.The swish of drapes.The scutterings of a mouse within the wooden walls.Her eyes darted back to the drapes, still trembling slightly from their last movement.It could have been a draft through a crack in the window, but the alert woman suspected differently.Reflexively dropping to a crouch and reaching for the dagger on her hip, she started toward the open doorway a few feet to the side of the drapes.Entreri had moved quickly.Suspecting that more could yet be learned from Catti-brie, and not willing to pass up the opportunity offered by the dwarves‟ departure, he had slipped into the most favorable position for an attack and now waited patiently atop the narrow perch of the open door, balanced as easily as a cat on a window sill.He listened for her approach, his dagger turning over casually in his hand.Catti-brie sensed the danger as soon as she reached the doorway and saw the black form dropping to her side.But as quick as her reactions were, her own dagger was not halfway from its sheath before the thin fingers of a cool hand had clamped over her mouth, stifling a cry, and the razored edge of a jeweled dagger had creased a light line on her throat.She was stunned and appalled.Never had she seen a man move so quickly, and the deadly precision of Entreri‟s strike unnerved her.A sudden tenseness in his muscles assured her that if she persisted in drawing her weapon, she would be dead long before she could use it.Releasing the hilt, she made no further move to resist.Page 8The assassin‟s strength also surprised her as he easily lifted her to a chair.He was a small man, slender as an elf and barely as tall as she, but every muscle on his compact frame was toned to its finest fighting edge.His very presence exuded an aura of strength and an unshakable confidence.This, too, unnerved Catti-brie, because it wasn‟t the brash cockiness of an exuberant youngster, but the cool air of superiority of one who had seen a thousand fights and had never been bested.Catti-brie‟s eyes never turned from Entreri‟s face as he quickly tied her to the chair.His angular features, striking cheekbones and a strong jaw line, were only sharpened by the straight cut of his raven black hair.The shadow of beard that darkened his face appeared as if no amount of shaving could ever lighten it.Far from unkempt, though, everything about the man spoke of control.Catti-brie might even have considered him handsome, except for his eyes.Their gray showed no sparkle.Lifeless, devoid of any hint of compassion or humanity, they marked this man as an instrument of death and nothing more.“What do ye want o‟ me?” Catti-brie asked when she mustered the nerve.Entreri answered with a stinging slap across her face.“The ruby pendant!” he demanded suddenly.“Does the halfling still wear the ruby pendant?”Catti-brie fought to stifle the tears welling in her eyes.She was disoriented and off guard and could not respond immediately to the man‟s question.The jeweled dagger flashed before her eyes and slowly traced the circumference of her face.“I have not much time,” Entreri declared flatly.
|
[
9360,
3767,
30508,
326,
1223,
373,
2642,
11,
326,
617,
3704,
286,
262,
15027,
373,
4814,
11,
2540,
284,
17016,
1626,
607,
262,
2565,
326,
1223,
373,
2642,
994,
287,
262,
2156,
11,
355,
880,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
6451,
2627,
3910,
286,
790,
7838,
290,
9082,
1088,
607,
13,
464,
564,
250,
12976,
12,
12976,
447,
251,
286,
257,
44017,
14452,
8801,
13,
464,
17000,
293,
286,
9473,
319,
257,
6915,
287,
2166,
286,
281,
1280,
4324,
13,
464,
1509,
680,
286,
288,
2416,
274,
13,
464,
629,
10381,
654,
286,
257,
10211,
1626,
262,
13510,
7714,
13,
9360,
2951,
288,
19112,
736,
284,
262,
288,
2416,
274,
11,
991,
39228,
4622,
422,
511,
938,
3356,
13,
1026,
714,
423,
587,
257,
4538,
832,
257,
8469,
287,
262,
4324,
11,
475,
262,
7995,
2415,
9885,
10338,
13,
8134,
2588,
2280,
12047,
284,
257,
33838,
354,
290,
8978,
329,
262,
31322,
319,
607,
10359,
11,
673,
2067,
3812,
262,
1280,
32439,
257,
1178,
3625,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
288,
2416,
274,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
3888,
2952,
13,
30746,
35570,
326,
517,
714,
1865,
307,
4499,
422,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
290,
407,
4684,
284,
1208,
510,
262,
3663,
4438,
416,
262,
40158,
447,
253,
12928,
11,
339,
550,
18859,
656,
262,
749,
17070,
2292,
329,
281,
1368,
290,
783,
13488,
37220,
20156,
262,
7135,
583,
354,
286,
262,
1280,
3420,
11,
12974,
355,
3538,
355,
257,
3797,
319,
257,
4324,
49276,
13,
1544,
16399,
329,
607,
3164,
11,
465,
31322,
6225,
625,
27793,
287,
465,
1021,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
39243,
262,
3514,
355,
2582,
355,
673,
4251,
262,
32439,
290,
2497,
262,
2042,
1296,
12047,
284,
607,
1735,
13,
1537,
355,
2068,
355,
607,
12737,
547,
11,
607,
898,
31322,
373,
407,
19487,
422,
663,
673,
776,
878,
262,
7888,
9353,
286,
257,
3608,
1021,
550,
537,
13322,
625,
607,
5422,
11,
336,
38966,
257,
3960,
11,
290,
262,
374,
1031,
1850,
5743,
286,
257,
16927,
276,
31322,
550,
1126,
839,
257,
1657,
1627,
319,
607,
13589,
13,
3347,
373,
19987,
290,
41586,
13,
12295,
550,
673,
1775,
257,
582,
1445,
523,
2952,
11,
290,
262,
10309,
15440,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
5587,
41231,
8520,
607,
13,
32,
4802,
11192,
9449,
287,
465,
12749,
13933,
607,
326,
611,
673,
33264,
287,
8263,
607,
4282,
11,
673,
561,
307,
2636,
890,
878,
673,
714,
779,
340,
13,
3041,
48764,
262,
289,
2326,
11,
673,
925,
645,
2252,
1445,
284,
4180,
13,
9876,
807,
464,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
4202,
635,
6655,
607,
355,
339,
3538,
13663,
607,
284,
257,
5118,
13,
1544,
373,
257,
1402,
582,
11,
36808,
355,
281,
23878,
290,
8523,
355,
7331,
355,
673,
11,
475,
790,
8280,
319,
465,
16001,
5739,
373,
5680,
276,
284,
663,
18822,
4330,
5743,
13,
6653,
845,
4931,
409,
19289,
281,
22491,
286,
4202,
290,
281,
555,
1477,
29033,
6628,
13,
1212,
11,
1165,
11,
41231,
8520,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
780,
340,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
262,
865
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
9360,
3767,
30508,
326,
1223,
373,
2642,
11,
326,
617,
3704,
286,
262,
15027,
373,
4814,
11,
2540,
284,
17016,
1626,
607,
262,
2565,
326,
1223,
373,
2642,
994,
287,
262,
2156,
11,
355,
880,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
6451,
2627,
3910,
286,
790,
7838,
290,
9082,
1088,
607,
13,
464,
564,
250,
12976,
12,
12976,
447,
251,
286,
257,
44017,
14452,
8801,
13,
464,
17000,
293,
286,
9473,
319,
257,
6915,
287,
2166,
286,
281,
1280,
4324,
13,
464,
1509,
680,
286,
288,
2416,
274,
13,
464,
629,
10381,
654,
286,
257,
10211,
1626,
262,
13510,
7714,
13,
9360,
2951,
288,
19112,
736,
284,
262,
288,
2416,
274,
11,
991,
39228,
4622,
422,
511,
938,
3356,
13,
1026,
714,
423,
587,
257,
4538,
832,
257,
8469,
287,
262,
4324,
11,
475,
262,
7995,
2415,
9885,
10338,
13,
8134,
2588,
2280,
12047,
284,
257,
33838,
354,
290,
8978,
329,
262,
31322,
319,
607,
10359,
11,
673,
2067,
3812,
262,
1280,
32439,
257,
1178,
3625,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
288,
2416,
274,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
3888,
2952,
13,
30746,
35570,
326,
517,
714,
1865,
307,
4499,
422,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
290,
407,
4684,
284,
1208,
510,
262,
3663,
4438,
416,
262,
40158,
447,
253,
12928,
11,
339,
550,
18859,
656,
262,
749,
17070,
2292,
329,
281,
1368,
290,
783,
13488,
37220,
20156,
262,
7135,
583,
354,
286,
262,
1280,
3420,
11,
12974,
355,
3538,
355,
257,
3797,
319,
257,
4324,
49276,
13,
1544,
16399,
329,
607,
3164,
11,
465,
31322,
6225,
625,
27793,
287,
465,
1021,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
39243,
262,
3514,
355,
2582,
355,
673,
4251,
262,
32439,
290,
2497,
262,
2042,
1296,
12047,
284,
607,
1735,
13,
1537,
355,
2068,
355,
607,
12737,
547,
11,
607,
898,
31322,
373,
407,
19487,
422,
663,
673,
776,
878,
262,
7888,
9353,
286,
257,
3608,
1021,
550,
537,
13322,
625,
607,
5422,
11,
336,
38966,
257,
3960,
11,
290,
262,
374,
1031,
1850,
5743,
286,
257,
16927,
276,
31322,
550,
1126,
839,
257,
1657,
1627,
319,
607,
13589,
13,
3347,
373,
19987,
290,
41586,
13,
12295,
550,
673,
1775,
257,
582,
1445,
523,
2952,
11,
290,
262,
10309,
15440,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
5587,
41231,
8520,
607,
13,
32,
4802,
11192,
9449,
287,
465,
12749,
13933,
607,
326,
611,
673,
33264,
287,
8263,
607,
4282,
11,
673,
561,
307,
2636,
890,
878,
673,
714,
779,
340,
13,
3041,
48764,
262,
289,
2326,
11,
673,
925,
645,
2252,
1445,
284,
4180,
13,
9876,
807,
464,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
4202,
635,
6655,
607,
355,
339,
3538,
13663,
607,
284,
257,
5118,
13,
1544,
373,
257,
1402,
582,
11,
36808,
355,
281,
23878,
290,
8523,
355,
7331,
355,
673,
11,
475,
790,
8280,
319,
465,
16001,
5739,
373,
5680,
276,
284,
663,
18822,
4330,
5743,
13,
6653,
845,
4931,
409,
19289,
281,
22491,
286,
4202,
290,
281,
555,
1477,
29033,
6628,
13,
1212,
11,
1165,
11,
41231,
8520,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
780,
340,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
262,
865
] |
dnd521
|
“You will tell me what I need to know.The longer it takes you to answer, the more pain you will feel.”His words were calm and spoken with honesty.Catti-brie, toughened under Bruenor‟s own tutelage, found herself unnerved.She had faced and defeated goblins before, even a horrid troll once, but this collected killer terrified her.She tried to respond, but her trembling jaw would allow no words.The dagger flashed again.“Regis wears it!” Catti-brie shrieked, a tear tracing a solitary line down each of her cheeks.Entreri nodded and smiled slightly.“He is with the dark elf, the dwarf, and the barbarian,” he said matter-of-factly.“And they are on the road to Luskan.And from there, to a place called Mithril Hall.Tell me of Mithril Hall, dear girl.” He scraped the blade on his own cheek, its fine edge poignantly clearing a small patch of beard.“Where does it lie?”Catti-brie realized that her inability to answer would probably spell her end.“I-I know not,”she stammered boldly, regaining a measure of the discipline that Bruenor had taught her, though her eyes never left the glint of the deadly blade.“A pity,” Entreri replied.“Such a pretty face…”“Please,” Catti-brie said as calmly as she could with the dagger moving toward her.“Not a one knows!Not even Bruenor!To find it is his quest.”The blade stopped suddenly and Entreri turned his head to the side, eyes narrowed and all of his muscles taut and alert.Catti-brie hadn‟t heard the turn of the door handle, but the deep voice of Fender Mallot echoing down the hallway explained the assassin‟s actions.“„Ere, where are ye, girl?”Catti-brie tried to yell, “Run!” and her own life be damned, but Entreri‟s quick backhand dazed her and drove the word out as an indecipherable grunt.Her head lolling to the side, she just managed to focus her vision as Fender and Grollo, battle-axes in hand, burst into the room.Entreri stood ready to meet them, jeweled dagger in one hand and a saber in the other.For an instant, Catti-brie was filled with elation.The dwarves of Ten-Towns were an iron-fisted battalion of hardened warriors, with Fender‟s prowess in battle among the clan second only to Bruenor‟s.Then she remembered who they faced, and despite their apparent advantage, her hopes were washed away by a wave of undeniable conclusions.She had witnessed the blur of the assassin‟s movements, the uncanny precision of his cuts.Page 9Revulsion welling in her throat, she couldn‟t even gasp for the dwarves to flee.Even had they known the depths of the horror in the man standing before them, Fender and Grollo would not have turned away.Outrage blinds a dwarven fighter from any regard for personal safety, and when these two saw their beloved Catti-brie bound to the chair, their charge at Entreri came by instinct.Fueled by unbridled rage, their first attacks roared in with every ounce of strength they could call upon.Conversely, Entreri started slowly, finding a rhythm and allowing the sheer fluidity of his motions to build his momentum.At times he seemed barely able to parry or dodge the ferocious swipes.
|
“You will tell me what I need to know.The longer it takes you to answer, the more pain you will feel.”His words were calm and spoken with honesty.Catti-brie, toughened under Bruenor‟s own tutelage, found herself unnerved.She had faced and defeated goblins before, even a horrid troll once, but this collected killer terrified her.She tried to respond, but her trembling jaw would allow no words.The dagger flashed again.“Regis wears it!” Catti-brie shrieked, a tear tracing a solitary line down each of her cheeks.Entreri nodded and smiled slightly.“He is with the dark elf, the dwarf, and the barbarian,” he said matter-of-factly.“And they are on the road to Luskan.And from there, to a place called Mithril Hall.Tell me of Mithril Hall, dear girl.” He scraped the blade on his own cheek, its fine edge poignantly clearing a small patch of beard.“Where does it lie?”Catti-brie realized that her inability to answer would probably spell her end.“I-I know not,”she stammered boldly, regaining a measure of the discipline that Bruenor had taught her, though her eyes never left the glint of the deadly blade.“A pity,” Entreri replied.“Such a pretty face…”“Please,” Catti-brie said as calmly as she could with the dagger moving toward her.“Not a one knows!Not even Bruenor!To find it is his quest.”The blade stopped suddenly and Entreri turned his head to the side, eyes narrowed and all of his muscles taut and alert.Catti-brie hadn‟t heard the turn of the door handle, but the deep voice of Fender Mallot echoing down the hallway explained the assassin‟s actions.“„Ere, where are ye, girl?”Catti-brie tried to yell, “Run!” and her own life be damned, but Entreri‟s quick backhand dazed her and drove the word out as an indecipherable grunt.Her head lolling to the side, she just managed to focus her vision as Fender and Grollo, battle-axes in hand, burst into the room.Entreri stood ready to meet them, jeweled dagger in one hand and a saber in the other.For an instant, Catti-brie was filled with elation.The dwarves of Ten-Towns were an iron-fisted battalion of hardened warriors, with Fender‟s prowess in battle among the clan second only to Bruenor‟s.Then she remembered who they faced, and despite their apparent advantage, her hopes were washed away by a wave of undeniable conclusions.She had witnessed the blur of the assassin‟s movements, the uncanny precision of his cuts.Page 9Revulsion welling in her throat, she couldn‟t even gasp for the dwarves to flee.Even had they known the depths of the horror in the man standing before them, Fender and Grollo would not have turned away.Outrage blinds a dwarven fighter from any regard for personal safety, and when these two saw their beloved Catti-brie bound to the chair, their charge at Entreri came by instinct.Fueled by unbridled rage, their first attacks roared in with every ounce of strength they could call upon.Conversely, Entreri started slowly, finding a rhythm and allowing the sheer fluidity of his motions to build his momentum.At times he seemed barely able to parry or dodge the ferocious swipes.
|
[
447,
250,
1639,
481,
1560,
502,
644,
314,
761,
284,
760,
13,
464,
2392,
340,
2753,
345,
284,
3280,
11,
262,
517,
2356,
345,
481,
1254,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
2456,
547,
9480,
290,
9635,
351,
24345,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
14427,
831,
276,
739,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
898,
9732,
417,
496,
11,
1043,
5223,
41231,
8520,
13,
3347,
550,
7452,
290,
9772,
46220,
878,
11,
772,
257,
3076,
6058,
13278,
1752,
11,
475,
428,
7723,
11868,
22144,
607,
13,
3347,
3088,
284,
3031,
11,
475,
607,
39228,
19218,
561,
1249,
645,
2456,
13,
464,
31322,
30050,
757,
13,
447,
250,
8081,
271,
17326,
340,
0,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
35064,
988,
276,
11,
257,
11626,
35328,
257,
25565,
1627,
866,
1123,
286,
607,
25839,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
14464,
290,
13541,
4622,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
351,
262,
3223,
23878,
11,
262,
24603,
11,
290,
262,
42577,
3699,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
2300,
12,
1659,
12,
22584,
306,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
484,
389,
319,
262,
2975,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1870,
422,
612,
11,
284,
257,
1295,
1444,
44137,
22379,
4789,
13,
24446,
502,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
13674,
2576,
13,
447,
251,
679,
15881,
276,
262,
11865,
319,
465,
898,
19353,
11,
663,
3734,
5743,
745,
570,
3875,
17304,
257,
1402,
8529,
286,
21213,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
6486,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
6939,
326,
607,
16612,
284,
3280,
561,
2192,
4822,
607,
886,
13,
447,
250,
40,
12,
40,
760,
407,
11,
447,
251,
7091,
336,
6475,
1068,
42831,
11,
842,
1397,
257,
3953,
286,
262,
12883,
326,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
7817,
607,
11,
996,
607,
2951,
1239,
1364,
262,
1278,
600,
286,
262,
10309,
11865,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
16678,
257,
2495,
1986,
1399,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5492,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
531,
355,
30180,
355,
673,
714,
351,
262,
31322,
3867,
3812,
607,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
530,
4206,
0,
3673,
772,
8274,
268,
273,
0,
2514,
1064,
340,
318,
465,
1235,
13,
447,
251,
464,
11865,
5025,
6451,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2900,
465,
1182,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
2951,
33214,
290,
477,
286,
465,
12749,
256,
2306,
290,
7995,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
2982,
262,
1210,
286,
262,
3420,
5412,
11,
475,
262,
2769,
3809,
286,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
39915,
866,
262,
23959,
4893,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
4028,
13,
447,
250,
447,
252,
36,
260,
11,
810,
389,
9838,
11,
2576,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
3088,
284,
28946,
11,
564,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
290,
607,
898,
1204,
307,
28911,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2068,
736,
4993,
288,
13865,
607,
290,
10357,
262,
1573,
503,
355,
281,
29077,
10803,
540,
45836,
13,
9360,
1182,
300,
692,
278,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
673,
655,
5257,
284,
2962,
607,
5761,
355
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1639,
481,
1560,
502,
644,
314,
761,
284,
760,
13,
464,
2392,
340,
2753,
345,
284,
3280,
11,
262,
517,
2356,
345,
481,
1254,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
2456,
547,
9480,
290,
9635,
351,
24345,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
14427,
831,
276,
739,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
898,
9732,
417,
496,
11,
1043,
5223,
41231,
8520,
13,
3347,
550,
7452,
290,
9772,
46220,
878,
11,
772,
257,
3076,
6058,
13278,
1752,
11,
475,
428,
7723,
11868,
22144,
607,
13,
3347,
3088,
284,
3031,
11,
475,
607,
39228,
19218,
561,
1249,
645,
2456,
13,
464,
31322,
30050,
757,
13,
447,
250,
8081,
271,
17326,
340,
0,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
35064,
988,
276,
11,
257,
11626,
35328,
257,
25565,
1627,
866,
1123,
286,
607,
25839,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
14464,
290,
13541,
4622,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
351,
262,
3223,
23878,
11,
262,
24603,
11,
290,
262,
42577,
3699,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
2300,
12,
1659,
12,
22584,
306,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
484,
389,
319,
262,
2975,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1870,
422,
612,
11,
284,
257,
1295,
1444,
44137,
22379,
4789,
13,
24446,
502,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
13674,
2576,
13,
447,
251,
679,
15881,
276,
262,
11865,
319,
465,
898,
19353,
11,
663,
3734,
5743,
745,
570,
3875,
17304,
257,
1402,
8529,
286,
21213,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
857,
340,
6486,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
6939,
326,
607,
16612,
284,
3280,
561,
2192,
4822,
607,
886,
13,
447,
250,
40,
12,
40,
760,
407,
11,
447,
251,
7091,
336,
6475,
1068,
42831,
11,
842,
1397,
257,
3953,
286,
262,
12883,
326,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
7817,
607,
11,
996,
607,
2951,
1239,
1364,
262,
1278,
600,
286,
262,
10309,
11865,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
16678,
257,
2495,
1986,
1399,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5492,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
531,
355,
30180,
355,
673,
714,
351,
262,
31322,
3867,
3812,
607,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
530,
4206,
0,
3673,
772,
8274,
268,
273,
0,
2514,
1064,
340,
318,
465,
1235,
13,
447,
251,
464,
11865,
5025,
6451,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2900,
465,
1182,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
2951,
33214,
290,
477,
286,
465,
12749,
256,
2306,
290,
7995,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
2982,
262,
1210,
286,
262,
3420,
5412,
11,
475,
262,
2769,
3809,
286,
376,
2194,
16618,
313,
39915,
866,
262,
23959,
4893,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
4028,
13,
447,
250,
447,
252,
36,
260,
11,
810,
389,
9838,
11,
2576,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
3088,
284,
28946,
11,
564,
250,
10987,
0,
447,
251,
290,
607,
898,
1204,
307,
28911,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2068,
736,
4993,
288,
13865,
607,
290,
10357,
262,
1573,
503,
355,
281,
29077,
10803,
540,
45836,
13,
9360,
1182,
300,
692,
278,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
673,
655,
5257,
284,
2962,
607,
5761,
355
] |
dnd522
|
Some missed their mark by barely an inch, and the near hits spurred Fender and Grollo on even further.But even with her friends pressing the attack, Catti-brie understood that they were in trouble.Entreri‟s hands seemed to talk to each other, so perfect was the complement of their movements as they positioned the jeweled dagger and saber.The synchronous shufflings of his feet kept him in complete balance throughout the melee.His was a dance of dodges, parries, and counterslashes.His was a dance of death.Catti-brie had seen this before, the telltale methods of the finest swordsman in all of Icewind Dale.The comparison to Drizzt Do‟Urden was inescapable; their grace and movements were so alike, with every part of their bodies working in harmony.But they remained strikingly different, a polarity of morals that subtly altered the aura of the dance.The drow ranger in battle was an instrument of beauty to behold, a perfect athlete pursuing his chosen course of righteousness with unsurpassed fervor.But Entreri was merely horrifying, a passionless murderer callously disposing of obstacles in his path.The initial momentum of the dwarves‟ attack began to diminish now, and both Fender and Grollo wore a look of amazement that the floor was not yet red with their opponent‟s blood.But while their attacks were slowing, Entreri‟s momentum continued to build.His blades were a blur, each thrust followed by two others that left the dwarves rocking back on their heels.Effortless, his movements.Endless, his energy.Fender and Grollo maintained a solely defensive posture, but even with all of their efforts devoted to blocking, everyone in the room knew that it was only a matter of time before a killing blade slipped through.Catti-brie didn‟t see the fatal cut, but she saw vividly the bright line of blood that appeared across Grollo‟s throat.The dwarf continued fighting for a few moments, oblivious to the cause of his inability to find his breath.Then, startled, Grollo dropped to his knees, grasping his throat, and gurgled into the blackness of death.Fury spurred Fender beyond his exhaustion.His axe chopped and cut wildly, screaming for revenge.Entreri toyed with him, actually carrying the charade so, far as to slap him on the side of the head with the flat of the saber.Outraged, insulted, and fully aware that he was overmatched, Fender launched himself into a final, suicidal, charge, hoping to bring the assassin down with him.Entreri sidestepped the desperate lunge with an amused laugh, and ended the fight, driving the jeweled dagger deep into Fender‟s chest, and following through with a skull-splitting slash of the saber as the dwarf stumbled by.Too horrified to cry, too horrified to scream, Catti-brie watched blankly as Entreri retrieved the dagger from Fender‟s chest.Certain of her own impending death, she closed her eyes as the dagger came toward her, felt its metal, hot from the dwarf‟s blood, flat on her throat.And then the teasing scrape of its edge against her soft, vulnerable skin as Entreri slowly turned the blade over in his hand.Tantalizing.The promise, the dance of death.Then it was gone.Catti-brie opened her eyes just as the small blade went back into its scabbard on the assassin‟s hip.He had taken a step back from her.Page 10“You see,” he offered in simple explanation of his mercy, “I kill only those who stand to oppose me.Perhaps, then, three of your friends on the road to Luskan shall escape the blade.I want only the halfling.”Catti-brie refused to yield to the terror he evoked.She held her voice steady and promised coldly, “You underestimate them.They will fight you.”With calm confidence, Entreri replied, “Then they, too, shall die.”Catti-brie couldn‟t win in a contest of nerves with the dispassionate killer.Her only answer to him was her defiance.
|
Some missed their mark by barely an inch, and the near hits spurred Fender and Grollo on even further.But even with her friends pressing the attack, Catti-brie understood that they were in trouble.Entreri‟s hands seemed to talk to each other, so perfect was the complement of their movements as they positioned the jeweled dagger and saber.The synchronous shufflings of his feet kept him in complete balance throughout the melee.His was a dance of dodges, parries, and counterslashes.His was a dance of death.Catti-brie had seen this before, the telltale methods of the finest swordsman in all of Icewind Dale.The comparison to Drizzt Do‟Urden was inescapable; their grace and movements were so alike, with every part of their bodies working in harmony.But they remained strikingly different, a polarity of morals that subtly altered the aura of the dance.The drow ranger in battle was an instrument of beauty to behold, a perfect athlete pursuing his chosen course of righteousness with unsurpassed fervor.But Entreri was merely horrifying, a passionless murderer callously disposing of obstacles in his path.The initial momentum of the dwarves‟ attack began to diminish now, and both Fender and Grollo wore a look of amazement that the floor was not yet red with their opponent‟s blood.But while their attacks were slowing, Entreri‟s momentum continued to build.His blades were a blur, each thrust followed by two others that left the dwarves rocking back on their heels.Effortless, his movements.Endless, his energy.Fender and Grollo maintained a solely defensive posture, but even with all of their efforts devoted to blocking, everyone in the room knew that it was only a matter of time before a killing blade slipped through.Catti-brie didn‟t see the fatal cut, but she saw vividly the bright line of blood that appeared across Grollo‟s throat.The dwarf continued fighting for a few moments, oblivious to the cause of his inability to find his breath.Then, startled, Grollo dropped to his knees, grasping his throat, and gurgled into the blackness of death.Fury spurred Fender beyond his exhaustion.His axe chopped and cut wildly, screaming for revenge.Entreri toyed with him, actually carrying the charade so, far as to slap him on the side of the head with the flat of the saber.Outraged, insulted, and fully aware that he was overmatched, Fender launched himself into a final, suicidal, charge, hoping to bring the assassin down with him.Entreri sidestepped the desperate lunge with an amused laugh, and ended the fight, driving the jeweled dagger deep into Fender‟s chest, and following through with a skull-splitting slash of the saber as the dwarf stumbled by.Too horrified to cry, too horrified to scream, Catti-brie watched blankly as Entreri retrieved the dagger from Fender‟s chest.Certain of her own impending death, she closed her eyes as the dagger came toward her, felt its metal, hot from the dwarf‟s blood, flat on her throat.And then the teasing scrape of its edge against her soft, vulnerable skin as Entreri slowly turned the blade over in his hand.Tantalizing.The promise, the dance of death.Then it was gone.Catti-brie opened her eyes just as the small blade went back into its scabbard on the assassin‟s hip.He had taken a step back from her.Page 10“You see,” he offered in simple explanation of his mercy, “I kill only those who stand to oppose me.Perhaps, then, three of your friends on the road to Luskan shall escape the blade.I want only the halfling.”Catti-brie refused to yield to the terror he evoked.She held her voice steady and promised coldly, “You underestimate them.They will fight you.”With calm confidence, Entreri replied, “Then they, too, shall die.”Catti-brie couldn‟t win in a contest of nerves with the dispassionate killer.Her only answer to him was her defiance.
|
[
4366,
6825,
511,
1317,
416,
8523,
281,
11111,
11,
290,
262,
1474,
7127,
34601,
376,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
319,
772,
2252,
13,
1537,
772,
351,
607,
2460,
12273,
262,
1368,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7247,
326,
484,
547,
287,
5876,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
3947,
284,
1561,
284,
1123,
584,
11,
523,
2818,
373,
262,
16829,
286,
511,
8650,
355,
484,
19378,
262,
16927,
276,
31322,
290,
17463,
263,
13,
464,
18305,
516,
32299,
17783,
286,
465,
3625,
4030,
683,
287,
1844,
5236,
3690,
262,
16837,
13,
6653,
373,
257,
9280,
286,
20764,
3212,
11,
1582,
1678,
11,
290,
21154,
75,
7465,
13,
6653,
373,
257,
9280,
286,
1918,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
1775,
428,
878,
11,
262,
1560,
29429,
5050,
286,
262,
18822,
19735,
805,
287,
477,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
464,
7208,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
373,
287,
50141,
540,
26,
511,
11542,
290,
8650,
547,
523,
12936,
11,
351,
790,
636,
286,
511,
5920,
1762,
287,
22471,
13,
1537,
484,
6150,
47305,
1180,
11,
257,
755,
6806,
286,
35472,
326,
37847,
14294,
262,
22491,
286,
262,
9280,
13,
464,
288,
808,
43570,
287,
3344,
373,
281,
8875,
286,
8737,
284,
23700,
11,
257,
2818,
16076,
15461,
465,
7147,
1781,
286,
33738,
351,
31035,
6603,
276,
28866,
273,
13,
1537,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
6974,
31906,
11,
257,
7506,
1203,
29262,
869,
3481,
12483,
278,
286,
17648,
287,
465,
3108,
13,
464,
4238,
12858,
286,
262,
40158,
447,
253,
1368,
2540,
284,
29889,
783,
11,
290,
1111,
376,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
12408,
257,
804,
286,
40642,
972,
326,
262,
4314,
373,
407,
1865,
2266,
351,
511,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
2910,
13,
1537,
981,
511,
3434,
547,
21605,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
12858,
3767,
284,
1382,
13,
6653,
20784,
547,
257,
23671,
11,
1123,
14613,
3940,
416,
734,
1854,
326,
1364,
262,
40158,
38059,
736,
319,
511,
18728,
13,
36,
487,
419,
1203,
11,
465,
8650,
13,
12915,
1203,
11,
465,
2568,
13,
37,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
9456,
257,
9944,
6110,
24521,
11,
475,
772,
351,
477,
286,
511,
4040,
13378,
284,
12013,
11,
2506,
287,
262,
2119,
2993,
326,
340,
373,
691,
257,
2300,
286,
640,
878,
257,
5170,
11865,
18859,
832,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
766,
262,
10800,
2005,
11,
475,
673,
2497,
46641,
262,
6016,
1627,
286,
2910,
326,
4120,
1973,
402,
2487,
78,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
13,
464,
24603,
3767,
4330,
329,
257,
1178,
7188,
11,
38603,
284,
262,
2728,
286,
465,
16612,
284,
1064,
465,
8033,
13,
6423,
11,
36249,
11,
402,
2487,
78,
5710,
284,
465,
14475,
11,
44787,
465,
13589,
11,
290,
308,
3686,
992,
656,
262,
2042,
1108,
286,
1918,
13,
37,
1601,
34601,
376,
2194,
3675,
465,
32493,
13,
6653,
23272,
20720,
290,
2005,
20278,
11,
14788,
329,
15827,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
13373,
276,
351,
683,
11,
1682,
6872,
262,
1149,
671,
523,
11,
1290,
355,
284,
23905
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
4366,
6825,
511,
1317,
416,
8523,
281,
11111,
11,
290,
262,
1474,
7127,
34601,
376,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
319,
772,
2252,
13,
1537,
772,
351,
607,
2460,
12273,
262,
1368,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7247,
326,
484,
547,
287,
5876,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
3947,
284,
1561,
284,
1123,
584,
11,
523,
2818,
373,
262,
16829,
286,
511,
8650,
355,
484,
19378,
262,
16927,
276,
31322,
290,
17463,
263,
13,
464,
18305,
516,
32299,
17783,
286,
465,
3625,
4030,
683,
287,
1844,
5236,
3690,
262,
16837,
13,
6653,
373,
257,
9280,
286,
20764,
3212,
11,
1582,
1678,
11,
290,
21154,
75,
7465,
13,
6653,
373,
257,
9280,
286,
1918,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
1775,
428,
878,
11,
262,
1560,
29429,
5050,
286,
262,
18822,
19735,
805,
287,
477,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
464,
7208,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
373,
287,
50141,
540,
26,
511,
11542,
290,
8650,
547,
523,
12936,
11,
351,
790,
636,
286,
511,
5920,
1762,
287,
22471,
13,
1537,
484,
6150,
47305,
1180,
11,
257,
755,
6806,
286,
35472,
326,
37847,
14294,
262,
22491,
286,
262,
9280,
13,
464,
288,
808,
43570,
287,
3344,
373,
281,
8875,
286,
8737,
284,
23700,
11,
257,
2818,
16076,
15461,
465,
7147,
1781,
286,
33738,
351,
31035,
6603,
276,
28866,
273,
13,
1537,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
6974,
31906,
11,
257,
7506,
1203,
29262,
869,
3481,
12483,
278,
286,
17648,
287,
465,
3108,
13,
464,
4238,
12858,
286,
262,
40158,
447,
253,
1368,
2540,
284,
29889,
783,
11,
290,
1111,
376,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
12408,
257,
804,
286,
40642,
972,
326,
262,
4314,
373,
407,
1865,
2266,
351,
511,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
2910,
13,
1537,
981,
511,
3434,
547,
21605,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
12858,
3767,
284,
1382,
13,
6653,
20784,
547,
257,
23671,
11,
1123,
14613,
3940,
416,
734,
1854,
326,
1364,
262,
40158,
38059,
736,
319,
511,
18728,
13,
36,
487,
419,
1203,
11,
465,
8650,
13,
12915,
1203,
11,
465,
2568,
13,
37,
2194,
290,
402,
2487,
78,
9456,
257,
9944,
6110,
24521,
11,
475,
772,
351,
477,
286,
511,
4040,
13378,
284,
12013,
11,
2506,
287,
262,
2119,
2993,
326,
340,
373,
691,
257,
2300,
286,
640,
878,
257,
5170,
11865,
18859,
832,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
766,
262,
10800,
2005,
11,
475,
673,
2497,
46641,
262,
6016,
1627,
286,
2910,
326,
4120,
1973,
402,
2487,
78,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
13,
464,
24603,
3767,
4330,
329,
257,
1178,
7188,
11,
38603,
284,
262,
2728,
286,
465,
16612,
284,
1064,
465,
8033,
13,
6423,
11,
36249,
11,
402,
2487,
78,
5710,
284,
465,
14475,
11,
44787,
465,
13589,
11,
290,
308,
3686,
992,
656,
262,
2042,
1108,
286,
1918,
13,
37,
1601,
34601,
376,
2194,
3675,
465,
32493,
13,
6653,
23272,
20720,
290,
2005,
20278,
11,
14788,
329,
15827,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
13373,
276,
351,
683,
11,
1682,
6872,
262,
1149,
671,
523,
11,
1290,
355,
284,
23905
] |
dnd523
|
She spat at him, unafraid of the consequences.He retorted with a single stinging backhand.Her eyes blurred in pain and welling tears, and Catti-brie slumped into blackness.But as she fell unconscious, she heard a few seconds longer, the cruel, passionless laughter fading away as the assassin moved from the house.Tantalizing.The promise of death.Page 112.City of Sails“Well, there she is, lad, the City of Sails,” Bruenor said to Wulfgar as the two looked down upon Luskan from a small knoll a few miles north of the city.Wulfgar took in the view with a profound sigh of admiration.Luskan housed more than fifteen thousand–small compared to the huge cities in the south and to its nearest neighbor, Waterdeep, a few hundred miles farther down the coast.But to the young barbarian, who had spent all of his eighteen years among nomadic tribes and the small villages of Ten-Towns, the fortified seaport seemed grand indeed.A wall encompassed Luskan, with guard towers strategically spaced at varying intervals.Even from this distance, Wulfgar could make out the dark forms of many soldiers pacing the parapets, their spear tips shining in the new light of the day.“Not a promising invitation,” Wulfgar noted.“Luskan does not readily welcome visitors,” said Drizzt, who had come up behind his two friends.“They may open their gates for merchants, but ordinary travelers are usually turned away.”“Our first contact is there,” growled Bruenor.“And I mean to get in!”Drizzt nodded and did not press the argument.He had given Luskan a wide berth on his original journey to Ten-Towns.The city‟s inhabitants, primarily human, looked upon other races with disdain.Even surface elves and dwarves were often refused entry.Drizzt suspected that the guards would do more to a drow elf than simply put him out.“Get the breakfast fire burning,” Bruenor continued, his angry tones reflecting his determination that nothing would turn him from his course.“We‟re to break camp early, an‟ make the gates „fore noon.Where‟s that blasted Rumblebelly?”Drizzt looked back over his shoulder in the direction of the camp.“Asleep,” he answered, though Bruenor‟s question was wholly rhetorical.Regis had been the first to bed and the last to awaken (and never without help) every day since the companions had set out from Ten-Towns.“Well, give him a kick!” Bruenor ordered.He turned back to the camp, but Drizzt put a hand on his arm to stay him.“Let the halfling sleep,” the drow suggested.“Perhaps it would be better if we came to Luskan‟s gate in the less-revealing light of dusk.”Drizzt‟s request confused Bruenor for just a moment–until he looked more closely at the drow‟s sullen visage and recognized the trepidation in his eyes.The two had become so close in their years of friendship that Bruenor often forgot that Drizzt was an outcast.
|
She spat at him, unafraid of the consequences.He retorted with a single stinging backhand.Her eyes blurred in pain and welling tears, and Catti-brie slumped into blackness.But as she fell unconscious, she heard a few seconds longer, the cruel, passionless laughter fading away as the assassin moved from the house.Tantalizing.The promise of death.Page 112.City of Sails“Well, there she is, lad, the City of Sails,” Bruenor said to Wulfgar as the two looked down upon Luskan from a small knoll a few miles north of the city.Wulfgar took in the view with a profound sigh of admiration.Luskan housed more than fifteen thousand–small compared to the huge cities in the south and to its nearest neighbor, Waterdeep, a few hundred miles farther down the coast.But to the young barbarian, who had spent all of his eighteen years among nomadic tribes and the small villages of Ten-Towns, the fortified seaport seemed grand indeed.A wall encompassed Luskan, with guard towers strategically spaced at varying intervals.Even from this distance, Wulfgar could make out the dark forms of many soldiers pacing the parapets, their spear tips shining in the new light of the day.“Not a promising invitation,” Wulfgar noted.“Luskan does not readily welcome visitors,” said Drizzt, who had come up behind his two friends.“They may open their gates for merchants, but ordinary travelers are usually turned away.”“Our first contact is there,” growled Bruenor.“And I mean to get in!”Drizzt nodded and did not press the argument.He had given Luskan a wide berth on his original journey to Ten-Towns.The city‟s inhabitants, primarily human, looked upon other races with disdain.Even surface elves and dwarves were often refused entry.Drizzt suspected that the guards would do more to a drow elf than simply put him out.“Get the breakfast fire burning,” Bruenor continued, his angry tones reflecting his determination that nothing would turn him from his course.“We‟re to break camp early, an‟ make the gates „fore noon.Where‟s that blasted Rumblebelly?”Drizzt looked back over his shoulder in the direction of the camp.“Asleep,” he answered, though Bruenor‟s question was wholly rhetorical.Regis had been the first to bed and the last to awaken (and never without help) every day since the companions had set out from Ten-Towns.“Well, give him a kick!” Bruenor ordered.He turned back to the camp, but Drizzt put a hand on his arm to stay him.“Let the halfling sleep,” the drow suggested.“Perhaps it would be better if we came to Luskan‟s gate in the less-revealing light of dusk.”Drizzt‟s request confused Bruenor for just a moment–until he looked more closely at the drow‟s sullen visage and recognized the trepidation in his eyes.The two had become so close in their years of friendship that Bruenor often forgot that Drizzt was an outcast.
|
[
3347,
15246,
379,
683,
11,
555,
1878,
7086,
286,
262,
6948,
13,
1544,
1005,
9741,
351,
257,
2060,
336,
14146,
736,
4993,
13,
9360,
2951,
38258,
287,
2356,
290,
880,
278,
10953,
11,
290,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
48560,
656,
2042,
1108,
13,
1537,
355,
673,
3214,
14917,
11,
673,
2982,
257,
1178,
4201,
2392,
11,
262,
12177,
11,
7506,
1203,
20263,
31465,
1497,
355,
262,
31120,
3888,
422,
262,
2156,
13,
51,
415,
282,
2890,
13,
464,
6991,
286,
1918,
13,
9876,
13539,
13,
14941,
286,
311,
1768,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
612,
673,
318,
11,
9717,
11,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
531,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
355,
262,
734,
3114,
866,
2402,
406,
17990,
272,
422,
257,
1402,
638,
692,
257,
1178,
4608,
5093,
286,
262,
1748,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1718,
287,
262,
1570,
351,
257,
11982,
19680,
286,
28506,
13,
43,
17990,
272,
23707,
517,
621,
17280,
7319,
1906,
17470,
3688,
284,
262,
3236,
4736,
287,
262,
5366,
290,
284,
663,
16936,
4780,
11,
5638,
22089,
11,
257,
1178,
3470,
4608,
18485,
866,
262,
7051,
13,
1537,
284,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
11,
508,
550,
3377,
477,
286,
465,
29095,
812,
1871,
4515,
23876,
15663,
290,
262,
1402,
15425,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
262,
40479,
384,
499,
419,
3947,
4490,
5600,
13,
32,
3355,
20504,
21390,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
351,
4860,
18028,
34235,
38980,
379,
15874,
20016,
13,
6104,
422,
428,
5253,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
714,
787,
503,
262,
3223,
5107,
286,
867,
5795,
37572,
262,
41406,
1039,
11,
511,
17514,
9040,
22751,
287,
262,
649,
1657,
286,
262,
1110,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
11781,
17023,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
4367,
13,
447,
250,
43,
17990,
272,
857,
407,
14704,
7062,
9692,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
508,
550,
1282,
510,
2157,
465,
734,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
743,
1280,
511,
17435,
329,
21779,
11,
475,
8850,
23325,
389,
3221,
2900,
1497,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5122,
717,
2800,
318,
612,
11,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
1612,
284,
651,
287,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
750,
407,
1803,
262,
4578,
13,
1544,
550,
1813,
406,
17990,
272,
257,
3094,
45015,
319,
465,
2656,
7002,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
464,
1748,
447,
253,
82,
17622,
11,
7525,
1692,
11,
3114,
2402,
584,
9558,
351,
31564,
13,
6104,
4417,
31959,
290,
40158,
547,
1690,
6520,
5726,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
9885,
326,
262,
10942,
561,
466,
517,
284,
257,
288,
808,
23878,
621,
2391,
1234,
683,
503,
13,
447,
250,
3855,
262,
12607,
2046,
9482,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3767,
11,
465,
7954,
23755,
20252,
465,
12123,
326,
2147,
561,
1210,
683,
422,
465,
1781,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
2270,
1413,
1903,
11,
281,
447,
253,
787,
262,
17435,
564,
252,
754,
19613,
13,
8496,
447,
253,
82,
326,
26044,
42888,
65,
6148,
30,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
3114,
736
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
3347,
15246,
379,
683,
11,
555,
1878,
7086,
286,
262,
6948,
13,
1544,
1005,
9741,
351,
257,
2060,
336,
14146,
736,
4993,
13,
9360,
2951,
38258,
287,
2356,
290,
880,
278,
10953,
11,
290,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
48560,
656,
2042,
1108,
13,
1537,
355,
673,
3214,
14917,
11,
673,
2982,
257,
1178,
4201,
2392,
11,
262,
12177,
11,
7506,
1203,
20263,
31465,
1497,
355,
262,
31120,
3888,
422,
262,
2156,
13,
51,
415,
282,
2890,
13,
464,
6991,
286,
1918,
13,
9876,
13539,
13,
14941,
286,
311,
1768,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
612,
673,
318,
11,
9717,
11,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
531,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
355,
262,
734,
3114,
866,
2402,
406,
17990,
272,
422,
257,
1402,
638,
692,
257,
1178,
4608,
5093,
286,
262,
1748,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1718,
287,
262,
1570,
351,
257,
11982,
19680,
286,
28506,
13,
43,
17990,
272,
23707,
517,
621,
17280,
7319,
1906,
17470,
3688,
284,
262,
3236,
4736,
287,
262,
5366,
290,
284,
663,
16936,
4780,
11,
5638,
22089,
11,
257,
1178,
3470,
4608,
18485,
866,
262,
7051,
13,
1537,
284,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
11,
508,
550,
3377,
477,
286,
465,
29095,
812,
1871,
4515,
23876,
15663,
290,
262,
1402,
15425,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
262,
40479,
384,
499,
419,
3947,
4490,
5600,
13,
32,
3355,
20504,
21390,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
351,
4860,
18028,
34235,
38980,
379,
15874,
20016,
13,
6104,
422,
428,
5253,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
714,
787,
503,
262,
3223,
5107,
286,
867,
5795,
37572,
262,
41406,
1039,
11,
511,
17514,
9040,
22751,
287,
262,
649,
1657,
286,
262,
1110,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
11781,
17023,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
4367,
13,
447,
250,
43,
17990,
272,
857,
407,
14704,
7062,
9692,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
508,
550,
1282,
510,
2157,
465,
734,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
743,
1280,
511,
17435,
329,
21779,
11,
475,
8850,
23325,
389,
3221,
2900,
1497,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5122,
717,
2800,
318,
612,
11,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
1612,
284,
651,
287,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
750,
407,
1803,
262,
4578,
13,
1544,
550,
1813,
406,
17990,
272,
257,
3094,
45015,
319,
465,
2656,
7002,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
464,
1748,
447,
253,
82,
17622,
11,
7525,
1692,
11,
3114,
2402,
584,
9558,
351,
31564,
13,
6104,
4417,
31959,
290,
40158,
547,
1690,
6520,
5726,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
9885,
326,
262,
10942,
561,
466,
517,
284,
257,
288,
808,
23878,
621,
2391,
1234,
683,
503,
13,
447,
250,
3855,
262,
12607,
2046,
9482,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3767,
11,
465,
7954,
23755,
20252,
465,
12123,
326,
2147,
561,
1210,
683,
422,
465,
1781,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
2270,
1413,
1903,
11,
281,
447,
253,
787,
262,
17435,
564,
252,
754,
19613,
13,
8496,
447,
253,
82,
326,
26044,
42888,
65,
6148,
30,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
3114,
736
] |
dnd524
|
The farther they traveled from Ten-Towns, where Drizzt was known, the more he would be judged by the color of his skin and the reputation of his people.“Aye, let „im sleep,” Bruenor conceded.“Maybe I could use a bit more, meself!”They broke camp late that morning and set a leisurely pace, only to discover later that they had misjudged the distance to the city.It was well past sunset and into the early hours of darkness when they finally arrived at the city‟s north gate.The structure was as unwelcoming as Luskan‟s reputation: a single iron-bound door set into the stone wall between two short, squared towers was tightly shut before them.A dozen fur-capped heads poked out from the parapet above the gate and the companions sensed many more eyes, and probably bows, trained upon them from the darkness atop the towers.“Who are you who come to the gates of Luskan?” came a voice from the wall.“Travelers from the north,” answered Bruenor.“A weary band come all the way from Ten-Towns in Icewind Dale!”“The gate closed at sunset,” replied the voice.“Go away!”“Son of a hairless gnoll,” grumbled Bruenor under his breath.He slapped his axe across his hands as though he meant to chop the door down.Drizzt put a calming hand on the dwarf‟s shoulder, his own sensitive ears recognizing the clear, distinctive click of a crossbow crank.Then Regis unexpectedly took control of the situation.He straightened his pants, which had Page 12dropped below the bulge of his belly, and hooked his thumbs in his belt, trying to appear somewhat important.Throwing his shoulders back, he walked out in front of his companions.“Your name, good sir?” he called to the soldier on the wall.“I am the Nightkeeper of the North Gate.That is all you need to know!” came the gruff reply.“And who–”“Regis, First Citizen of Bryn Shander.No doubt you have heard my name or seen my carvings.”The companions heard whispers up above, then a pause.“We have viewed the scrimshaw of a halfling from Ten-Towns.Are you he?”“Hero of the goblin war and master scrimshander,” Regis declared, bowing low.“The spokesmen of Ten-Towns will not be pleased to learn that I was turned into the night at the gate of our favored trading partner.”Again came the whispers, then a longer silence.Presently the four heard a grating sound behind the door, a portcullis being raised, knew Regis, and then the banging of the door‟s bolts being thrown.The halfling looked back over his shoulder at his surprised friends and smiled wryly.“Diplomacy, my rough dwarven friend,” he laughed.The door opened just a crack and two men slipped out, unarmed but cautious.It was quite obvious that they were well protected from the wall.Grim-faced soldiers huddled along the parapets, monitoring every move the strangers made through the sights of crossbows.“I am Jierdan,” said the stockier of the two men, though it was difficult to judge his exact size because of the many layers of fur he wore.“And I am the Nightkeeper,” said the other.“Show me what you have brought to trade.”“Trade?” echoed Bruenor angrily.“Who said anything about trade?” He slapped his axe across his hands again, drawing nervous shufflings from above.
|
The farther they traveled from Ten-Towns, where Drizzt was known, the more he would be judged by the color of his skin and the reputation of his people.“Aye, let „im sleep,” Bruenor conceded.“Maybe I could use a bit more, meself!”They broke camp late that morning and set a leisurely pace, only to discover later that they had misjudged the distance to the city.It was well past sunset and into the early hours of darkness when they finally arrived at the city‟s north gate.The structure was as unwelcoming as Luskan‟s reputation: a single iron-bound door set into the stone wall between two short, squared towers was tightly shut before them.A dozen fur-capped heads poked out from the parapet above the gate and the companions sensed many more eyes, and probably bows, trained upon them from the darkness atop the towers.“Who are you who come to the gates of Luskan?” came a voice from the wall.“Travelers from the north,” answered Bruenor.“A weary band come all the way from Ten-Towns in Icewind Dale!”“The gate closed at sunset,” replied the voice.“Go away!”“Son of a hairless gnoll,” grumbled Bruenor under his breath.He slapped his axe across his hands as though he meant to chop the door down.Drizzt put a calming hand on the dwarf‟s shoulder, his own sensitive ears recognizing the clear, distinctive click of a crossbow crank.Then Regis unexpectedly took control of the situation.He straightened his pants, which had Page 12dropped below the bulge of his belly, and hooked his thumbs in his belt, trying to appear somewhat important.Throwing his shoulders back, he walked out in front of his companions.“Your name, good sir?” he called to the soldier on the wall.“I am the Nightkeeper of the North Gate.That is all you need to know!” came the gruff reply.“And who–”“Regis, First Citizen of Bryn Shander.No doubt you have heard my name or seen my carvings.”The companions heard whispers up above, then a pause.“We have viewed the scrimshaw of a halfling from Ten-Towns.Are you he?”“Hero of the goblin war and master scrimshander,” Regis declared, bowing low.“The spokesmen of Ten-Towns will not be pleased to learn that I was turned into the night at the gate of our favored trading partner.”Again came the whispers, then a longer silence.Presently the four heard a grating sound behind the door, a portcullis being raised, knew Regis, and then the banging of the door‟s bolts being thrown.The halfling looked back over his shoulder at his surprised friends and smiled wryly.“Diplomacy, my rough dwarven friend,” he laughed.The door opened just a crack and two men slipped out, unarmed but cautious.It was quite obvious that they were well protected from the wall.Grim-faced soldiers huddled along the parapets, monitoring every move the strangers made through the sights of crossbows.“I am Jierdan,” said the stockier of the two men, though it was difficult to judge his exact size because of the many layers of fur he wore.“And I am the Nightkeeper,” said the other.“Show me what you have brought to trade.”“Trade?” echoed Bruenor angrily.“Who said anything about trade?” He slapped his axe across his hands again, drawing nervous shufflings from above.
|
[
464,
18485,
484,
14113,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
810,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
1900,
11,
262,
517,
339,
561,
307,
19589,
416,
262,
3124,
286,
465,
4168,
290,
262,
8507,
286,
465,
661,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
1309,
564,
252,
320,
3993,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
24684,
13,
447,
250,
13300,
314,
714,
779,
257,
1643,
517,
11,
18842,
7046,
0,
447,
251,
2990,
6265,
1413,
2739,
326,
3329,
290,
900,
257,
24638,
306,
8761,
11,
691,
284,
7073,
1568,
326,
484,
550,
2984,
10456,
2004,
262,
5253,
284,
262,
1748,
13,
1026,
373,
880,
1613,
26428,
290,
656,
262,
1903,
2250,
286,
11854,
618,
484,
3443,
5284,
379,
262,
1748,
447,
253,
82,
5093,
8946,
13,
464,
4645,
373,
355,
7379,
417,
4976,
355,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
8507,
25,
257,
2060,
6953,
12,
7784,
3420,
900,
656,
262,
7815,
3355,
1022,
734,
1790,
11,
44345,
18028,
373,
17707,
4423,
878,
606,
13,
32,
8667,
9230,
12,
66,
6320,
6665,
47320,
503,
422,
262,
41406,
316,
2029,
262,
8946,
290,
262,
19429,
39243,
867,
517,
2951,
11,
290,
2192,
37469,
11,
8776,
2402,
606,
422,
262,
11854,
20156,
262,
18028,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
508,
1282,
284,
262,
17435,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
30,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
3809,
422,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
33074,
364,
422,
262,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
32,
34730,
4097,
1282,
477,
262,
835,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
8946,
4838,
379,
26428,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
31056,
286,
257,
4190,
1203,
19967,
692,
11,
447,
251,
1036,
11137,
8274,
268,
273,
739,
465,
8033,
13,
1544,
31213,
465,
23272,
1973,
465,
2832,
355,
996,
339,
4001,
284,
30506,
262,
3420,
866,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
1234,
257,
44907,
1021,
319,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
8163,
11,
465,
898,
8564,
11368,
22650,
262,
1598,
11,
18778,
3904,
286,
257,
3272,
8176,
30425,
13,
6423,
3310,
271,
25884,
1718,
1630,
286,
262,
3074,
13,
1544,
3892,
2945,
465,
12581,
11,
543,
550,
7873,
1105,
22285,
1496,
2174,
262,
4807,
469,
286,
465,
19921,
11,
290,
23373,
465,
32766,
287,
465,
10999,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
6454,
1593,
13,
817,
11577,
465,
12450,
736,
11,
339,
6807,
503,
287,
2166,
286,
465,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
1438,
11,
922,
15967,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1444,
284,
262,
10686,
319,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
262,
5265,
13884,
286,
262,
2258,
12816,
13,
2504,
318,
477,
345,
761,
284,
760,
0,
447,
251,
1625,
262,
22848,
487,
10971,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
508,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8081,
271,
11,
3274,
22307,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
13,
2949,
4719,
345,
423,
2982,
616,
1438,
393,
1775,
616,
1097,
85,
654,
13,
447,
251,
464,
19429,
2982,
37806,
510,
2029,
11,
788,
257,
14985,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
9569,
262,
32157,
32832,
286
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
18485,
484,
14113,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
810,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
1900,
11,
262,
517,
339,
561,
307,
19589,
416,
262,
3124,
286,
465,
4168,
290,
262,
8507,
286,
465,
661,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
1309,
564,
252,
320,
3993,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
24684,
13,
447,
250,
13300,
314,
714,
779,
257,
1643,
517,
11,
18842,
7046,
0,
447,
251,
2990,
6265,
1413,
2739,
326,
3329,
290,
900,
257,
24638,
306,
8761,
11,
691,
284,
7073,
1568,
326,
484,
550,
2984,
10456,
2004,
262,
5253,
284,
262,
1748,
13,
1026,
373,
880,
1613,
26428,
290,
656,
262,
1903,
2250,
286,
11854,
618,
484,
3443,
5284,
379,
262,
1748,
447,
253,
82,
5093,
8946,
13,
464,
4645,
373,
355,
7379,
417,
4976,
355,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
8507,
25,
257,
2060,
6953,
12,
7784,
3420,
900,
656,
262,
7815,
3355,
1022,
734,
1790,
11,
44345,
18028,
373,
17707,
4423,
878,
606,
13,
32,
8667,
9230,
12,
66,
6320,
6665,
47320,
503,
422,
262,
41406,
316,
2029,
262,
8946,
290,
262,
19429,
39243,
867,
517,
2951,
11,
290,
2192,
37469,
11,
8776,
2402,
606,
422,
262,
11854,
20156,
262,
18028,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
508,
1282,
284,
262,
17435,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
30,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
3809,
422,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
33074,
364,
422,
262,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
32,
34730,
4097,
1282,
477,
262,
835,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
8946,
4838,
379,
26428,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
31056,
286,
257,
4190,
1203,
19967,
692,
11,
447,
251,
1036,
11137,
8274,
268,
273,
739,
465,
8033,
13,
1544,
31213,
465,
23272,
1973,
465,
2832,
355,
996,
339,
4001,
284,
30506,
262,
3420,
866,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
1234,
257,
44907,
1021,
319,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
8163,
11,
465,
898,
8564,
11368,
22650,
262,
1598,
11,
18778,
3904,
286,
257,
3272,
8176,
30425,
13,
6423,
3310,
271,
25884,
1718,
1630,
286,
262,
3074,
13,
1544,
3892,
2945,
465,
12581,
11,
543,
550,
7873,
1105,
22285,
1496,
2174,
262,
4807,
469,
286,
465,
19921,
11,
290,
23373,
465,
32766,
287,
465,
10999,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
6454,
1593,
13,
817,
11577,
465,
12450,
736,
11,
339,
6807,
503,
287,
2166,
286,
465,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
1438,
11,
922,
15967,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1444,
284,
262,
10686,
319,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
262,
5265,
13884,
286,
262,
2258,
12816,
13,
2504,
318,
477,
345,
761,
284,
760,
0,
447,
251,
1625,
262,
22848,
487,
10971,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
508,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8081,
271,
11,
3274,
22307,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
13,
2949,
4719,
345,
423,
2982,
616,
1438,
393,
1775,
616,
1097,
85,
654,
13,
447,
251,
464,
19429,
2982,
37806,
510,
2029,
11,
788,
257,
14985,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
9569,
262,
32157,
32832,
286
] |
dnd525
|
“Does this look like the blade of a stinkin‟ merchant?”Regis and Drizzt both moved to calm the dwarf, though Wulfgar, as tense as Bruenor, stayed off to the side, his huge arms crossed before him and his stern gaze boring into the impudent gatekeeper.The two soldiers backed away defensively and the Nightkeeper spoke again, this time on the edge of fury.“First Citizen,” he demanded of Regis, “why do you come to our door?”Regis stepped in front of Bruenor and steadied himself squarely before the soldier.“Er…a preliminary scouting of the marketplace,” he blurted out, trying to fabricate a story as he went along.“I have some especially fine carvings for market this season and I wanted to be certain that everything on this end, including the paying price for scrimshaw, shall be in place to handle the sale.”The two soldiers exchanged knowing smiles.“You have come a long way for such a purpose,” the Nightkeeper whispered harshly.“Would you not have been better suited to simply come down with the caravan bearing the goods?”Regis squirmed uncomfortably, realizing that these soldiers were far too experienced to fall for his ploy.Fighting his better judgement, he reached under his shirt for the ruby pendant, knowing that its hypnotic powers could convince the Nightkeeper to let them through, but dreading showing the stone at all and further opening the trail for the assassin that he knew wasn‟t far behind.Jierdan started suddenly, however, as he noticed the figure standing beside Bruenor.Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s cloak had shifted slightly, revealing the black skin of his face.As if on cue, the Nightkeeper tensed as well and, following his companion‟s lead, quickly discerned the cause of Jierdan‟s sudden reaction.Reluctantly, the four adventurers dropped their hands to their weapons, ready for a fight they didn‟t want.But Jierdan ended the tension as quickly as he had begun it, by bringing his arm across the chest of the Nightkeeper and addressing the drow openly.“Drizzt Do‟Urden?” he asked calmly, seeing confirmation of the identity he had already guessed.The drow nodded, surprised at the recognition.“Your name, too, has come down to Luskan with the tales frown Icewind Dale,” Jierdan Page 13explained.“Pardon our, surprise.” He bowed low.“We do not see many of your race at our gates.”Drizzt nodded again, but did not answer, uncomfortable with this unusual attention.Never before had a gatekeeper bothered to ask him his name or his business.And the drow had quickly come to understand the advantage of avoiding gates altogether, silently slipping over a city‟s wall in the darkness and seeking the seedier side, where he might at least have a chance of standing unnoticed in the dark corners with the other rogues.Had his name and heroics brought him a measure of respect even this far from Ten-Towns?Bruenor turned to Drizzt and winked, his own anger dissipated by the fact that his friend had finally been given his due from a stranger.But Drizzt wasn‟t convinced.He didn‟t dare hope for such a thing–it left him too vulnerable to feelings that he had fought hard to hide.He preferred to keep his suspicions and his guard as close to him as the dark cowl of his cloak.He cocked a curious ear as the two soldiers backed away to hold a private conversation.“I care not of his name,” he heard the Nightkeeper whisper at Jierdan.“No drow elf shall pass my gate!”“You err,” Jierdan retorted.“These are the heroes of Ten-Towns.
|
“Does this look like the blade of a stinkin‟ merchant?”Regis and Drizzt both moved to calm the dwarf, though Wulfgar, as tense as Bruenor, stayed off to the side, his huge arms crossed before him and his stern gaze boring into the impudent gatekeeper.The two soldiers backed away defensively and the Nightkeeper spoke again, this time on the edge of fury.“First Citizen,” he demanded of Regis, “why do you come to our door?”Regis stepped in front of Bruenor and steadied himself squarely before the soldier.“Er…a preliminary scouting of the marketplace,” he blurted out, trying to fabricate a story as he went along.“I have some especially fine carvings for market this season and I wanted to be certain that everything on this end, including the paying price for scrimshaw, shall be in place to handle the sale.”The two soldiers exchanged knowing smiles.“You have come a long way for such a purpose,” the Nightkeeper whispered harshly.“Would you not have been better suited to simply come down with the caravan bearing the goods?”Regis squirmed uncomfortably, realizing that these soldiers were far too experienced to fall for his ploy.Fighting his better judgement, he reached under his shirt for the ruby pendant, knowing that its hypnotic powers could convince the Nightkeeper to let them through, but dreading showing the stone at all and further opening the trail for the assassin that he knew wasn‟t far behind.Jierdan started suddenly, however, as he noticed the figure standing beside Bruenor.Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s cloak had shifted slightly, revealing the black skin of his face.As if on cue, the Nightkeeper tensed as well and, following his companion‟s lead, quickly discerned the cause of Jierdan‟s sudden reaction.Reluctantly, the four adventurers dropped their hands to their weapons, ready for a fight they didn‟t want.But Jierdan ended the tension as quickly as he had begun it, by bringing his arm across the chest of the Nightkeeper and addressing the drow openly.“Drizzt Do‟Urden?” he asked calmly, seeing confirmation of the identity he had already guessed.The drow nodded, surprised at the recognition.“Your name, too, has come down to Luskan with the tales frown Icewind Dale,” Jierdan Page 13explained.“Pardon our, surprise.” He bowed low.“We do not see many of your race at our gates.”Drizzt nodded again, but did not answer, uncomfortable with this unusual attention.Never before had a gatekeeper bothered to ask him his name or his business.And the drow had quickly come to understand the advantage of avoiding gates altogether, silently slipping over a city‟s wall in the darkness and seeking the seedier side, where he might at least have a chance of standing unnoticed in the dark corners with the other rogues.Had his name and heroics brought him a measure of respect even this far from Ten-Towns?Bruenor turned to Drizzt and winked, his own anger dissipated by the fact that his friend had finally been given his due from a stranger.But Drizzt wasn‟t convinced.He didn‟t dare hope for such a thing–it left him too vulnerable to feelings that he had fought hard to hide.He preferred to keep his suspicions and his guard as close to him as the dark cowl of his cloak.He cocked a curious ear as the two soldiers backed away to hold a private conversation.“I care not of his name,” he heard the Nightkeeper whisper at Jierdan.“No drow elf shall pass my gate!”“You err,” Jierdan retorted.“These are the heroes of Ten-Towns.
|
[
447,
250,
13921,
428,
804,
588,
262,
11865,
286,
257,
48305,
259,
447,
253,
20729,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
1111,
3888,
284,
9480,
262,
24603,
11,
996,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
355,
20170,
355,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
9658,
572,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
465,
3236,
5101,
12606,
878,
683,
290,
465,
26370,
17841,
14262,
656,
262,
848,
463,
298,
8946,
13884,
13,
464,
734,
5795,
9763,
1497,
33352,
290,
262,
5265,
13884,
5158,
757,
11,
428,
640,
319,
262,
5743,
286,
26206,
13,
447,
250,
5962,
22307,
11,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
286,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
22850,
466,
345,
1282,
284,
674,
3420,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
10764,
287,
2166,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
7978,
798,
2241,
38590,
878,
262,
10686,
13,
447,
250,
9139,
1399,
64,
15223,
27088,
286,
262,
17432,
11,
447,
251,
339,
23671,
1513,
503,
11,
2111,
284,
9664,
378,
257,
1621,
355,
339,
1816,
1863,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
617,
2592,
3734,
1097,
85,
654,
329,
1910,
428,
1622,
290,
314,
2227,
284,
307,
1728,
326,
2279,
319,
428,
886,
11,
1390,
262,
5989,
2756,
329,
32157,
32832,
11,
2236,
307,
287,
1295,
284,
5412,
262,
5466,
13,
447,
251,
464,
734,
5795,
22112,
6970,
21845,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
1282,
257,
890,
835,
329,
884,
257,
4007,
11,
447,
251,
262,
5265,
13884,
25029,
43123,
13,
447,
250,
17353,
345,
407,
423,
587,
1365,
16662,
284,
2391,
1282,
866,
351,
262,
44321,
14121,
262,
7017,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
2809,
15491,
8820,
3319,
1346,
11,
20060,
326,
777,
5795,
547,
1290,
1165,
5924,
284,
2121,
329,
465,
46945,
13,
46375,
465,
1365,
23071,
11,
339,
4251,
739,
465,
10147,
329,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
11,
6970,
326,
663,
36580,
291,
5635,
714,
11508,
262,
5265,
13884,
284,
1309,
606,
832,
11,
475,
15157,
278,
4478,
262,
7815,
379,
477,
290,
2252,
4756,
262,
8025,
329,
262,
31120,
326,
339,
2993,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1290,
2157,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
2067,
6451,
11,
2158,
11,
355,
339,
6810,
262,
3785,
5055,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
447,
253,
82,
24117,
550,
14869,
4622,
11,
13477,
262,
2042,
4168,
286,
465,
1986,
13,
1722,
611,
319,
28381,
11,
262,
5265,
13884,
11192,
276,
355,
880,
290,
11,
1708,
465,
15185,
447,
253,
82,
1085,
11,
2952,
22024,
276,
262,
2728,
286,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
4802,
6317,
13,
6892,
4782,
3875,
11,
262,
1440,
36843,
5710,
511,
2832,
284,
511,
3777,
11,
3492,
329,
257,
1907,
484,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
13,
1537,
449,
959,
25604,
4444,
262,
12097,
355,
2952,
355,
339,
550,
9258,
340,
11,
416,
6079,
465,
3211,
1973,
262,
7721,
286,
262,
5265,
13884,
290,
13593,
262,
288,
808,
11764,
13,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
30180,
11,
4379,
12641,
286,
262,
5369,
339,
550,
1541,
25183,
13,
464,
288,
808,
14464,
11,
6655,
379,
262,
9465
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
13921,
428,
804,
588,
262,
11865,
286,
257,
48305,
259,
447,
253,
20729,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
1111,
3888,
284,
9480,
262,
24603,
11,
996,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
355,
20170,
355,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
9658,
572,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
465,
3236,
5101,
12606,
878,
683,
290,
465,
26370,
17841,
14262,
656,
262,
848,
463,
298,
8946,
13884,
13,
464,
734,
5795,
9763,
1497,
33352,
290,
262,
5265,
13884,
5158,
757,
11,
428,
640,
319,
262,
5743,
286,
26206,
13,
447,
250,
5962,
22307,
11,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
286,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
22850,
466,
345,
1282,
284,
674,
3420,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
10764,
287,
2166,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
7978,
798,
2241,
38590,
878,
262,
10686,
13,
447,
250,
9139,
1399,
64,
15223,
27088,
286,
262,
17432,
11,
447,
251,
339,
23671,
1513,
503,
11,
2111,
284,
9664,
378,
257,
1621,
355,
339,
1816,
1863,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
617,
2592,
3734,
1097,
85,
654,
329,
1910,
428,
1622,
290,
314,
2227,
284,
307,
1728,
326,
2279,
319,
428,
886,
11,
1390,
262,
5989,
2756,
329,
32157,
32832,
11,
2236,
307,
287,
1295,
284,
5412,
262,
5466,
13,
447,
251,
464,
734,
5795,
22112,
6970,
21845,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
1282,
257,
890,
835,
329,
884,
257,
4007,
11,
447,
251,
262,
5265,
13884,
25029,
43123,
13,
447,
250,
17353,
345,
407,
423,
587,
1365,
16662,
284,
2391,
1282,
866,
351,
262,
44321,
14121,
262,
7017,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
2809,
15491,
8820,
3319,
1346,
11,
20060,
326,
777,
5795,
547,
1290,
1165,
5924,
284,
2121,
329,
465,
46945,
13,
46375,
465,
1365,
23071,
11,
339,
4251,
739,
465,
10147,
329,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
11,
6970,
326,
663,
36580,
291,
5635,
714,
11508,
262,
5265,
13884,
284,
1309,
606,
832,
11,
475,
15157,
278,
4478,
262,
7815,
379,
477,
290,
2252,
4756,
262,
8025,
329,
262,
31120,
326,
339,
2993,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1290,
2157,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
2067,
6451,
11,
2158,
11,
355,
339,
6810,
262,
3785,
5055,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
447,
253,
82,
24117,
550,
14869,
4622,
11,
13477,
262,
2042,
4168,
286,
465,
1986,
13,
1722,
611,
319,
28381,
11,
262,
5265,
13884,
11192,
276,
355,
880,
290,
11,
1708,
465,
15185,
447,
253,
82,
1085,
11,
2952,
22024,
276,
262,
2728,
286,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
4802,
6317,
13,
6892,
4782,
3875,
11,
262,
1440,
36843,
5710,
511,
2832,
284,
511,
3777,
11,
3492,
329,
257,
1907,
484,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
13,
1537,
449,
959,
25604,
4444,
262,
12097,
355,
2952,
355,
339,
550,
9258,
340,
11,
416,
6079,
465,
3211,
1973,
262,
7721,
286,
262,
5265,
13884,
290,
13593,
262,
288,
808,
11764,
13,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
30180,
11,
4379,
12641,
286,
262,
5369,
339,
550,
1541,
25183,
13,
464,
288,
808,
14464,
11,
6655,
379,
262,
9465
] |
dnd526
|
The halfling is truly First Citizen of Bryn Shander, the drow a ranger with a deadly, but undeniably honorable, reputation, and the dwarf–note the foaming mug standard on his shield–is Bruenor Battlehammer, leader of his clan in the dale.”“And what of the giant barbarian?” asked the Nightkeeper, using a sarcastic tone in an attempt to sound unimpressed, though he was obviously a bit nervous.“What rogue might he be?”Jierdan shrugged.“His great size, his youth, and a measure of control beyond his years.It seems unlikely to me that he should be here, but he might be the young king of the tribes that the tale-tellers have spoken of.We should not turn these travelers away; the consequences may be grave.”“What could Luskan possibly fear from the puny settlements in Icewind Dale?” the Nightkeeper balked.“There are other trading ports,” Jierdan retorted.“Not every battle is fought with a sword.The loss of Ten-Towns‟ scrimshaw would not be viewed favorably by our merchants, nor by the trading ships that put in each season.”The Nightkeeper scrutinized the four strangers again.He didn‟t trust them at all, despite his companion‟s grand claims, and he didn‟t want them in his city.But he knew, too, that if his suspicions were wrong and he did something to jeopardize the scrimshaw trade, his own future would be bleak.The soldiers of Luskan answered to the merchants, who were not quick to forgive errors that thinned their purses.The Nightkeeper threw up his hands in defeat.“Go in, then,” he told the companions.“Keep to the wall and make your way down to the docks.The last lane holds the Cutlass, and you‟ll be warm enough there!”Drizzt studied the proud strides of his friends as they marched through the door, and he guessed that they had also overheard pieces of the conversation.Bruenor confirmed his suspicions when they had moved away from the guard towers, down the road along the wall.“Here, elf,” the dwarf snorted, nudging Drizzt and being obviously pleased.“So the word‟s gone beyond the dale and we‟re heared of even this far south.What have ye to say o‟ that?”Drizzt shrugged again and Bruenor chuckled, assuming that his friend was merely embarrassed by the fame.Regis and Wulfgar, too, shared in Bruenor‟s mirth, the big man giving the drow a good-hearted slap on the back as he slipped to the lead of the troupe.But Drizzt‟s discomfort stemmed from more than embarrassment.He had noted the grin on Jierdan‟s face as they had passed, a smile that went beyond admiration.And while he had no doubts that some tales of the battle with Akar Kessell‟s goblin army had reached the City of Sails, it struck Drizzt odd that a simple soldier knew so much about him and his friends, while the gatekeeper, solely responsible for determining who passed into the city, knew nothing.Luskan‟s streets were tightly packed with two– and three-story buildings, a reflection of the Page 14desperation of the people there to huddle within the safety of the city‟s high wall, away from the ever-present dangers of the savage northland.An occasional tower, a guard post, perhaps, or a prominent citizen‟s or guild‟s way to show superiority, sprouted from the roofline.
|
The halfling is truly First Citizen of Bryn Shander, the drow a ranger with a deadly, but undeniably honorable, reputation, and the dwarf–note the foaming mug standard on his shield–is Bruenor Battlehammer, leader of his clan in the dale.”“And what of the giant barbarian?” asked the Nightkeeper, using a sarcastic tone in an attempt to sound unimpressed, though he was obviously a bit nervous.“What rogue might he be?”Jierdan shrugged.“His great size, his youth, and a measure of control beyond his years.It seems unlikely to me that he should be here, but he might be the young king of the tribes that the tale-tellers have spoken of.We should not turn these travelers away; the consequences may be grave.”“What could Luskan possibly fear from the puny settlements in Icewind Dale?” the Nightkeeper balked.“There are other trading ports,” Jierdan retorted.“Not every battle is fought with a sword.The loss of Ten-Towns‟ scrimshaw would not be viewed favorably by our merchants, nor by the trading ships that put in each season.”The Nightkeeper scrutinized the four strangers again.He didn‟t trust them at all, despite his companion‟s grand claims, and he didn‟t want them in his city.But he knew, too, that if his suspicions were wrong and he did something to jeopardize the scrimshaw trade, his own future would be bleak.The soldiers of Luskan answered to the merchants, who were not quick to forgive errors that thinned their purses.The Nightkeeper threw up his hands in defeat.“Go in, then,” he told the companions.“Keep to the wall and make your way down to the docks.The last lane holds the Cutlass, and you‟ll be warm enough there!”Drizzt studied the proud strides of his friends as they marched through the door, and he guessed that they had also overheard pieces of the conversation.Bruenor confirmed his suspicions when they had moved away from the guard towers, down the road along the wall.“Here, elf,” the dwarf snorted, nudging Drizzt and being obviously pleased.“So the word‟s gone beyond the dale and we‟re heared of even this far south.What have ye to say o‟ that?”Drizzt shrugged again and Bruenor chuckled, assuming that his friend was merely embarrassed by the fame.Regis and Wulfgar, too, shared in Bruenor‟s mirth, the big man giving the drow a good-hearted slap on the back as he slipped to the lead of the troupe.But Drizzt‟s discomfort stemmed from more than embarrassment.He had noted the grin on Jierdan‟s face as they had passed, a smile that went beyond admiration.And while he had no doubts that some tales of the battle with Akar Kessell‟s goblin army had reached the City of Sails, it struck Drizzt odd that a simple soldier knew so much about him and his friends, while the gatekeeper, solely responsible for determining who passed into the city, knew nothing.Luskan‟s streets were tightly packed with two– and three-story buildings, a reflection of the Page 14desperation of the people there to huddle within the safety of the city‟s high wall, away from the ever-present dangers of the savage northland.An occasional tower, a guard post, perhaps, or a prominent citizen‟s or guild‟s way to show superiority, sprouted from the roofline.
|
[
464,
2063,
1359,
318,
4988,
3274,
22307,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
11,
262,
288,
808,
257,
43570,
351,
257,
10309,
11,
475,
47589,
33655,
11,
8507,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
1906,
11295,
262,
11511,
3723,
25152,
3210,
319,
465,
7614,
1906,
271,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
17980,
11,
3554,
286,
465,
19065,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
262,
6175,
42577,
3699,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
262,
5265,
13884,
11,
1262,
257,
47037,
8216,
287,
281,
2230,
284,
2128,
555,
11011,
2790,
11,
996,
339,
373,
6189,
257,
1643,
10927,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
23586,
1244,
339,
307,
30,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
6653,
1049,
2546,
11,
465,
6205,
11,
290,
257,
3953,
286,
1630,
3675,
465,
812,
13,
1026,
2331,
7485,
284,
502,
326,
339,
815,
307,
994,
11,
475,
339,
1244,
307,
262,
1862,
5822,
286,
262,
15663,
326,
262,
12838,
12,
660,
13802,
423,
9635,
286,
13,
1135,
815,
407,
1210,
777,
23325,
1497,
26,
262,
6948,
743,
307,
12296,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
406,
17990,
272,
5457,
3252,
422,
262,
4000,
88,
18573,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
30,
447,
251,
262,
5265,
13884,
48776,
276,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
389,
584,
7313,
14090,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
790,
3344,
318,
8350,
351,
257,
8429,
13,
464,
2994,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
447,
253,
32157,
32832,
561,
407,
307,
9569,
40594,
416,
674,
21779,
11,
4249,
416,
262,
7313,
7937,
326,
1234,
287,
1123,
1622,
13,
447,
251,
464,
5265,
13884,
30441,
1143,
262,
1440,
18981,
757,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3774,
606,
379,
477,
11,
3805,
465,
15185,
447,
253,
82,
4490,
3667,
11,
290,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
606,
287,
465,
1748,
13,
1537,
339,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
611,
465,
30508,
547,
2642,
290,
339,
750,
1223,
284,
22451,
1096,
262,
32157,
32832,
3292,
11,
465,
898,
2003,
561,
307,
30942,
13,
464,
5795,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
9373,
284,
262,
21779,
11,
508,
547,
407,
2068,
284,
20927,
8563,
326,
7888,
2817,
511,
8012,
274,
13,
464,
5265,
13884,
9617,
510,
465,
2832,
287,
7433,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
287,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
284,
262,
3355,
290,
787,
534,
835,
866,
284,
262,
45906,
13,
464,
938,
11193,
6622,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
290,
345,
447,
253,
297,
307,
5814,
1576,
612,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
9713,
262,
6613,
35002,
286,
465,
2460,
355,
484,
23558,
832,
262,
3420,
11,
290,
339,
25183,
326,
484,
550,
635,
48255,
5207,
286,
262,
5273,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
4999,
465,
30508,
618,
484,
550,
3888,
1497,
422,
262,
4860,
18028,
11,
866,
262,
2975,
1863,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
4342,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
3013,
9741,
11,
26731,
2667,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
852,
6189,
10607,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
262,
1573,
447,
253,
82,
3750,
3675,
262,
288,
1000,
290
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
2063,
1359,
318,
4988,
3274,
22307,
286,
9092,
77,
911,
4066,
11,
262,
288,
808,
257,
43570,
351,
257,
10309,
11,
475,
47589,
33655,
11,
8507,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
1906,
11295,
262,
11511,
3723,
25152,
3210,
319,
465,
7614,
1906,
271,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
17980,
11,
3554,
286,
465,
19065,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
262,
6175,
42577,
3699,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
262,
5265,
13884,
11,
1262,
257,
47037,
8216,
287,
281,
2230,
284,
2128,
555,
11011,
2790,
11,
996,
339,
373,
6189,
257,
1643,
10927,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
23586,
1244,
339,
307,
30,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
6653,
1049,
2546,
11,
465,
6205,
11,
290,
257,
3953,
286,
1630,
3675,
465,
812,
13,
1026,
2331,
7485,
284,
502,
326,
339,
815,
307,
994,
11,
475,
339,
1244,
307,
262,
1862,
5822,
286,
262,
15663,
326,
262,
12838,
12,
660,
13802,
423,
9635,
286,
13,
1135,
815,
407,
1210,
777,
23325,
1497,
26,
262,
6948,
743,
307,
12296,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
406,
17990,
272,
5457,
3252,
422,
262,
4000,
88,
18573,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
30,
447,
251,
262,
5265,
13884,
48776,
276,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
389,
584,
7313,
14090,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
790,
3344,
318,
8350,
351,
257,
8429,
13,
464,
2994,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
447,
253,
32157,
32832,
561,
407,
307,
9569,
40594,
416,
674,
21779,
11,
4249,
416,
262,
7313,
7937,
326,
1234,
287,
1123,
1622,
13,
447,
251,
464,
5265,
13884,
30441,
1143,
262,
1440,
18981,
757,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3774,
606,
379,
477,
11,
3805,
465,
15185,
447,
253,
82,
4490,
3667,
11,
290,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
606,
287,
465,
1748,
13,
1537,
339,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
611,
465,
30508,
547,
2642,
290,
339,
750,
1223,
284,
22451,
1096,
262,
32157,
32832,
3292,
11,
465,
898,
2003,
561,
307,
30942,
13,
464,
5795,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
9373,
284,
262,
21779,
11,
508,
547,
407,
2068,
284,
20927,
8563,
326,
7888,
2817,
511,
8012,
274,
13,
464,
5265,
13884,
9617,
510,
465,
2832,
287,
7433,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
287,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
284,
262,
3355,
290,
787,
534,
835,
866,
284,
262,
45906,
13,
464,
938,
11193,
6622,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
290,
345,
447,
253,
297,
307,
5814,
1576,
612,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
9713,
262,
6613,
35002,
286,
465,
2460,
355,
484,
23558,
832,
262,
3420,
11,
290,
339,
25183,
326,
484,
550,
635,
48255,
5207,
286,
262,
5273,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
4999,
465,
30508,
618,
484,
550,
3888,
1497,
422,
262,
4860,
18028,
11,
866,
262,
2975,
1863,
262,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
4342,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
3013,
9741,
11,
26731,
2667,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
852,
6189,
10607,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
262,
1573,
447,
253,
82,
3750,
3675,
262,
288,
1000,
290
] |
dnd527
|
A wary city, Luskan survived, even flourished, in the dangerous frontier by holding fast to an attitude of alertness that often slipped over the line into paranoia.It was a city of shadows, and the four visitors this night keenly felt the curious and dangerous stares peeking out from every darkened hole as they made their way.The docks harbored the roughest section of the city, where thieves, outlaws, and beggars abounded in their narrow alleys and shadowed crannies.A perpetual ground fog wafted in from the sea, blurring the already dim avenues into even more mysterious pathways.Such was the lane the four friends found themselves turning down, the last lane before the piers themselves, a particularly decrepit run called Half-Moon Street.Regis, Drizzt, and Bruenor knew immediately that they had entered a collecting ground for vagabonds and ruffians, and each put a hand to his weapon.Wulfgar walked openly and without fear, although he, too, sensed the threatening atmosphere.Not understanding that the area was atypically foul, he was determined to approach his first experience with civilization with an open mind.“There‟s the place,” said Bruenor, indicating a small group, probably thieves, congregating before the doorway of a tavern.The weatherbeaten sign above the door named the place the Cutlass.Regis swallowed hard, a frightening mixture of emotions welling within him.In his early days as a thief in Calimport, he had frequented many places like this, but his familiarity with the environment only added to his apprehension.The forbidden allure of business done in the shadows of a dangerous tavern, he knew, could be as deadly as the hidden knives of the rogues at every table.“You truly want to go in there?” he asked his friends squeamishly.“No arguing from ye!” Bruenor snapped back.“Ye knew the road ahead when ye joined us in the dale.Don‟t ye be whining now!”“You are well guarded,” Drizzt put in to comfort Regis.Overly proud in his inexperience, Wulfgar pressed the statement even further.“What cause would they have to do us harm?Surely we have done no wrong,” he demanded.Then he proclaimed loudly to challenge the shadows, “Fear not, little friend.My hammer shall sweep aside any who stand against us!”“The pride o‟ youth,” Bruenor grumbled as he, Regis, and Drizzt exchanged incredulous looks.The atmosphere inside the Cutlass was in accord with the decay and rabble that marked the place outside.The tavern portion of the building was a single open room, with a long bar defensively positioned in the corner of the rear wall, directly across from the door.A staircase rose up from the side of the bar to the structure‟s second level, a staircase more often used by painted, overperfumed women and their latest companions than by guests of the inn.Indeed, merchant sailors who put into Luskan usually came ashore only for brief periods of excitement and entertainment, returning to the safety of their vessels if they could manage it before the inevitable drunken sleep left them vulnerable.More than anything else, though, the tavern at the Cutlass was a room of the senses, with myriad sounds and sights and smells.The aroma of alcohol, from strong ale and cheap wine to rarer and more powerful beverages, permeated every corner.A haze of smoke from exotic pipe-weeds, like the mist outside, blurred the harsh reality of the images into softer, dreamlike sensations.Drizzt led the way to an empty table tucked beside the door, while Bruenor approached the bar to make arrangements for their stay.
|
A wary city, Luskan survived, even flourished, in the dangerous frontier by holding fast to an attitude of alertness that often slipped over the line into paranoia.It was a city of shadows, and the four visitors this night keenly felt the curious and dangerous stares peeking out from every darkened hole as they made their way.The docks harbored the roughest section of the city, where thieves, outlaws, and beggars abounded in their narrow alleys and shadowed crannies.A perpetual ground fog wafted in from the sea, blurring the already dim avenues into even more mysterious pathways.Such was the lane the four friends found themselves turning down, the last lane before the piers themselves, a particularly decrepit run called Half-Moon Street.Regis, Drizzt, and Bruenor knew immediately that they had entered a collecting ground for vagabonds and ruffians, and each put a hand to his weapon.Wulfgar walked openly and without fear, although he, too, sensed the threatening atmosphere.Not understanding that the area was atypically foul, he was determined to approach his first experience with civilization with an open mind.“There‟s the place,” said Bruenor, indicating a small group, probably thieves, congregating before the doorway of a tavern.The weatherbeaten sign above the door named the place the Cutlass.Regis swallowed hard, a frightening mixture of emotions welling within him.In his early days as a thief in Calimport, he had frequented many places like this, but his familiarity with the environment only added to his apprehension.The forbidden allure of business done in the shadows of a dangerous tavern, he knew, could be as deadly as the hidden knives of the rogues at every table.“You truly want to go in there?” he asked his friends squeamishly.“No arguing from ye!” Bruenor snapped back.“Ye knew the road ahead when ye joined us in the dale.Don‟t ye be whining now!”“You are well guarded,” Drizzt put in to comfort Regis.Overly proud in his inexperience, Wulfgar pressed the statement even further.“What cause would they have to do us harm?Surely we have done no wrong,” he demanded.Then he proclaimed loudly to challenge the shadows, “Fear not, little friend.My hammer shall sweep aside any who stand against us!”“The pride o‟ youth,” Bruenor grumbled as he, Regis, and Drizzt exchanged incredulous looks.The atmosphere inside the Cutlass was in accord with the decay and rabble that marked the place outside.The tavern portion of the building was a single open room, with a long bar defensively positioned in the corner of the rear wall, directly across from the door.A staircase rose up from the side of the bar to the structure‟s second level, a staircase more often used by painted, overperfumed women and their latest companions than by guests of the inn.Indeed, merchant sailors who put into Luskan usually came ashore only for brief periods of excitement and entertainment, returning to the safety of their vessels if they could manage it before the inevitable drunken sleep left them vulnerable.More than anything else, though, the tavern at the Cutlass was a room of the senses, with myriad sounds and sights and smells.The aroma of alcohol, from strong ale and cheap wine to rarer and more powerful beverages, permeated every corner.A haze of smoke from exotic pipe-weeds, like the mist outside, blurred the harsh reality of the images into softer, dreamlike sensations.Drizzt led the way to an empty table tucked beside the door, while Bruenor approached the bar to make arrangements for their stay.
|
[
32,
23300,
1748,
11,
406,
17990,
272,
11803,
11,
772,
45671,
11,
287,
262,
4923,
27580,
416,
4769,
3049,
284,
281,
9408,
286,
7995,
1108,
326,
1690,
18859,
625,
262,
1627,
656,
34370,
13,
1026,
373,
257,
1748,
286,
16187,
11,
290,
262,
1440,
9692,
428,
1755,
13795,
306,
2936,
262,
11040,
290,
4923,
38806,
613,
18754,
503,
422,
790,
44261,
7604,
355,
484,
925,
511,
835,
13,
464,
45906,
43560,
1850,
262,
13805,
70,
3634,
2665,
286,
262,
1748,
11,
810,
26655,
11,
23716,
82,
11,
290,
44887,
945,
450,
6302,
287,
511,
7135,
435,
21325,
290,
9082,
276,
1067,
1236,
444,
13,
32,
29079,
2323,
19558,
2082,
701,
276,
287,
422,
262,
5417,
11,
698,
14924,
262,
1541,
5391,
34265,
656,
772,
517,
11428,
22963,
13,
16678,
373,
262,
11193,
262,
1440,
2460,
1043,
2405,
6225,
866,
11,
262,
938,
11193,
878,
262,
279,
3183,
2405,
11,
257,
3573,
5255,
15544,
1057,
1444,
13139,
12,
31640,
3530,
13,
8081,
271,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
2993,
3393,
326,
484,
550,
5982,
257,
13157,
2323,
329,
14334,
397,
24764,
290,
374,
1648,
1547,
11,
290,
1123,
1234,
257,
1021,
284,
465,
4282,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
6807,
11764,
290,
1231,
3252,
11,
3584,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
39243,
262,
11123,
8137,
13,
3673,
4547,
326,
262,
1989,
373,
379,
4464,
1146,
15626,
11,
339,
373,
5295,
284,
3164,
465,
717,
1998,
351,
14355,
351,
281,
1280,
2000,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
447,
253,
82,
262,
1295,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
12739,
257,
1402,
1448,
11,
2192,
26655,
11,
30663,
803,
878,
262,
32439,
286,
257,
42488,
13,
464,
6193,
12945,
268,
1051,
2029,
262,
3420,
3706,
262,
1295,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
8081,
271,
27961,
1327,
11,
257,
23101,
11710,
286,
10825,
880,
278,
1626,
683,
13,
818,
465,
1903,
1528,
355,
257,
25906,
287,
2199,
11748,
11,
339,
550,
3593,
4714,
867,
4113,
588,
428,
11,
475,
465,
33065,
351,
262,
2858,
691,
2087,
284,
465,
46473,
13,
464,
19467,
477,
495,
286,
1597,
1760,
287,
262,
16187,
286,
257,
4923,
42488,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
714,
307,
355,
10309,
355,
262,
7104,
23110,
286,
262,
47524,
947,
379,
790,
3084,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
4988,
765,
284,
467,
287,
612,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
465,
2460,
35776,
321,
29735,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11810,
422,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
20821,
736,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
2993,
262,
2975,
4058,
618,
9838,
5399,
514,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
13,
3987,
447,
253,
83,
9838,
307,
48978,
783,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
880,
28178,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1234,
287,
284,
4467,
3310,
271,
13,
5886,
306,
6613,
287,
465,
31830,
1240,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
12070,
262,
2643,
772,
2252,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
2728,
561,
484,
423,
284,
466,
514,
4419,
30,
19457,
306,
356,
423,
1760,
645,
2642,
11,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
13,
6423,
339,
25546,
23112,
284,
4427,
262,
16187,
11,
564,
250,
37798,
407,
11,
1310,
1545,
13
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
23300,
1748,
11,
406,
17990,
272,
11803,
11,
772,
45671,
11,
287,
262,
4923,
27580,
416,
4769,
3049,
284,
281,
9408,
286,
7995,
1108,
326,
1690,
18859,
625,
262,
1627,
656,
34370,
13,
1026,
373,
257,
1748,
286,
16187,
11,
290,
262,
1440,
9692,
428,
1755,
13795,
306,
2936,
262,
11040,
290,
4923,
38806,
613,
18754,
503,
422,
790,
44261,
7604,
355,
484,
925,
511,
835,
13,
464,
45906,
43560,
1850,
262,
13805,
70,
3634,
2665,
286,
262,
1748,
11,
810,
26655,
11,
23716,
82,
11,
290,
44887,
945,
450,
6302,
287,
511,
7135,
435,
21325,
290,
9082,
276,
1067,
1236,
444,
13,
32,
29079,
2323,
19558,
2082,
701,
276,
287,
422,
262,
5417,
11,
698,
14924,
262,
1541,
5391,
34265,
656,
772,
517,
11428,
22963,
13,
16678,
373,
262,
11193,
262,
1440,
2460,
1043,
2405,
6225,
866,
11,
262,
938,
11193,
878,
262,
279,
3183,
2405,
11,
257,
3573,
5255,
15544,
1057,
1444,
13139,
12,
31640,
3530,
13,
8081,
271,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
2993,
3393,
326,
484,
550,
5982,
257,
13157,
2323,
329,
14334,
397,
24764,
290,
374,
1648,
1547,
11,
290,
1123,
1234,
257,
1021,
284,
465,
4282,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
6807,
11764,
290,
1231,
3252,
11,
3584,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
39243,
262,
11123,
8137,
13,
3673,
4547,
326,
262,
1989,
373,
379,
4464,
1146,
15626,
11,
339,
373,
5295,
284,
3164,
465,
717,
1998,
351,
14355,
351,
281,
1280,
2000,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
447,
253,
82,
262,
1295,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
12739,
257,
1402,
1448,
11,
2192,
26655,
11,
30663,
803,
878,
262,
32439,
286,
257,
42488,
13,
464,
6193,
12945,
268,
1051,
2029,
262,
3420,
3706,
262,
1295,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
8081,
271,
27961,
1327,
11,
257,
23101,
11710,
286,
10825,
880,
278,
1626,
683,
13,
818,
465,
1903,
1528,
355,
257,
25906,
287,
2199,
11748,
11,
339,
550,
3593,
4714,
867,
4113,
588,
428,
11,
475,
465,
33065,
351,
262,
2858,
691,
2087,
284,
465,
46473,
13,
464,
19467,
477,
495,
286,
1597,
1760,
287,
262,
16187,
286,
257,
4923,
42488,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
714,
307,
355,
10309,
355,
262,
7104,
23110,
286,
262,
47524,
947,
379,
790,
3084,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
4988,
765,
284,
467,
287,
612,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
465,
2460,
35776,
321,
29735,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11810,
422,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
20821,
736,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
2993,
262,
2975,
4058,
618,
9838,
5399,
514,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
13,
3987,
447,
253,
83,
9838,
307,
48978,
783,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
880,
28178,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1234,
287,
284,
4467,
3310,
271,
13,
5886,
306,
6613,
287,
465,
31830,
1240,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
12070,
262,
2643,
772,
2252,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
2728,
561,
484,
423,
284,
466,
514,
4419,
30,
19457,
306,
356,
423,
1760,
645,
2642,
11,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
13,
6423,
339,
25546,
23112,
284,
4427,
262,
16187,
11,
564,
250,
37798,
407,
11,
1310,
1545,
13
] |
dnd528
|
Wulfgar started after the dwarf, but Drizzt stopped him.“To the table,” he explained.“You are too excited for such business; Bruenor can take care of it.”Wulfgar started to protest, but was cut short.“Come on,” Regis offered.“Sit with Drizzt and me.No one will bother a tough old dwarf, but a tiny halfling and a skinny elf might look like good sport to the brutes in here.We need your size and strength to deter such unwanted attention.”Wulfgar‟s chin firmed up at the compliment and he strode boldly toward the table.Regis shot Page 15Drizzt a knowing wink and turned to follow.“Many lessons you will learn on this journey, young friend,” Drizzt mumbled to Wulfgar, too softly for the barbarian to hear.“So far from your home.”Bruenor came back from the bar bearing four flagons of mead and grumbling under his breath.“We‟re to get our business finished soon,” he said to Drizzt, “and get back on the road.The cost of a room in this orc-hole is open thievery!”“The rooms were not meant to be taken for a whole night,” Regis snickered.But Bruenor‟s scowl remained.“Drink up,” he told the drow.“Rat Alley is but a short walk, by the tellin‟s of the barmaid, and it might be that we can make contact yet this night.”Drizzt nodded and sipped the mead, not really wanting any of it, but hoping that a shared drink might relax the dwarf.The drow, too, was anxious to be gone from Luskan, fearful that his own identity–he kept his cowl pulled even tighter in the tavern‟s flickering torchlight–might bring them more trouble.He worried further for Wulfgar, young and proud, and out of his element.The barbarians of Icewind Dale, though merciless in battle, were undeniably honorable, basing their society‟s structure entirely on strict and unbending codes.Drizzt feared that Wulfgar would fall easy prey to the false images and treachery of the city.On the road in the wild lands Wulfgar‟s hammer would keep him safe enough, but here he was likely to find himself in deceptive situations involving disguised blades, where his mighty weapon and battle-prowess offered little help.Wulfgar downed his flagon in a single gulp, wiped his lips with zeal, and stood.“Let us be going,” he said to Bruenor.“Who is it that we seek?”“Sit yerself back down and shut yer mouth, boy,” Bruenor scolded, glancing around to see if any unwanted attention had fallen upon them.“This night‟s work is for me and the drow.No place for a too-big fighter like yerself!
|
Wulfgar started after the dwarf, but Drizzt stopped him.“To the table,” he explained.“You are too excited for such business; Bruenor can take care of it.”Wulfgar started to protest, but was cut short.“Come on,” Regis offered.“Sit with Drizzt and me.No one will bother a tough old dwarf, but a tiny halfling and a skinny elf might look like good sport to the brutes in here.We need your size and strength to deter such unwanted attention.”Wulfgar‟s chin firmed up at the compliment and he strode boldly toward the table.Regis shot Page 15Drizzt a knowing wink and turned to follow.“Many lessons you will learn on this journey, young friend,” Drizzt mumbled to Wulfgar, too softly for the barbarian to hear.“So far from your home.”Bruenor came back from the bar bearing four flagons of mead and grumbling under his breath.“We‟re to get our business finished soon,” he said to Drizzt, “and get back on the road.The cost of a room in this orc-hole is open thievery!”“The rooms were not meant to be taken for a whole night,” Regis snickered.But Bruenor‟s scowl remained.“Drink up,” he told the drow.“Rat Alley is but a short walk, by the tellin‟s of the barmaid, and it might be that we can make contact yet this night.”Drizzt nodded and sipped the mead, not really wanting any of it, but hoping that a shared drink might relax the dwarf.The drow, too, was anxious to be gone from Luskan, fearful that his own identity–he kept his cowl pulled even tighter in the tavern‟s flickering torchlight–might bring them more trouble.He worried further for Wulfgar, young and proud, and out of his element.The barbarians of Icewind Dale, though merciless in battle, were undeniably honorable, basing their society‟s structure entirely on strict and unbending codes.Drizzt feared that Wulfgar would fall easy prey to the false images and treachery of the city.On the road in the wild lands Wulfgar‟s hammer would keep him safe enough, but here he was likely to find himself in deceptive situations involving disguised blades, where his mighty weapon and battle-prowess offered little help.Wulfgar downed his flagon in a single gulp, wiped his lips with zeal, and stood.“Let us be going,” he said to Bruenor.“Who is it that we seek?”“Sit yerself back down and shut yer mouth, boy,” Bruenor scolded, glancing around to see if any unwanted attention had fallen upon them.“This night‟s work is for me and the drow.No place for a too-big fighter like yerself!
|
[
54,
4754,
4563,
2067,
706,
262,
24603,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
5025,
683,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
3084,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
1165,
6568,
329,
884,
1597,
26,
8274,
268,
273,
460,
1011,
1337,
286,
340,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
2067,
284,
5402,
11,
475,
373,
2005,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
46655,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
502,
13,
2949,
530,
481,
11393,
257,
5802,
1468,
24603,
11,
475,
257,
7009,
2063,
1359,
290,
257,
29494,
23878,
1244,
804,
588,
922,
6332,
284,
262,
865,
1769,
287,
994,
13,
1135,
761,
534,
2546,
290,
4202,
284,
2206,
884,
19125,
3241,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
22531,
277,
15491,
510,
379,
262,
19370,
290,
339,
9660,
2934,
42831,
3812,
262,
3084,
13,
8081,
271,
2823,
7873,
1315,
20564,
3019,
83,
257,
6970,
41955,
290,
2900,
284,
1061,
13,
447,
250,
7085,
11658,
345,
481,
2193,
319,
428,
7002,
11,
1862,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
285,
11137,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
26625,
329,
262,
42577,
3699,
284,
3285,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
1290,
422,
534,
1363,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1625,
736,
422,
262,
2318,
14121,
1440,
6056,
684,
286,
502,
324,
290,
1036,
14739,
739,
465,
8033,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
651,
674,
1597,
5201,
2582,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
564,
250,
392,
651,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
13,
464,
1575,
286,
257,
2119,
287,
428,
26393,
12,
13207,
318,
1280,
294,
494,
548,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
9519,
547,
407,
4001,
284,
307,
2077,
329,
257,
2187,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
3013,
291,
28970,
13,
1537,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
629,
4883,
6150,
13,
447,
250,
6187,
676,
510,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
288,
808,
13,
447,
250,
29665,
40960,
318,
475,
257,
1790,
2513,
11,
416,
262,
1560,
259,
447,
253,
82,
286,
262,
275,
1670,
1698,
11,
290,
340,
1244,
307,
326,
356,
460,
787,
2800,
1865,
428,
1755,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
264,
3949,
262,
502,
324,
11,
407,
1107,
10291,
597,
286,
340,
11,
475,
7725,
326,
257,
4888,
4144,
1244,
8960,
262,
24603,
13,
464,
288,
808,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
18116,
284,
307,
3750,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
26844,
326,
465,
898,
5369,
1906,
258,
4030,
465,
269,
4883,
5954,
772,
28619,
287,
262,
42488,
447,
253,
82,
50104,
28034,
2971,
1906,
44092,
2222,
606,
517,
5876,
13,
1544,
7960,
2252,
329,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1862,
290,
6613,
11,
290,
503,
286,
465,
5002,
13,
464,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
996,
40618,
287,
3344,
11,
547,
47589,
33655,
11,
1615,
278,
511,
3592,
447,
253,
82,
4645,
5000,
319,
7646,
290,
22619,
1571,
12416,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
15240,
326,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
2121,
2562,
15974,
284,
262,
3991,
4263,
290,
32550,
88,
286,
262
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
54,
4754,
4563,
2067,
706,
262,
24603,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
5025,
683,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
3084,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
1165,
6568,
329,
884,
1597,
26,
8274,
268,
273,
460,
1011,
1337,
286,
340,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
2067,
284,
5402,
11,
475,
373,
2005,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
46655,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
502,
13,
2949,
530,
481,
11393,
257,
5802,
1468,
24603,
11,
475,
257,
7009,
2063,
1359,
290,
257,
29494,
23878,
1244,
804,
588,
922,
6332,
284,
262,
865,
1769,
287,
994,
13,
1135,
761,
534,
2546,
290,
4202,
284,
2206,
884,
19125,
3241,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
22531,
277,
15491,
510,
379,
262,
19370,
290,
339,
9660,
2934,
42831,
3812,
262,
3084,
13,
8081,
271,
2823,
7873,
1315,
20564,
3019,
83,
257,
6970,
41955,
290,
2900,
284,
1061,
13,
447,
250,
7085,
11658,
345,
481,
2193,
319,
428,
7002,
11,
1862,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
285,
11137,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
26625,
329,
262,
42577,
3699,
284,
3285,
13,
447,
250,
2396,
1290,
422,
534,
1363,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1625,
736,
422,
262,
2318,
14121,
1440,
6056,
684,
286,
502,
324,
290,
1036,
14739,
739,
465,
8033,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
651,
674,
1597,
5201,
2582,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
564,
250,
392,
651,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
13,
464,
1575,
286,
257,
2119,
287,
428,
26393,
12,
13207,
318,
1280,
294,
494,
548,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
9519,
547,
407,
4001,
284,
307,
2077,
329,
257,
2187,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
3013,
291,
28970,
13,
1537,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
629,
4883,
6150,
13,
447,
250,
6187,
676,
510,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
288,
808,
13,
447,
250,
29665,
40960,
318,
475,
257,
1790,
2513,
11,
416,
262,
1560,
259,
447,
253,
82,
286,
262,
275,
1670,
1698,
11,
290,
340,
1244,
307,
326,
356,
460,
787,
2800,
1865,
428,
1755,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
264,
3949,
262,
502,
324,
11,
407,
1107,
10291,
597,
286,
340,
11,
475,
7725,
326,
257,
4888,
4144,
1244,
8960,
262,
24603,
13,
464,
288,
808,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
18116,
284,
307,
3750,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
26844,
326,
465,
898,
5369,
1906,
258,
4030,
465,
269,
4883,
5954,
772,
28619,
287,
262,
42488,
447,
253,
82,
50104,
28034,
2971,
1906,
44092,
2222,
606,
517,
5876,
13,
1544,
7960,
2252,
329,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1862,
290,
6613,
11,
290,
503,
286,
465,
5002,
13,
464,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
996,
40618,
287,
3344,
11,
547,
47589,
33655,
11,
1615,
278,
511,
3592,
447,
253,
82,
4645,
5000,
319,
7646,
290,
22619,
1571,
12416,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
15240,
326,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
2121,
2562,
15974,
284,
262,
3991,
4263,
290,
32550,
88,
286,
262
] |
dnd529
|
Ye stay here with Rumblebelly an‟ keep yer mouth shut and yer back to the wall!”Wulfgar slumped back in humiliation, but Drizzt was glad that Bruenor seemed to have come to similar conclusions about the young warrior.Once again, Regis saved a measure of Wulfgar‟s pride.“You are not leaving with them!” he snapped at the barbarian.“I have no desire to go, but I would not dare to remain here alone.Let Drizzt and Bruenor have their fun in some cold, smelly alley.We‟ll stay here and enjoy a well-deserved evening of high entertainment!”Drizzt slapped Regis‟s knee under the table in thanks and rose to leave.Bruenor quaffed his flagon and leaped from his chair.“Let‟s be going, then,” he said to the drow.And then to Wulfgar, “Keep care of the halfling, and beware the women!They‟re mean as starved rats, and the only thing they aim to bite at is your purse!”* * *Bruenor and Drizzt turned at the first empty alleyway beyond the Cutlass, the dwarf standing nervous guard at its entrance while Drizzt moved down a few steps into the darkness.Convinced that he was safely alone, Drizzt removed from his pouch a small onyx statuette, meticulously carved into the likeness of a hunting cat, and placed it on the ground before him.“Guenhwyvar,” he called softly.“Come, my shadow.”His beckon reached out across the planes, to the astral home of the entity of the panther.The great cat stirred from its sleep.Many months had passed since its master had called, and the cat was anxious to serve.Guenhwyvar leaped out across the fabric of the planes, following a flicker of light that could only be the calling of the drow.Then the cat was in the alley with Drizzt, alert at once in the unfamiliar surroundings.“We walk into a dangerous web, I fear,” Drizzt explained.“I need eyes where my own cannot go.”Page 16Without delay and without a sound, Guenhwyvar sprang to a pile of rubble, to a broken porch landing, and up to the rooftops.Satisfied, and feeling much more secure now, Drizzt slipped back to the street where Bruenor waited.“Well, where‟s that blasted cat?” Bruenor asked, a hint of relief in his voice that Guenhwyvar was actually not with the drow.Most dwarves are suspicious of magic, other than the magical enchantments placed upon weapons, and Bruenor had no love for the panther.“Where we need him most,” was the drow‟s answer.He started off down Half-Moon Street.“Fear not, mighty Bruenor, Guenhwyvar‟s eyes are upon us, even if ours cannot return their protective gaze!”The dwarf glanced all around nervously, beads of sweat visible at the base of his horned helm.He had known Drizzt for several years, but had never gotten comfortable around the magical cat.Drizzt hid his smile under his cowl.Each lane, filled with piles of rubble and refuse, appeared the same, as they made their way along the docks.Bruenor eyed each shadowed niche with alert suspicion.His eyes were not as keen in the night as those of the drow, and if he had seen into the darkness as clearly as Drizzt, he might have clutched his axe handle even more tightly.But the dwarf and drow weren‟t overly concerned.They were far from typical of the drunkards that usually stumbled into these parts at night, and not easy prey for thieves.
|
Ye stay here with Rumblebelly an‟ keep yer mouth shut and yer back to the wall!”Wulfgar slumped back in humiliation, but Drizzt was glad that Bruenor seemed to have come to similar conclusions about the young warrior.Once again, Regis saved a measure of Wulfgar‟s pride.“You are not leaving with them!” he snapped at the barbarian.“I have no desire to go, but I would not dare to remain here alone.Let Drizzt and Bruenor have their fun in some cold, smelly alley.We‟ll stay here and enjoy a well-deserved evening of high entertainment!”Drizzt slapped Regis‟s knee under the table in thanks and rose to leave.Bruenor quaffed his flagon and leaped from his chair.“Let‟s be going, then,” he said to the drow.And then to Wulfgar, “Keep care of the halfling, and beware the women!They‟re mean as starved rats, and the only thing they aim to bite at is your purse!”* * *Bruenor and Drizzt turned at the first empty alleyway beyond the Cutlass, the dwarf standing nervous guard at its entrance while Drizzt moved down a few steps into the darkness.Convinced that he was safely alone, Drizzt removed from his pouch a small onyx statuette, meticulously carved into the likeness of a hunting cat, and placed it on the ground before him.“Guenhwyvar,” he called softly.“Come, my shadow.”His beckon reached out across the planes, to the astral home of the entity of the panther.The great cat stirred from its sleep.Many months had passed since its master had called, and the cat was anxious to serve.Guenhwyvar leaped out across the fabric of the planes, following a flicker of light that could only be the calling of the drow.Then the cat was in the alley with Drizzt, alert at once in the unfamiliar surroundings.“We walk into a dangerous web, I fear,” Drizzt explained.“I need eyes where my own cannot go.”Page 16Without delay and without a sound, Guenhwyvar sprang to a pile of rubble, to a broken porch landing, and up to the rooftops.Satisfied, and feeling much more secure now, Drizzt slipped back to the street where Bruenor waited.“Well, where‟s that blasted cat?” Bruenor asked, a hint of relief in his voice that Guenhwyvar was actually not with the drow.Most dwarves are suspicious of magic, other than the magical enchantments placed upon weapons, and Bruenor had no love for the panther.“Where we need him most,” was the drow‟s answer.He started off down Half-Moon Street.“Fear not, mighty Bruenor, Guenhwyvar‟s eyes are upon us, even if ours cannot return their protective gaze!”The dwarf glanced all around nervously, beads of sweat visible at the base of his horned helm.He had known Drizzt for several years, but had never gotten comfortable around the magical cat.Drizzt hid his smile under his cowl.Each lane, filled with piles of rubble and refuse, appeared the same, as they made their way along the docks.Bruenor eyed each shadowed niche with alert suspicion.His eyes were not as keen in the night as those of the drow, and if he had seen into the darkness as clearly as Drizzt, he might have clutched his axe handle even more tightly.But the dwarf and drow weren‟t overly concerned.They were far from typical of the drunkards that usually stumbled into these parts at night, and not easy prey for thieves.
|
[
35543,
2652,
994,
351,
42888,
65,
6148,
281,
447,
253,
1394,
331,
263,
5422,
4423,
290,
331,
263,
736,
284,
262,
3355,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
48560,
736,
287,
32415,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
9675,
326,
8274,
268,
273,
3947,
284,
423,
1282,
284,
2092,
13242,
546,
262,
1862,
16491,
13,
7454,
757,
11,
3310,
271,
7448,
257,
3953,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
11293,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
407,
4305,
351,
606,
0,
447,
251,
339,
20821,
379,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
6227,
284,
467,
11,
475,
314,
561,
407,
16498,
284,
3520,
994,
3436,
13,
5756,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
423,
511,
1257,
287,
617,
4692,
11,
895,
6148,
23978,
13,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
2652,
994,
290,
2883,
257,
880,
12,
8906,
8520,
6180,
286,
1029,
9739,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
31213,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
10329,
739,
262,
3084,
287,
5176,
290,
8278,
284,
2666,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
627,
2001,
276,
465,
781,
1840,
290,
443,
5813,
422,
465,
5118,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
447,
253,
82,
307,
1016,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
262,
288,
808,
13,
1870,
788,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
564,
250,
15597,
1337,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
290,
40600,
262,
1466,
0,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
1612,
355,
47224,
13623,
11,
290,
262,
691,
1517,
484,
4031,
284,
13197,
379,
318,
534,
27517,
0,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
2900,
379,
262,
717,
6565,
23978,
1014,
3675,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
262,
24603,
5055,
10927,
4860,
379,
663,
10384,
981,
5809,
3019,
83,
3888,
866,
257,
1178,
4831,
656,
262,
11854,
13,
3103,
7114,
771,
326,
339,
373,
11512,
3436,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
4615,
422,
465,
36594,
257,
1402,
319,
28391,
1185,
84,
5857,
11,
46553,
23470,
656,
262,
35674,
286,
257,
10988,
3797,
11,
290,
4624,
340,
319,
262,
2323,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1444,
26625,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
11,
616,
9082,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
47673,
261,
4251,
503,
1973,
262,
13016,
11,
284,
262,
6468,
1373,
1363,
286,
262,
9312,
286,
262,
15857,
372,
13,
464,
1049,
3797,
33091,
422,
663,
3993,
13,
7085,
1933,
550,
3804,
1201,
663,
4958,
550,
1444,
11,
290,
262,
3797,
373,
18116,
284,
4691,
13,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
443,
5813,
503,
1973,
262,
9664,
286,
262,
13016,
11,
1708,
257,
781,
15799,
286,
1657,
326,
714,
691,
307,
262,
4585,
286,
262,
288,
808,
13,
6423,
262,
3797,
373,
287,
262,
23978,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
7995,
379,
1752,
287,
262,
22594,
21334,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2513,
656,
257,
4923,
3992,
11,
314,
3252,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
40,
761,
2951,
810,
616,
898,
2314,
467,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
1467,
16249,
5711,
290,
1231,
257,
2128,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
43908,
284,
257,
14540,
286,
29632,
11,
284,
257
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
35543,
2652,
994,
351,
42888,
65,
6148,
281,
447,
253,
1394,
331,
263,
5422,
4423,
290,
331,
263,
736,
284,
262,
3355,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
48560,
736,
287,
32415,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
9675,
326,
8274,
268,
273,
3947,
284,
423,
1282,
284,
2092,
13242,
546,
262,
1862,
16491,
13,
7454,
757,
11,
3310,
271,
7448,
257,
3953,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
11293,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
407,
4305,
351,
606,
0,
447,
251,
339,
20821,
379,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
6227,
284,
467,
11,
475,
314,
561,
407,
16498,
284,
3520,
994,
3436,
13,
5756,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
423,
511,
1257,
287,
617,
4692,
11,
895,
6148,
23978,
13,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
2652,
994,
290,
2883,
257,
880,
12,
8906,
8520,
6180,
286,
1029,
9739,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
31213,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
10329,
739,
262,
3084,
287,
5176,
290,
8278,
284,
2666,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
627,
2001,
276,
465,
781,
1840,
290,
443,
5813,
422,
465,
5118,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
447,
253,
82,
307,
1016,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
262,
288,
808,
13,
1870,
788,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
564,
250,
15597,
1337,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
290,
40600,
262,
1466,
0,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
1612,
355,
47224,
13623,
11,
290,
262,
691,
1517,
484,
4031,
284,
13197,
379,
318,
534,
27517,
0,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
2900,
379,
262,
717,
6565,
23978,
1014,
3675,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
262,
24603,
5055,
10927,
4860,
379,
663,
10384,
981,
5809,
3019,
83,
3888,
866,
257,
1178,
4831,
656,
262,
11854,
13,
3103,
7114,
771,
326,
339,
373,
11512,
3436,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
4615,
422,
465,
36594,
257,
1402,
319,
28391,
1185,
84,
5857,
11,
46553,
23470,
656,
262,
35674,
286,
257,
10988,
3797,
11,
290,
4624,
340,
319,
262,
2323,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1444,
26625,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
11,
616,
9082,
13,
447,
251,
6653,
47673,
261,
4251,
503,
1973,
262,
13016,
11,
284,
262,
6468,
1373,
1363,
286,
262,
9312,
286,
262,
15857,
372,
13,
464,
1049,
3797,
33091,
422,
663,
3993,
13,
7085,
1933,
550,
3804,
1201,
663,
4958,
550,
1444,
11,
290,
262,
3797,
373,
18116,
284,
4691,
13,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
443,
5813,
503,
1973,
262,
9664,
286,
262,
13016,
11,
1708,
257,
781,
15799,
286,
1657,
326,
714,
691,
307,
262,
4585,
286,
262,
288,
808,
13,
6423,
262,
3797,
373,
287,
262,
23978,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
7995,
379,
1752,
287,
262,
22594,
21334,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2513,
656,
257,
4923,
3992,
11,
314,
3252,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
40,
761,
2951,
810,
616,
898,
2314,
467,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
1467,
16249,
5711,
290,
1231,
257,
2128,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
43908,
284,
257,
14540,
286,
29632,
11,
284,
257
] |
dnd530
|
The many notches on Bruenor‟s axe and the sway of the two scimitars on the drow‟s belt would serve as ample deterrent to most ruffians.In the maze of streets and alleyways, it took them a long while to find Rat Alley.Just off the piers, it ran parallel to the sea, seemingly impassable through the thick fog.Long, low warehouses lined both its sides, and broken crates and boxes cluttered the alley, reducing the already narrow passage in many places to single-file breadth.“Nice place to be walkin‟ down on a gloomy night,” Bruenor stated flatly.“Are you certain that this is the lane?” Drizzt asked, equally unenthused about the area before them.“By the words o‟ the merchant in Ten-Towns, if one‟s alive that can get me the map, the one be Whisper.An‟ the place to find Whisper is Rat Alley–always Rat Alley.”“Then on with it,” said Drizzt.“Foul business is best finished quickly.”Bruenor slowly led the way into the alley.The two had barely gone ten feet when the dwarf thought he heard the click of a crossbow.He stopped short and looked back at Drizzt.“They‟re on us,” he whispered.“In the boarded window above and to the right of us,” Drizzt explained, his exceptional night vision and hearing having already discerned the sound‟s source.“A precaution, I hope.Perhaps a good sign that your contact is close.”“Never called a crossbow aimed at me head a good sign!” argued the dwarf.“But on, then, and keep yerself at the ready.This place reeks of danger!” He started again through the rubble.A shuffle to their left told them that eyes were upon them from that way as well.But still they continued, understanding that they couldn‟t have expected any different a scenario when they had started out from the Cutlass.Rounding a final mound of broken planks, they saw a slender figure leaning against one of the alleyway‟s walls, cloak pulled tightly against the chill of the evening mist.Drizzt leaned over Bruenor‟s shoulder.“May that be the one?” he whispered.The dwarf shrugged, and said, “Who else?” He took one more step forward, planted his feet firmly, wide apart, and addressed the figure.“I be looking for a man named Whisper,” he called.“Might that be yerself?”“Yes, and no,” came the reply.The figure turned toward them, though the low-pulled cloak revealed little.“What games do ye play?” Bruenor shot back.“Whisper I am,” replied the figure, letting the cloak slip back a little.“But for sure no man!”They could see clearly now that the figure addressing them was indeed a woman, a dark and Page 17mysterious figure with long black hair and deeply set, darting eyes that showed experience and a profound understanding of survival on the street.Page 183.Night LifeThe Cutlass grew busier as the night wore on.Merchant sailors crowded in from their ships and the locals were quick into position to feed upon them.
|
The many notches on Bruenor‟s axe and the sway of the two scimitars on the drow‟s belt would serve as ample deterrent to most ruffians.In the maze of streets and alleyways, it took them a long while to find Rat Alley.Just off the piers, it ran parallel to the sea, seemingly impassable through the thick fog.Long, low warehouses lined both its sides, and broken crates and boxes cluttered the alley, reducing the already narrow passage in many places to single-file breadth.“Nice place to be walkin‟ down on a gloomy night,” Bruenor stated flatly.“Are you certain that this is the lane?” Drizzt asked, equally unenthused about the area before them.“By the words o‟ the merchant in Ten-Towns, if one‟s alive that can get me the map, the one be Whisper.An‟ the place to find Whisper is Rat Alley–always Rat Alley.”“Then on with it,” said Drizzt.“Foul business is best finished quickly.”Bruenor slowly led the way into the alley.The two had barely gone ten feet when the dwarf thought he heard the click of a crossbow.He stopped short and looked back at Drizzt.“They‟re on us,” he whispered.“In the boarded window above and to the right of us,” Drizzt explained, his exceptional night vision and hearing having already discerned the sound‟s source.“A precaution, I hope.Perhaps a good sign that your contact is close.”“Never called a crossbow aimed at me head a good sign!” argued the dwarf.“But on, then, and keep yerself at the ready.This place reeks of danger!” He started again through the rubble.A shuffle to their left told them that eyes were upon them from that way as well.But still they continued, understanding that they couldn‟t have expected any different a scenario when they had started out from the Cutlass.Rounding a final mound of broken planks, they saw a slender figure leaning against one of the alleyway‟s walls, cloak pulled tightly against the chill of the evening mist.Drizzt leaned over Bruenor‟s shoulder.“May that be the one?” he whispered.The dwarf shrugged, and said, “Who else?” He took one more step forward, planted his feet firmly, wide apart, and addressed the figure.“I be looking for a man named Whisper,” he called.“Might that be yerself?”“Yes, and no,” came the reply.The figure turned toward them, though the low-pulled cloak revealed little.“What games do ye play?” Bruenor shot back.“Whisper I am,” replied the figure, letting the cloak slip back a little.“But for sure no man!”They could see clearly now that the figure addressing them was indeed a woman, a dark and Page 17mysterious figure with long black hair and deeply set, darting eyes that showed experience and a profound understanding of survival on the street.Page 183.Night LifeThe Cutlass grew busier as the night wore on.Merchant sailors crowded in from their ships and the locals were quick into position to feed upon them.
|
[
464,
867,
407,
2052,
319,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
290,
262,
20009,
286,
262,
734,
629,
320,
27745,
319,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
10999,
561,
4691,
355,
23933,
34207,
284,
749,
374,
1648,
1547,
13,
818,
262,
31237,
286,
6483,
290,
23978,
1322,
11,
340,
1718,
606,
257,
890,
981,
284,
1064,
11738,
40960,
13,
5703,
572,
262,
279,
3183,
11,
340,
4966,
10730,
284,
262,
5417,
11,
9775,
848,
562,
540,
832,
262,
6546,
19558,
13,
14617,
11,
1877,
43675,
16566,
1111,
663,
5389,
11,
290,
5445,
40382,
290,
10559,
32170,
4400,
262,
23978,
11,
8868,
262,
1541,
7135,
10066,
287,
867,
4113,
284,
2060,
12,
7753,
32483,
13,
447,
250,
35284,
1295,
284,
307,
2513,
259,
447,
253,
866,
319,
257,
46400,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5081,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
1728,
326,
428,
318,
262,
11193,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
11,
8603,
555,
7944,
1484,
546,
262,
1989,
878,
606,
13,
447,
250,
3886,
262,
2456,
267,
447,
253,
262,
20729,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
611,
530,
447,
253,
82,
6776,
326,
460,
651,
502,
262,
3975,
11,
262,
530,
307,
28424,
525,
13,
2025,
447,
253,
262,
1295,
284,
1064,
28424,
525,
318,
11738,
40960,
1906,
33770,
11738,
40960,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
319,
351,
340,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
37,
2852,
1597,
318,
1266,
5201,
2952,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
6364,
2957,
262,
835,
656,
262,
23978,
13,
464,
734,
550,
8523,
3750,
3478,
3625,
618,
262,
24603,
1807,
339,
2982,
262,
3904,
286,
257,
3272,
8176,
13,
1544,
5025,
1790,
290,
3114,
736,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
319,
514,
11,
447,
251,
339,
25029,
13,
447,
250,
818,
262,
35032,
4324,
2029,
290,
284,
262,
826,
286,
514,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4893,
11,
465,
15313,
1755,
5761,
290,
4854,
1719,
1541,
22024,
276,
262,
2128,
447,
253,
82,
2723,
13,
447,
250,
32,
32992,
11,
314,
2911,
13,
13710,
257,
922,
1051,
326,
534,
2800,
318,
1969,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12295,
1444,
257,
3272,
8176,
8998,
379,
502,
1182,
257,
922,
1051,
0,
447,
251,
7189,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
319,
11,
788,
11,
290,
1394,
331,
263,
944,
379,
262,
3492,
13,
1212,
1295,
302,
2573,
286,
3514,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2067,
757,
832,
262,
29632,
13,
32,
36273,
284,
511,
1364,
1297,
606,
326,
2951,
547,
2402,
606,
422,
326,
835,
355,
880,
13,
1537,
991,
484,
3767,
11,
4547,
326,
484,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
423,
2938,
597,
1180,
257,
8883,
618,
484,
550,
2067,
503,
422,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
49,
9969,
257,
2457,
31446,
286,
5445,
1410,
591,
11,
484,
2497,
257,
36808,
3785,
21804,
1028,
530,
286,
262,
23978,
1014,
447,
253,
82,
7714,
11,
24117,
5954,
17707,
1028,
262,
20493,
286,
262,
6180,
4020,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
23831,
625,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
8163
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
867,
407,
2052,
319,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
290,
262,
20009,
286,
262,
734,
629,
320,
27745,
319,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
10999,
561,
4691,
355,
23933,
34207,
284,
749,
374,
1648,
1547,
13,
818,
262,
31237,
286,
6483,
290,
23978,
1322,
11,
340,
1718,
606,
257,
890,
981,
284,
1064,
11738,
40960,
13,
5703,
572,
262,
279,
3183,
11,
340,
4966,
10730,
284,
262,
5417,
11,
9775,
848,
562,
540,
832,
262,
6546,
19558,
13,
14617,
11,
1877,
43675,
16566,
1111,
663,
5389,
11,
290,
5445,
40382,
290,
10559,
32170,
4400,
262,
23978,
11,
8868,
262,
1541,
7135,
10066,
287,
867,
4113,
284,
2060,
12,
7753,
32483,
13,
447,
250,
35284,
1295,
284,
307,
2513,
259,
447,
253,
866,
319,
257,
46400,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5081,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
1728,
326,
428,
318,
262,
11193,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
11,
8603,
555,
7944,
1484,
546,
262,
1989,
878,
606,
13,
447,
250,
3886,
262,
2456,
267,
447,
253,
262,
20729,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
611,
530,
447,
253,
82,
6776,
326,
460,
651,
502,
262,
3975,
11,
262,
530,
307,
28424,
525,
13,
2025,
447,
253,
262,
1295,
284,
1064,
28424,
525,
318,
11738,
40960,
1906,
33770,
11738,
40960,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
319,
351,
340,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
37,
2852,
1597,
318,
1266,
5201,
2952,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
6364,
2957,
262,
835,
656,
262,
23978,
13,
464,
734,
550,
8523,
3750,
3478,
3625,
618,
262,
24603,
1807,
339,
2982,
262,
3904,
286,
257,
3272,
8176,
13,
1544,
5025,
1790,
290,
3114,
736,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
319,
514,
11,
447,
251,
339,
25029,
13,
447,
250,
818,
262,
35032,
4324,
2029,
290,
284,
262,
826,
286,
514,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4893,
11,
465,
15313,
1755,
5761,
290,
4854,
1719,
1541,
22024,
276,
262,
2128,
447,
253,
82,
2723,
13,
447,
250,
32,
32992,
11,
314,
2911,
13,
13710,
257,
922,
1051,
326,
534,
2800,
318,
1969,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12295,
1444,
257,
3272,
8176,
8998,
379,
502,
1182,
257,
922,
1051,
0,
447,
251,
7189,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
319,
11,
788,
11,
290,
1394,
331,
263,
944,
379,
262,
3492,
13,
1212,
1295,
302,
2573,
286,
3514,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2067,
757,
832,
262,
29632,
13,
32,
36273,
284,
511,
1364,
1297,
606,
326,
2951,
547,
2402,
606,
422,
326,
835,
355,
880,
13,
1537,
991,
484,
3767,
11,
4547,
326,
484,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
423,
2938,
597,
1180,
257,
8883,
618,
484,
550,
2067,
503,
422,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
49,
9969,
257,
2457,
31446,
286,
5445,
1410,
591,
11,
484,
2497,
257,
36808,
3785,
21804,
1028,
530,
286,
262,
23978,
1014,
447,
253,
82,
7714,
11,
24117,
5954,
17707,
1028,
262,
20493,
286,
262,
6180,
4020,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
23831,
625,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
8163
] |
dnd531
|
Regis and Wulfgar remained at the side table, the barbarian wide-eyed with curiosity at the sights around him, and the halfling intent on cautious observation.Regis recognized trouble in the form of a woman sauntering toward them.Not a young woman, and with the haggard appearance all too familiar on the dockside, but her gown, quite revealing in every place that a lady‟s gown should not be, hid all her physical flaws behind a barrage of suggestions.The look on Wulfgar‟s face, his chin nearly level with the table, Regis thought, confirmed the halfling‟s fears.“Well met, big man,” the woman purred, slipping comfortably into the chair next to the barbarian.Wulfgar looked at Regis and nearly laughed out loud in disbelief and embarrassment.“You are not from Luskan,” the woman went on.“Nor do you bear the appearance of any merchants now docked in port.Where are you from?”“The north,” Wulfgar stammered.“The dale…Icewind.”Regis hadn‟t seen such boldness in a woman since his years in Calimport, and he felt that he should intervene.There was something wicked about such women, a perversion of pleasure that was too extraordinary.Forbidden fruit made easy.Regis suddenly found himself homesick for Calimport.Wulfgar would be no match for the wiles of this creature.“We are poor travelers,” Regis explained, emphasizing the “poor” in an effort to protect his friend.“Not a coin left, but with many miles to go.”Wulfgar looked curiously at his companion, not quite understanding the motive behind the lie.The woman scrutinized Wulfgar once again and smacked her lips.“A pity,” she groaned, and then asked Regis, “Not a coin?”Regis shrugged helplessly.“A pity it is,” the woman repeated, and she rose to leave.Wulfgar‟s face blushed a deep red as he began to comprehend the true motives behind the meeting.Something stirred in Regis, as well.A longing for the old days, running in Calimport‟s bowery, tugged at his heart beyond his strength to resist.As the woman started past him, he grabbed her elbow.“Not a coin,” he explained to her inquiring face, “but this.” He pulled the ruby pendant out from under his coat and set it dangling at the end of its chain.The sparkles caught the woman‟s greedy eye at once and the magical gemstone sucked her into its hypnotic entrancement.She sat down again, this time in the chair closest to Regis, her eyes never leaving the depths of the wondrous, spinning ruby.Only confusion prevented Wulfgar from erupting in outrage at the betrayal, the blur of thoughts and emotions in his mind showing themselves as no more than a blank stare.Regis caught the barbarian‟s look, but shrugged it away with his typical penchant for dismissing negative emotions, such as guilt.Let the morrow‟s dawn expose his ploy for what it was; the conclusion did not diminish his ability to enjoy this night.“Luskan‟s night bears a chill wind,”he said to the woman.She put a hand on his arm.“We‟ll find you a warm bed, have no fear.”The halfling‟s smile nearly took in his ears.Wulfgar had to catch himself from falling off of his chair.
|
Regis and Wulfgar remained at the side table, the barbarian wide-eyed with curiosity at the sights around him, and the halfling intent on cautious observation.Regis recognized trouble in the form of a woman sauntering toward them.Not a young woman, and with the haggard appearance all too familiar on the dockside, but her gown, quite revealing in every place that a lady‟s gown should not be, hid all her physical flaws behind a barrage of suggestions.The look on Wulfgar‟s face, his chin nearly level with the table, Regis thought, confirmed the halfling‟s fears.“Well met, big man,” the woman purred, slipping comfortably into the chair next to the barbarian.Wulfgar looked at Regis and nearly laughed out loud in disbelief and embarrassment.“You are not from Luskan,” the woman went on.“Nor do you bear the appearance of any merchants now docked in port.Where are you from?”“The north,” Wulfgar stammered.“The dale…Icewind.”Regis hadn‟t seen such boldness in a woman since his years in Calimport, and he felt that he should intervene.There was something wicked about such women, a perversion of pleasure that was too extraordinary.Forbidden fruit made easy.Regis suddenly found himself homesick for Calimport.Wulfgar would be no match for the wiles of this creature.“We are poor travelers,” Regis explained, emphasizing the “poor” in an effort to protect his friend.“Not a coin left, but with many miles to go.”Wulfgar looked curiously at his companion, not quite understanding the motive behind the lie.The woman scrutinized Wulfgar once again and smacked her lips.“A pity,” she groaned, and then asked Regis, “Not a coin?”Regis shrugged helplessly.“A pity it is,” the woman repeated, and she rose to leave.Wulfgar‟s face blushed a deep red as he began to comprehend the true motives behind the meeting.Something stirred in Regis, as well.A longing for the old days, running in Calimport‟s bowery, tugged at his heart beyond his strength to resist.As the woman started past him, he grabbed her elbow.“Not a coin,” he explained to her inquiring face, “but this.” He pulled the ruby pendant out from under his coat and set it dangling at the end of its chain.The sparkles caught the woman‟s greedy eye at once and the magical gemstone sucked her into its hypnotic entrancement.She sat down again, this time in the chair closest to Regis, her eyes never leaving the depths of the wondrous, spinning ruby.Only confusion prevented Wulfgar from erupting in outrage at the betrayal, the blur of thoughts and emotions in his mind showing themselves as no more than a blank stare.Regis caught the barbarian‟s look, but shrugged it away with his typical penchant for dismissing negative emotions, such as guilt.Let the morrow‟s dawn expose his ploy for what it was; the conclusion did not diminish his ability to enjoy this night.“Luskan‟s night bears a chill wind,”he said to the woman.She put a hand on his arm.“We‟ll find you a warm bed, have no fear.”The halfling‟s smile nearly took in his ears.Wulfgar had to catch himself from falling off of his chair.
|
[
8081,
271,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
6150,
379,
262,
1735,
3084,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
3094,
12,
18834,
351,
20136,
379,
262,
21343,
1088,
683,
11,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
6824,
319,
21205,
13432,
13,
8081,
271,
8018,
5876,
287,
262,
1296,
286,
257,
2415,
473,
403,
20212,
3812,
606,
13,
3673,
257,
1862,
2415,
11,
290,
351,
262,
289,
9460,
446,
5585,
477,
1165,
5385,
319,
262,
45906,
485,
11,
475,
607,
33323,
11,
2407,
13477,
287,
790,
1295,
326,
257,
10846,
447,
253,
82,
33323,
815,
407,
307,
11,
24519,
477,
607,
3518,
17978,
2157,
257,
33633,
286,
11776,
13,
464,
804,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
465,
22531,
3016,
1241,
351,
262,
3084,
11,
3310,
271,
1807,
11,
4999,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
10251,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
1138,
11,
1263,
582,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
1308,
445,
11,
29612,
24341,
656,
262,
5118,
1306,
284,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
379,
3310,
271,
290,
3016,
13818,
503,
7812,
287,
29894,
290,
24655,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
407,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
1816,
319,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
466,
345,
6842,
262,
5585,
286,
597,
21779,
783,
288,
3543,
287,
2493,
13,
8496,
389,
345,
422,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
336,
6475,
1068,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
1000,
1399,
23709,
7972,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1775,
884,
10758,
1108,
287,
257,
2415,
1201,
465,
812,
287,
2199,
11748,
11,
290,
339,
2936,
326,
339,
815,
22432,
13,
1858,
373,
1223,
20589,
546,
884,
1466,
11,
257,
583,
9641,
286,
9476,
326,
373,
1165,
11359,
13,
1890,
37978,
8234,
925,
2562,
13,
8081,
271,
6451,
1043,
2241,
5682,
624,
329,
2199,
11748,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
561,
307,
645,
2872,
329,
262,
266,
2915,
286,
428,
7185,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
3595,
23325,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
11,
36360,
262,
564,
250,
36672,
447,
251,
287,
281,
3626,
284,
1805,
465,
1545,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
10752,
1364,
11,
475,
351,
867,
4608,
284,
467,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
43211,
379,
465,
15185,
11,
407,
2407,
4547,
262,
20289,
2157,
262,
6486,
13,
464,
2415,
30441,
1143,
370,
4754,
4563,
1752,
757,
290,
895,
6021,
607,
11914,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
11,
447,
251,
673,
7128,
22739,
11,
290,
788,
1965,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
3673,
257,
10752,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
28271,
21144,
306,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
340,
318,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
5100,
11,
290,
673,
8278,
284,
2666,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
698,
7474,
257,
2769,
2266,
355,
339,
2540,
284,
24772,
262,
2081,
21508,
2157,
262,
3249,
13,
22210,
33091,
287,
3310,
271,
11,
355,
880,
13,
32,
40314,
329,
262,
1468,
1528,
11,
2491,
287,
2199,
11748,
447,
253,
82,
275,
789,
88,
11,
27762,
2004,
379,
465,
2612,
3675,
465,
4202,
284,
4180,
13,
1722,
262
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
8081,
271,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
6150,
379,
262,
1735,
3084,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
3094,
12,
18834,
351,
20136,
379,
262,
21343,
1088,
683,
11,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
6824,
319,
21205,
13432,
13,
8081,
271,
8018,
5876,
287,
262,
1296,
286,
257,
2415,
473,
403,
20212,
3812,
606,
13,
3673,
257,
1862,
2415,
11,
290,
351,
262,
289,
9460,
446,
5585,
477,
1165,
5385,
319,
262,
45906,
485,
11,
475,
607,
33323,
11,
2407,
13477,
287,
790,
1295,
326,
257,
10846,
447,
253,
82,
33323,
815,
407,
307,
11,
24519,
477,
607,
3518,
17978,
2157,
257,
33633,
286,
11776,
13,
464,
804,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
465,
22531,
3016,
1241,
351,
262,
3084,
11,
3310,
271,
1807,
11,
4999,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
10251,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
1138,
11,
1263,
582,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
1308,
445,
11,
29612,
24341,
656,
262,
5118,
1306,
284,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
379,
3310,
271,
290,
3016,
13818,
503,
7812,
287,
29894,
290,
24655,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
407,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
1816,
319,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
466,
345,
6842,
262,
5585,
286,
597,
21779,
783,
288,
3543,
287,
2493,
13,
8496,
389,
345,
422,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
336,
6475,
1068,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
1000,
1399,
23709,
7972,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1775,
884,
10758,
1108,
287,
257,
2415,
1201,
465,
812,
287,
2199,
11748,
11,
290,
339,
2936,
326,
339,
815,
22432,
13,
1858,
373,
1223,
20589,
546,
884,
1466,
11,
257,
583,
9641,
286,
9476,
326,
373,
1165,
11359,
13,
1890,
37978,
8234,
925,
2562,
13,
8081,
271,
6451,
1043,
2241,
5682,
624,
329,
2199,
11748,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
561,
307,
645,
2872,
329,
262,
266,
2915,
286,
428,
7185,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
3595,
23325,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
11,
36360,
262,
564,
250,
36672,
447,
251,
287,
281,
3626,
284,
1805,
465,
1545,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
10752,
1364,
11,
475,
351,
867,
4608,
284,
467,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
43211,
379,
465,
15185,
11,
407,
2407,
4547,
262,
20289,
2157,
262,
6486,
13,
464,
2415,
30441,
1143,
370,
4754,
4563,
1752,
757,
290,
895,
6021,
607,
11914,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
11,
447,
251,
673,
7128,
22739,
11,
290,
788,
1965,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
3673,
257,
10752,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
28271,
21144,
306,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
340,
318,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
5100,
11,
290,
673,
8278,
284,
2666,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
698,
7474,
257,
2769,
2266,
355,
339,
2540,
284,
24772,
262,
2081,
21508,
2157,
262,
3249,
13,
22210,
33091,
287,
3310,
271,
11,
355,
880,
13,
32,
40314,
329,
262,
1468,
1528,
11,
2491,
287,
2199,
11748,
447,
253,
82,
275,
789,
88,
11,
27762,
2004,
379,
465,
2612,
3675,
465,
4202,
284,
4180,
13,
1722,
262
] |
dnd532
|
* * *Bruenor regained his composure quickly, not wanting to insult Whisper, or to let her know that his surprise in finding a woman gave her a bit of an advantage over him.She knew the truth, Page 19though, and her smile left Bruenor even more flustered.Selling information in a setting as dangerous as Luskan‟s dockside meant a constant dealing with murderers and thieves, and even within the structure of an intricate support network it was a job that demanded a hardened hide.Few who sought Whisper‟s services could hide their obvious surprise at finding a young and alluring woman practising such a trade.Bruenor‟s respect for the informant did not diminish, though, despite his surprise, for the reputation Whisper had earned had come to him across hundreds of miles.She was still alive, and that fact alone told the dwarf that she was formidable.Drizzt was considerably less taken aback by the discovery.In the dark cities of the drow elves, females normally held higher stations than males, and were often more deadly.Drizzt understood the advantage Whisper carried over male clients who tended to underestimate her in the male-dominated societies of the dangerous northland.Anxious to get this business finished and get back on the road, the dwarf came straight to the purpose of the meeting.“I be needing a map,” he said, “and been told that yerself was the one to get it.”“I possess many maps,” the woman replied coolly.“One of the north,” Bruenor explained.“From the sea to the desert, and rightly naming the places in the ways o‟ what races live there!”Whisper nodded.“The price shall be high, good dwarf,” she said, her eyes glinting at the mere notion of gold.Bruenor tossed her a small pouch of gems.“This should pay for yer trouble,” he growled, never pleased to be relieved of money.Whisper emptied the contents into her hand and scrutinized the rough stones.She nodded as she slipped them back into the pouch, aware of their considerable value.“Hold!” Bruenor squawked as she began to tie the pouch to her belt.“Ye‟ll be taking none o‟me stones till I be seeing the map!”“Of course,” the woman replied with a disarming smile.“Wait here.I shall return in a short while with the map you desire.” She tossed the pouch back to Bruenor and spun about suddenly, her cloak snapping up and carrying a gust of the fog with it.In the flurry, there came a sudden flash, and the woman was gone.Bruenor jumped back and grabbed at his axe handle.“What sorcerous treachery is this?” he cried.Drizzt, unimpressed, put a hand on the dwarf‟s shoulder.“Calm, mighty dwarf,” he said.“A minor trick and no more, masking her escape in the fog and the flash.” He pointed toward a small pile of boards.“Into that sewer drain.”Bruenor followed the line of the drow‟s arm and relaxed.
|
* * *Bruenor regained his composure quickly, not wanting to insult Whisper, or to let her know that his surprise in finding a woman gave her a bit of an advantage over him.She knew the truth, Page 19though, and her smile left Bruenor even more flustered.Selling information in a setting as dangerous as Luskan‟s dockside meant a constant dealing with murderers and thieves, and even within the structure of an intricate support network it was a job that demanded a hardened hide.Few who sought Whisper‟s services could hide their obvious surprise at finding a young and alluring woman practising such a trade.Bruenor‟s respect for the informant did not diminish, though, despite his surprise, for the reputation Whisper had earned had come to him across hundreds of miles.She was still alive, and that fact alone told the dwarf that she was formidable.Drizzt was considerably less taken aback by the discovery.In the dark cities of the drow elves, females normally held higher stations than males, and were often more deadly.Drizzt understood the advantage Whisper carried over male clients who tended to underestimate her in the male-dominated societies of the dangerous northland.Anxious to get this business finished and get back on the road, the dwarf came straight to the purpose of the meeting.“I be needing a map,” he said, “and been told that yerself was the one to get it.”“I possess many maps,” the woman replied coolly.“One of the north,” Bruenor explained.“From the sea to the desert, and rightly naming the places in the ways o‟ what races live there!”Whisper nodded.“The price shall be high, good dwarf,” she said, her eyes glinting at the mere notion of gold.Bruenor tossed her a small pouch of gems.“This should pay for yer trouble,” he growled, never pleased to be relieved of money.Whisper emptied the contents into her hand and scrutinized the rough stones.She nodded as she slipped them back into the pouch, aware of their considerable value.“Hold!” Bruenor squawked as she began to tie the pouch to her belt.“Ye‟ll be taking none o‟me stones till I be seeing the map!”“Of course,” the woman replied with a disarming smile.“Wait here.I shall return in a short while with the map you desire.” She tossed the pouch back to Bruenor and spun about suddenly, her cloak snapping up and carrying a gust of the fog with it.In the flurry, there came a sudden flash, and the woman was gone.Bruenor jumped back and grabbed at his axe handle.“What sorcerous treachery is this?” he cried.Drizzt, unimpressed, put a hand on the dwarf‟s shoulder.“Calm, mighty dwarf,” he said.“A minor trick and no more, masking her escape in the fog and the flash.” He pointed toward a small pile of boards.“Into that sewer drain.”Bruenor followed the line of the drow‟s arm and relaxed.
|
[
9,
1635,
1635,
33,
622,
268,
273,
35049,
465,
49994,
2952,
11,
407,
10291,
284,
13277,
28424,
525,
11,
393,
284,
1309,
607,
760,
326,
465,
5975,
287,
4917,
257,
2415,
2921,
607,
257,
1643,
286,
281,
4621,
625,
683,
13,
3347,
2993,
262,
3872,
11,
7873,
678,
2016,
11,
290,
607,
8212,
1364,
8274,
268,
273,
772,
517,
781,
436,
1068,
13,
50,
9417,
1321,
287,
257,
4634,
355,
4923,
355,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
45906,
485,
4001,
257,
6937,
7219,
351,
38313,
290,
26655,
11,
290,
772,
1626,
262,
4645,
286,
281,
28746,
1104,
3127,
340,
373,
257,
1693,
326,
12284,
257,
33034,
7808,
13,
32351,
508,
7194,
28424,
525,
447,
253,
82,
2594,
714,
7808,
511,
3489,
5975,
379,
4917,
257,
1862,
290,
477,
870,
2415,
1970,
1710,
884,
257,
3292,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
2461,
329,
262,
35710,
750,
407,
29889,
11,
996,
11,
3805,
465,
5975,
11,
329,
262,
8507,
28424,
525,
550,
7366,
550,
1282,
284,
683,
1973,
5179,
286,
4608,
13,
3347,
373,
991,
6776,
11,
290,
326,
1109,
3436,
1297,
262,
24603,
326,
673,
373,
24599,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
15394,
1342,
2077,
50147,
416,
262,
9412,
13,
818,
262,
3223,
4736,
286,
262,
288,
808,
31959,
11,
12366,
7685,
2714,
2440,
8985,
621,
10835,
11,
290,
547,
1690,
517,
10309,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7247,
262,
4621,
28424,
525,
5281,
625,
4257,
7534,
508,
19960,
284,
34994,
607,
287,
262,
4257,
12,
34475,
14515,
286,
262,
4923,
5093,
1044,
13,
2025,
48392,
284,
651,
428,
1597,
5201,
290,
651,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
11,
262,
24603,
1625,
3892,
284,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3249,
13,
447,
250,
40,
307,
18139,
257,
3975,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
564,
250,
392,
587,
1297,
326,
331,
263,
944,
373,
262,
530,
284,
651,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
8588,
867,
8739,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
8712,
763,
5098,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
286,
262,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
4863,
262,
5417,
284,
262,
10326,
11,
290,
22956,
19264,
262,
4113,
287,
262,
2842,
267,
447,
253,
644,
9558,
2107,
612,
0,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
14464,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
2236,
307,
1029,
11,
922,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
673,
531,
11,
607,
2951,
1278,
600,
278,
379,
262,
5019,
9495,
286,
3869,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
22591,
607,
257,
1402,
36594,
286,
23685,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
815,
1414,
329,
331,
263,
5876,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
1239,
10607,
284,
307,
22598,
286,
1637,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
46705,
262,
10154,
656,
607,
1021,
290,
30441,
1143,
262,
5210,
14966,
13,
3347,
14464,
355,
673,
18859,
606,
736,
656,
262,
36594,
11,
3910,
286,
511,
11091,
1988,
13,
447,
250,
26807,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2809,
707,
9091,
355,
673,
2540,
284,
9839,
262,
36594,
284,
607,
10999,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
297,
307,
2263,
4844,
267,
447,
253,
1326,
14966,
10597,
314,
307,
4379,
262
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
9,
1635,
1635,
33,
622,
268,
273,
35049,
465,
49994,
2952,
11,
407,
10291,
284,
13277,
28424,
525,
11,
393,
284,
1309,
607,
760,
326,
465,
5975,
287,
4917,
257,
2415,
2921,
607,
257,
1643,
286,
281,
4621,
625,
683,
13,
3347,
2993,
262,
3872,
11,
7873,
678,
2016,
11,
290,
607,
8212,
1364,
8274,
268,
273,
772,
517,
781,
436,
1068,
13,
50,
9417,
1321,
287,
257,
4634,
355,
4923,
355,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
45906,
485,
4001,
257,
6937,
7219,
351,
38313,
290,
26655,
11,
290,
772,
1626,
262,
4645,
286,
281,
28746,
1104,
3127,
340,
373,
257,
1693,
326,
12284,
257,
33034,
7808,
13,
32351,
508,
7194,
28424,
525,
447,
253,
82,
2594,
714,
7808,
511,
3489,
5975,
379,
4917,
257,
1862,
290,
477,
870,
2415,
1970,
1710,
884,
257,
3292,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
2461,
329,
262,
35710,
750,
407,
29889,
11,
996,
11,
3805,
465,
5975,
11,
329,
262,
8507,
28424,
525,
550,
7366,
550,
1282,
284,
683,
1973,
5179,
286,
4608,
13,
3347,
373,
991,
6776,
11,
290,
326,
1109,
3436,
1297,
262,
24603,
326,
673,
373,
24599,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
15394,
1342,
2077,
50147,
416,
262,
9412,
13,
818,
262,
3223,
4736,
286,
262,
288,
808,
31959,
11,
12366,
7685,
2714,
2440,
8985,
621,
10835,
11,
290,
547,
1690,
517,
10309,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7247,
262,
4621,
28424,
525,
5281,
625,
4257,
7534,
508,
19960,
284,
34994,
607,
287,
262,
4257,
12,
34475,
14515,
286,
262,
4923,
5093,
1044,
13,
2025,
48392,
284,
651,
428,
1597,
5201,
290,
651,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
11,
262,
24603,
1625,
3892,
284,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3249,
13,
447,
250,
40,
307,
18139,
257,
3975,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
564,
250,
392,
587,
1297,
326,
331,
263,
944,
373,
262,
530,
284,
651,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
8588,
867,
8739,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2415,
8712,
763,
5098,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
286,
262,
5093,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
4863,
262,
5417,
284,
262,
10326,
11,
290,
22956,
19264,
262,
4113,
287,
262,
2842,
267,
447,
253,
644,
9558,
2107,
612,
0,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
14464,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
2236,
307,
1029,
11,
922,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
673,
531,
11,
607,
2951,
1278,
600,
278,
379,
262,
5019,
9495,
286,
3869,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
22591,
607,
257,
1402,
36594,
286,
23685,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
815,
1414,
329,
331,
263,
5876,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
1239,
10607,
284,
307,
22598,
286,
1637,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
46705,
262,
10154,
656,
607,
1021,
290,
30441,
1143,
262,
5210,
14966,
13,
3347,
14464,
355,
673,
18859,
606,
736,
656,
262,
36594,
11,
3910,
286,
511,
11091,
1988,
13,
447,
250,
26807,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2809,
707,
9091,
355,
673,
2540,
284,
9839,
262,
36594,
284,
607,
10999,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
297,
307,
2263,
4844,
267,
447,
253,
1326,
14966,
10597,
314,
307,
4379,
262
] |
dnd533
|
The lip of an open hole was barely visible, its grate leaning against the warehouse wall a few feet farther down the alley.“Ye know these kind better than meself, elf,” the dwarf stated, flustered at his lack of experience in handling the rogues of a city street.“Does she mean to bargain fair, or do we sit here, set up for her thievin‟ dogs to plunder?”“No to both,” answered Drizzt.“Whisper would not be alive if she collared clients for thieves.But I would hardly expect any arrangement she might strike with us to be a fair bargain.”Bruenor took note that Drizzt had slipped one of his scimitars free of its sheath as he spoke.“Not a trap, eh?” the dwarf asked again, indicating the readied weapon.“By her people, no,” Drizzt replied.“But the shadows conceal many other eyes.”* * *More eyes than just Wulfgar‟s had fallen upon the halfling and the woman.The hardy rogues of Luskan‟s dockside often took great sport in tormenting creatures of less physical stature, and halflings were among their favorite targets.This particular evening, a huge, Page 20overstuffed man with furry eyebrows and beard bristles that caught the foam from his ever-full mug dominated the conversation at the bar, boasting of impossible feats of strength and threatening everybody around him with a beating if the flow of ale slowed in the least.All of the men gathered around him at the bar, men who knew him, or of him, nodded their heads in enthusiastic agreement with his every word, propping him up on a pedestal of compliments to dispel their own fears of him.But the fat man‟s ego needed further sport, a new victim to cow, and as his gaze floated around the perimeter of the tavern, it naturally fell upon Regis and his large, but obviously young friend.The spectacle of a halfling wooing the highest priced lady at the Cutlass presented an opportunity too tempting for the fat man to ignore.“Here now, pretty lady,” he slobbered, ale spouting with every word.“Think the likes of a half-a-man‟ll make the night for ye?” The crowd around the bar, anxious to keep in the fat man‟s high regard, exploded into overzealous laughter.The woman had dealt with this man before and she had seen others fall painfully before him.She tossed him a concerned look, but remained firmly tied to the pull of the ruby pendant.Regis, though, immediately looked away from the fat man, turning his attention to where he suspected the trouble most likely would begin–to the other side of the table and Wulfgar.He found his worries justified.The proud barbarian‟s knuckles whitened from the grasp he had on the table, and the seething look in his eye told Regis that he was on the verge of exploding.“Let the taunts pass!” Regis insisted.“This is not worth a moment of your time!”Wulfgar didn‟t relax a bit, his glare never releasing his adversary.He could brush away the fat man‟s insults, even those cutting at Regis and the woman.But Wulfgar understood the motivation behind those insults.Through exploitation of his less-able friends, Wulfgar was being challenged by the bully.How many others had fallen victim to this hulking slob?he wondered.Perhaps it was time for the fat man to learn some humility.Recognizing some potential for excitement, the grotesque bully came a few steps closer.“There, move a bit, half-a-man,” he demanded, waving Regis aside.Regis took a quick inventory of the tavern‟s patrons.Surely there were many, in here who might jump in for his cause against the fat man and his obnoxious cronies.There was even a member of the official city guard, a group held in high respect in every section of Luskan.Regis interrupted his scan for a moment and looked at the soldier.How out of place the man seemed in a dog-infested spittoon like the Cutlass.
|
The lip of an open hole was barely visible, its grate leaning against the warehouse wall a few feet farther down the alley.“Ye know these kind better than meself, elf,” the dwarf stated, flustered at his lack of experience in handling the rogues of a city street.“Does she mean to bargain fair, or do we sit here, set up for her thievin‟ dogs to plunder?”“No to both,” answered Drizzt.“Whisper would not be alive if she collared clients for thieves.But I would hardly expect any arrangement she might strike with us to be a fair bargain.”Bruenor took note that Drizzt had slipped one of his scimitars free of its sheath as he spoke.“Not a trap, eh?” the dwarf asked again, indicating the readied weapon.“By her people, no,” Drizzt replied.“But the shadows conceal many other eyes.”* * *More eyes than just Wulfgar‟s had fallen upon the halfling and the woman.The hardy rogues of Luskan‟s dockside often took great sport in tormenting creatures of less physical stature, and halflings were among their favorite targets.This particular evening, a huge, Page 20overstuffed man with furry eyebrows and beard bristles that caught the foam from his ever-full mug dominated the conversation at the bar, boasting of impossible feats of strength and threatening everybody around him with a beating if the flow of ale slowed in the least.All of the men gathered around him at the bar, men who knew him, or of him, nodded their heads in enthusiastic agreement with his every word, propping him up on a pedestal of compliments to dispel their own fears of him.But the fat man‟s ego needed further sport, a new victim to cow, and as his gaze floated around the perimeter of the tavern, it naturally fell upon Regis and his large, but obviously young friend.The spectacle of a halfling wooing the highest priced lady at the Cutlass presented an opportunity too tempting for the fat man to ignore.“Here now, pretty lady,” he slobbered, ale spouting with every word.“Think the likes of a half-a-man‟ll make the night for ye?” The crowd around the bar, anxious to keep in the fat man‟s high regard, exploded into overzealous laughter.The woman had dealt with this man before and she had seen others fall painfully before him.She tossed him a concerned look, but remained firmly tied to the pull of the ruby pendant.Regis, though, immediately looked away from the fat man, turning his attention to where he suspected the trouble most likely would begin–to the other side of the table and Wulfgar.He found his worries justified.The proud barbarian‟s knuckles whitened from the grasp he had on the table, and the seething look in his eye told Regis that he was on the verge of exploding.“Let the taunts pass!” Regis insisted.“This is not worth a moment of your time!”Wulfgar didn‟t relax a bit, his glare never releasing his adversary.He could brush away the fat man‟s insults, even those cutting at Regis and the woman.But Wulfgar understood the motivation behind those insults.Through exploitation of his less-able friends, Wulfgar was being challenged by the bully.How many others had fallen victim to this hulking slob?he wondered.Perhaps it was time for the fat man to learn some humility.Recognizing some potential for excitement, the grotesque bully came a few steps closer.“There, move a bit, half-a-man,” he demanded, waving Regis aside.Regis took a quick inventory of the tavern‟s patrons.Surely there were many, in here who might jump in for his cause against the fat man and his obnoxious cronies.There was even a member of the official city guard, a group held in high respect in every section of Luskan.Regis interrupted his scan for a moment and looked at the soldier.How out of place the man seemed in a dog-infested spittoon like the Cutlass.
|
[
464,
10645,
286,
281,
1280,
7604,
373,
8523,
7424,
11,
663,
48612,
21804,
1028,
262,
20933,
3355,
257,
1178,
3625,
18485,
866,
262,
23978,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
760,
777,
1611,
1365,
621,
18842,
7046,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
5081,
11,
781,
436,
1068,
379,
465,
3092,
286,
1998,
287,
9041,
262,
47524,
947,
286,
257,
1748,
4675,
13,
447,
250,
13921,
673,
1612,
284,
22803,
3148,
11,
393,
466,
356,
1650,
994,
11,
900,
510,
329,
607,
294,
494,
7114,
447,
253,
6844,
284,
42996,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
284,
1111,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
1199,
271,
525,
561,
407,
307,
6776,
611,
673,
2927,
1144,
7534,
329,
26655,
13,
1537,
314,
561,
8941,
1607,
597,
13888,
673,
1244,
5587,
351,
514,
284,
307,
257,
3148,
22803,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1718,
3465,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
18859,
530,
286,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
1479,
286,
663,
673,
776,
355,
339,
5158,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
12840,
11,
32622,
30,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
1965,
757,
11,
12739,
262,
1100,
798,
4282,
13,
447,
250,
3886,
607,
661,
11,
645,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
262,
16187,
21363,
867,
584,
2951,
13,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
5167,
2951,
621,
655,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
550,
9292,
2402,
262,
2063,
1359,
290,
262,
2415,
13,
464,
1327,
88,
47524,
947,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
45906,
485,
1690,
1718,
1049,
6332,
287,
33378,
278,
8109,
286,
1342,
3518,
32600,
11,
290,
2063,
17783,
547,
1871,
511,
4004,
6670,
13,
1212,
1948,
6180,
11,
257,
3236,
11,
7873,
1160,
2502,
301,
18339,
582,
351,
40857,
26928,
290,
21213,
48197,
829,
326,
4978,
262,
19828,
422,
465,
1683,
12,
12853,
25152,
13354,
262,
5273,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
40776,
286,
5340,
35664,
286,
4202,
290,
11123,
7288,
1088,
683,
351,
257,
11226,
611,
262,
5202,
286,
31341,
20955,
287,
262,
1551,
13,
3237,
286,
262,
1450,
9272,
1088,
683,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
1450,
508,
2993,
683,
11,
393,
286,
683,
11,
14464,
511,
6665,
287,
21848,
4381,
351,
465,
790,
1573,
11,
386,
2105,
683,
510,
319,
257,
14238,
282,
286,
42025,
284,
45629,
511,
898,
10251,
286,
683,
13,
1537,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
19225,
2622,
2252,
6332,
11,
257,
649,
3117,
284,
9875,
11,
290,
355,
465,
17841,
29742,
1088,
262,
25317,
286,
262,
42488,
11,
340,
8752,
3214,
2402,
3310,
271,
290,
465,
1588,
11,
475,
6189,
1862,
1545,
13,
464,
27519,
286,
257,
2063,
1359,
36440,
278,
262,
4511,
19744,
10846,
379,
262,
9712,
31172,
5545,
281,
3663,
1165,
29850,
329,
262,
3735,
582,
284,
8856,
13,
447,
250,
4342,
783,
11,
2495,
10846,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1017,
672,
9451,
11,
31341,
599,
13660,
351,
790,
1573,
13,
447,
250,
22073,
262,
7832,
286,
257,
2063,
12,
64,
12,
805,
447,
253,
297,
787,
262,
1755,
329,
9838,
30,
447,
251,
383,
4315,
1088,
262,
2318,
11,
18116,
284
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
10645,
286,
281,
1280,
7604,
373,
8523,
7424,
11,
663,
48612,
21804,
1028,
262,
20933,
3355,
257,
1178,
3625,
18485,
866,
262,
23978,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
760,
777,
1611,
1365,
621,
18842,
7046,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
5081,
11,
781,
436,
1068,
379,
465,
3092,
286,
1998,
287,
9041,
262,
47524,
947,
286,
257,
1748,
4675,
13,
447,
250,
13921,
673,
1612,
284,
22803,
3148,
11,
393,
466,
356,
1650,
994,
11,
900,
510,
329,
607,
294,
494,
7114,
447,
253,
6844,
284,
42996,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
284,
1111,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
1199,
271,
525,
561,
407,
307,
6776,
611,
673,
2927,
1144,
7534,
329,
26655,
13,
1537,
314,
561,
8941,
1607,
597,
13888,
673,
1244,
5587,
351,
514,
284,
307,
257,
3148,
22803,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1718,
3465,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
18859,
530,
286,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
1479,
286,
663,
673,
776,
355,
339,
5158,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
257,
12840,
11,
32622,
30,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
1965,
757,
11,
12739,
262,
1100,
798,
4282,
13,
447,
250,
3886,
607,
661,
11,
645,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
262,
16187,
21363,
867,
584,
2951,
13,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
5167,
2951,
621,
655,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
550,
9292,
2402,
262,
2063,
1359,
290,
262,
2415,
13,
464,
1327,
88,
47524,
947,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
45906,
485,
1690,
1718,
1049,
6332,
287,
33378,
278,
8109,
286,
1342,
3518,
32600,
11,
290,
2063,
17783,
547,
1871,
511,
4004,
6670,
13,
1212,
1948,
6180,
11,
257,
3236,
11,
7873,
1160,
2502,
301,
18339,
582,
351,
40857,
26928,
290,
21213,
48197,
829,
326,
4978,
262,
19828,
422,
465,
1683,
12,
12853,
25152,
13354,
262,
5273,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
40776,
286,
5340,
35664,
286,
4202,
290,
11123,
7288,
1088,
683,
351,
257,
11226,
611,
262,
5202,
286,
31341,
20955,
287,
262,
1551,
13,
3237,
286,
262,
1450,
9272,
1088,
683,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
1450,
508,
2993,
683,
11,
393,
286,
683,
11,
14464,
511,
6665,
287,
21848,
4381,
351,
465,
790,
1573,
11,
386,
2105,
683,
510,
319,
257,
14238,
282,
286,
42025,
284,
45629,
511,
898,
10251,
286,
683,
13,
1537,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
19225,
2622,
2252,
6332,
11,
257,
649,
3117,
284,
9875,
11,
290,
355,
465,
17841,
29742,
1088,
262,
25317,
286,
262,
42488,
11,
340,
8752,
3214,
2402,
3310,
271,
290,
465,
1588,
11,
475,
6189,
1862,
1545,
13,
464,
27519,
286,
257,
2063,
1359,
36440,
278,
262,
4511,
19744,
10846,
379,
262,
9712,
31172,
5545,
281,
3663,
1165,
29850,
329,
262,
3735,
582,
284,
8856,
13,
447,
250,
4342,
783,
11,
2495,
10846,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1017,
672,
9451,
11,
31341,
599,
13660,
351,
790,
1573,
13,
447,
250,
22073,
262,
7832,
286,
257,
2063,
12,
64,
12,
805,
447,
253,
297,
787,
262,
1755,
329,
9838,
30,
447,
251,
383,
4315,
1088,
262,
2318,
11,
18116,
284
] |
dnd534
|
More curious still, Regis knew the man as Jierdan, the soldier at the gate who had recognized Drizzt and had arranged for them to pass into the city just a couple of hours earlier.The fat man came a step closer, and Regis didn‟t have time to ponder the implications.Hands on hips, the huge blob stared down at him.Regis felt his heart pumping, the blood coursing through his veins, as it always did in this type of on-the-edge confrontation that had marked his days in Calimport.And now, like then, he had every intention of finding a way to run away.But his confidence dissipated when he remembered his companion.Less experienced, and Regis would be quick to say, “less wise!” Wulfgar would not let the challenge go unanswered.One spring of his long legs easily carried him over the table and placed him squarely between the fat man and Regis.He returned the fat man‟s ominous glare with equal intensity.The fat man glanced to his friends at the bar, fully aware that his proud young opponent‟s distorted sense of honor would prevent a first strike.“Well, look ye here,” he laughed, his lips turned back in drooling anticipation, “seems the young one has a thing to say.”He started slowly to turn back on Wulfgar, then lunged suddenly for the barbarian‟s throat, expecting that his change in tempo would catch Wulfgar by surprise.But although he was inexperienced in the ways of taverns, Wulfgar understood battle.He had trained with Drizzt Do‟Urden, an ever-alert warrior, and had toned his muscles to their sharpest fighting edge.Before the fat man‟s hands ever came near his throat, Wulfgar had snapped one of his own huge paws over his opponent‟s face and had driven the other into the fat man‟s groin.His Page 21stunned opponent found himself rising into the air.For a moment, onlookers were too amazed to react at all, except for Regis, who slapped a hand across his own disbelieving face and inconspicuously slid under the table.The fat man outweighed three average men, but the barbarian brought him up easily over the top of his seven-foot frame, and even higher, to the full extension of his arms.Howling in helpless rage, the fat man, ordered his supporters to attack.Wulfgar watched patiently for the first move against him.The whole crowd seemed to jump at once.Keeping his calm, the trained warrior searched out the tightest concentration, three men, and launched the human missile, noting their horrified expressions just before the waves of blubber rolled over them, blasting them backward.Then their combined momentum smashed an entire section of the bar from its supports, knocking the unfortunate innkeeper away and sending him crashing into the racks holding his finest wines.Wulfgar‟s amusement was short-lived, for other ruffians were quickly upon him.He dug his heels in where he was, determined to keep his footing, and lashed out with his great fists, swatting his enemies aside, one by one, and sending them sprawling into the far corners of the room.Fighting erupted all around the tavern.Men who could not have been spurred to action if a murder had been committed at their feet sprang upon each other with unbridled rage at the horrifying sight of spilled booze and a broken bar.Few of the fat man‟s supporters were deterred by the general row, though.They rolled in on Wulfgar, wave after wave.He held his ground well, for none could delay him long enough for their reinforcements to get in.Still, the barbarian was being hit as often as he was connecting with his own blows.He took the punches stoically, blocking out the pain through sheer pride and his fighting tenacity that simply would not allow him to lose.From his new seat under the table, Regis watched the action and sipped his drink.Even the barmaids were into it now, riding around on some unfortunate combatants‟ backs, using their nails to etch intricate designs into the men‟s faces.In fact, Regis soon discerned that the only other person in the tavern who wasn‟t in the fight, other than those who were already unconscious, was Jierdan.
|
More curious still, Regis knew the man as Jierdan, the soldier at the gate who had recognized Drizzt and had arranged for them to pass into the city just a couple of hours earlier.The fat man came a step closer, and Regis didn‟t have time to ponder the implications.Hands on hips, the huge blob stared down at him.Regis felt his heart pumping, the blood coursing through his veins, as it always did in this type of on-the-edge confrontation that had marked his days in Calimport.And now, like then, he had every intention of finding a way to run away.But his confidence dissipated when he remembered his companion.Less experienced, and Regis would be quick to say, “less wise!” Wulfgar would not let the challenge go unanswered.One spring of his long legs easily carried him over the table and placed him squarely between the fat man and Regis.He returned the fat man‟s ominous glare with equal intensity.The fat man glanced to his friends at the bar, fully aware that his proud young opponent‟s distorted sense of honor would prevent a first strike.“Well, look ye here,” he laughed, his lips turned back in drooling anticipation, “seems the young one has a thing to say.”He started slowly to turn back on Wulfgar, then lunged suddenly for the barbarian‟s throat, expecting that his change in tempo would catch Wulfgar by surprise.But although he was inexperienced in the ways of taverns, Wulfgar understood battle.He had trained with Drizzt Do‟Urden, an ever-alert warrior, and had toned his muscles to their sharpest fighting edge.Before the fat man‟s hands ever came near his throat, Wulfgar had snapped one of his own huge paws over his opponent‟s face and had driven the other into the fat man‟s groin.His Page 21stunned opponent found himself rising into the air.For a moment, onlookers were too amazed to react at all, except for Regis, who slapped a hand across his own disbelieving face and inconspicuously slid under the table.The fat man outweighed three average men, but the barbarian brought him up easily over the top of his seven-foot frame, and even higher, to the full extension of his arms.Howling in helpless rage, the fat man, ordered his supporters to attack.Wulfgar watched patiently for the first move against him.The whole crowd seemed to jump at once.Keeping his calm, the trained warrior searched out the tightest concentration, three men, and launched the human missile, noting their horrified expressions just before the waves of blubber rolled over them, blasting them backward.Then their combined momentum smashed an entire section of the bar from its supports, knocking the unfortunate innkeeper away and sending him crashing into the racks holding his finest wines.Wulfgar‟s amusement was short-lived, for other ruffians were quickly upon him.He dug his heels in where he was, determined to keep his footing, and lashed out with his great fists, swatting his enemies aside, one by one, and sending them sprawling into the far corners of the room.Fighting erupted all around the tavern.Men who could not have been spurred to action if a murder had been committed at their feet sprang upon each other with unbridled rage at the horrifying sight of spilled booze and a broken bar.Few of the fat man‟s supporters were deterred by the general row, though.They rolled in on Wulfgar, wave after wave.He held his ground well, for none could delay him long enough for their reinforcements to get in.Still, the barbarian was being hit as often as he was connecting with his own blows.He took the punches stoically, blocking out the pain through sheer pride and his fighting tenacity that simply would not allow him to lose.From his new seat under the table, Regis watched the action and sipped his drink.Even the barmaids were into it now, riding around on some unfortunate combatants‟ backs, using their nails to etch intricate designs into the men‟s faces.In fact, Regis soon discerned that the only other person in the tavern who wasn‟t in the fight, other than those who were already unconscious, was Jierdan.
|
[
5167,
11040,
991,
11,
3310,
271,
2993,
262,
582,
355,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
262,
10686,
379,
262,
8946,
508,
550,
8018,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
550,
14921,
329,
606,
284,
1208,
656,
262,
1748,
655,
257,
3155,
286,
2250,
2961,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
1625,
257,
2239,
5699,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
423,
640,
284,
37375,
262,
10939,
13,
39,
1746,
319,
21497,
11,
262,
3236,
44812,
18484,
866,
379,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
2936,
465,
2612,
26916,
11,
262,
2910,
1093,
12215,
832,
465,
32375,
11,
355,
340,
1464,
750,
287,
428,
2099,
286,
319,
12,
1169,
12,
14907,
19207,
326,
550,
7498,
465,
1528,
287,
2199,
11748,
13,
1870,
783,
11,
588,
788,
11,
339,
550,
790,
6778,
286,
4917,
257,
835,
284,
1057,
1497,
13,
1537,
465,
6628,
32008,
515,
618,
339,
12086,
465,
15185,
13,
22058,
5924,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
561,
307,
2068,
284,
910,
11,
564,
250,
1203,
10787,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
407,
1309,
262,
4427,
467,
34001,
13,
3198,
6076,
286,
465,
890,
7405,
3538,
5281,
683,
625,
262,
3084,
290,
4624,
683,
38590,
1022,
262,
3735,
582,
290,
3310,
271,
13,
1544,
4504,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
34837,
36785,
351,
4961,
12245,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
27846,
284,
465,
2460,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
3938,
3910,
326,
465,
6613,
1862,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
26987,
2565,
286,
7522,
561,
2948,
257,
717,
5587,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
804,
9838,
994,
11,
447,
251,
339,
13818,
11,
465,
11914,
2900,
736,
287,
3102,
40949,
24054,
11,
564,
250,
325,
5232,
262,
1862,
530,
468,
257,
1517,
284,
910,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
2067,
6364,
284,
1210,
736,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
788,
14678,
2004,
6451,
329,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
11,
12451,
326,
465,
1487,
287,
28691,
561,
4929,
370,
4754,
4563,
416,
5975,
13,
1537,
3584,
339,
373,
38003,
287,
262,
2842,
286,
42488,
82,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
7247,
3344,
13,
1544,
550,
8776,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
281,
1683,
12,
44598,
16491,
11,
290,
550,
5680,
276,
465,
12749,
284,
511,
7786,
395,
4330,
5743,
13,
8421,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
1683,
1625,
1474,
465,
13589,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
20821,
530,
286,
465,
898,
3236,
49193,
625,
465,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
290,
550,
7986,
262,
584,
656,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
42247,
13,
6653,
7873,
2310,
301,
403,
2817,
6125,
1043,
2241,
7396,
656,
262,
1633,
13,
1890,
257,
2589,
11,
47747,
364,
547,
1165,
24562,
284,
6324,
379,
477,
11,
2845,
329,
3310,
271,
11,
508,
31213,
257,
1021,
1973,
465,
898,
23935,
30749,
1986,
290,
12764,
16564,
24987,
27803,
739,
262,
3084,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
26644,
12570,
1115,
2811,
1450,
11,
475,
262,
42577,
3699,
3181,
683,
510,
3538,
625,
262,
1353,
286,
465,
3598,
12,
5898,
5739,
11,
290,
772,
2440,
11,
284,
262,
1336,
7552,
286,
465,
5101,
13,
2437,
1359,
287,
21144,
14404,
11
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
5167,
11040,
991,
11,
3310,
271,
2993,
262,
582,
355,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
262,
10686,
379,
262,
8946,
508,
550,
8018,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
550,
14921,
329,
606,
284,
1208,
656,
262,
1748,
655,
257,
3155,
286,
2250,
2961,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
1625,
257,
2239,
5699,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
423,
640,
284,
37375,
262,
10939,
13,
39,
1746,
319,
21497,
11,
262,
3236,
44812,
18484,
866,
379,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
2936,
465,
2612,
26916,
11,
262,
2910,
1093,
12215,
832,
465,
32375,
11,
355,
340,
1464,
750,
287,
428,
2099,
286,
319,
12,
1169,
12,
14907,
19207,
326,
550,
7498,
465,
1528,
287,
2199,
11748,
13,
1870,
783,
11,
588,
788,
11,
339,
550,
790,
6778,
286,
4917,
257,
835,
284,
1057,
1497,
13,
1537,
465,
6628,
32008,
515,
618,
339,
12086,
465,
15185,
13,
22058,
5924,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
561,
307,
2068,
284,
910,
11,
564,
250,
1203,
10787,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
407,
1309,
262,
4427,
467,
34001,
13,
3198,
6076,
286,
465,
890,
7405,
3538,
5281,
683,
625,
262,
3084,
290,
4624,
683,
38590,
1022,
262,
3735,
582,
290,
3310,
271,
13,
1544,
4504,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
34837,
36785,
351,
4961,
12245,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
27846,
284,
465,
2460,
379,
262,
2318,
11,
3938,
3910,
326,
465,
6613,
1862,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
26987,
2565,
286,
7522,
561,
2948,
257,
717,
5587,
13,
447,
250,
5779,
11,
804,
9838,
994,
11,
447,
251,
339,
13818,
11,
465,
11914,
2900,
736,
287,
3102,
40949,
24054,
11,
564,
250,
325,
5232,
262,
1862,
530,
468,
257,
1517,
284,
910,
13,
447,
251,
1544,
2067,
6364,
284,
1210,
736,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
788,
14678,
2004,
6451,
329,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
11,
12451,
326,
465,
1487,
287,
28691,
561,
4929,
370,
4754,
4563,
416,
5975,
13,
1537,
3584,
339,
373,
38003,
287,
262,
2842,
286,
42488,
82,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
7247,
3344,
13,
1544,
550,
8776,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
281,
1683,
12,
44598,
16491,
11,
290,
550,
5680,
276,
465,
12749,
284,
511,
7786,
395,
4330,
5743,
13,
8421,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
1683,
1625,
1474,
465,
13589,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
20821,
530,
286,
465,
898,
3236,
49193,
625,
465,
6125,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
290,
550,
7986,
262,
584,
656,
262,
3735,
582,
447,
253,
82,
42247,
13,
6653,
7873,
2310,
301,
403,
2817,
6125,
1043,
2241,
7396,
656,
262,
1633,
13,
1890,
257,
2589,
11,
47747,
364,
547,
1165,
24562,
284,
6324,
379,
477,
11,
2845,
329,
3310,
271,
11,
508,
31213,
257,
1021,
1973,
465,
898,
23935,
30749,
1986,
290,
12764,
16564,
24987,
27803,
739,
262,
3084,
13,
464,
3735,
582,
26644,
12570,
1115,
2811,
1450,
11,
475,
262,
42577,
3699,
3181,
683,
510,
3538,
625,
262,
1353,
286,
465,
3598,
12,
5898,
5739,
11,
290,
772,
2440,
11,
284,
262,
1336,
7552,
286,
465,
5101,
13,
2437,
1359,
287,
21144,
14404,
11
] |
dnd535
|
The soldier sat quietly in his chair, unconcerned with the brawling beside him and interested only, it seemed, in watching and measuring Wulfgar‟s prowess.This, too, disturbed the halfling, but once again he found that he didn‟t have time to contemplate the soldier‟s unusual actions.Regis had known from the start that he would have to pull his giant friend out of this, and now his alert eyes had caught the expected flash of steel.A rogue in the line directly behind Wulfgar‟s latest opponents had drawn a blade.“Damn!” Regis muttered, setting down his drink and pulling his mace from a fold in his cloak.Such business always left a foul taste in his mouth.Wulfgar threw his two opponents aside, opening a path for the man with the knife.He charged forward, his eyes up and staring into those of the tall barbarian.He didn‟t even notice Regis dart out from between Wulfgar‟s long legs, the little mace poised to strike.It slammed into the man‟s knee, shattering the kneecap, and sent him sprawling forward, blade exposed, toward Wulfgar.Wulfgar side-stepped the lunge at the last moment and clasped his hand over the hand of his assailant.Rolling with the momentum, the barbarian knocked aside the table and slammed into the wall.One squeeze crushed the assailant‟s fingers on the knife hilt, while at the same time Wulfgar engulfed the man‟s face with his free hand and hoisted him from the ground.Crying out to Tempus, the god of battle, the barbarian, enraged at the appearance of a weapon, slammed the man‟s head through the wooden planks of the wall and left him dangling, his feet fully a foot from the floor.An impressive move, but it cost Wulfgar time.When he turned back toward the bar, he was buried under a flurry of fists and kicks from several attackers.* * *Page 22“Here she comes,” Bruenor whispered to Drizzt when he saw Whisper returning, though the drow‟s heightened senses had told him of her coming long before the dwarf was aware of it.Whisper had only been gone a half-hour or so, but it seemed much longer to the two friends in the alley, dangerously open to the sights of the crossbowmen and other thugs they knew were nearby.Whisper sauntered confidently up to them.“Here is the map you desire,” she said to Bruenor, holding up a rolled parchment.“A look, then,” the dwarf demanded, starting forward.The woman recoiled and dropped the parchment to her side.“The price is higher,” she stated flatly.“Ten times what you have already offered.”Bruenor‟s dangerous glare did not deter her.“No choice is left to you,” she hissed.“You shall find no other who can deliver this unto you.Pay the price and be done with it!”“A moment,” Bruenor said with sudden calm.“Me friend has a say in this.” He and Drizzt moved a step away.“She has discovered who we are,” the drow explained, though Bruenor had already come to the same conclusion.“And how much we can pay.”“Be it the map?” Bruenor asked.Drizzt nodded.
|
The soldier sat quietly in his chair, unconcerned with the brawling beside him and interested only, it seemed, in watching and measuring Wulfgar‟s prowess.This, too, disturbed the halfling, but once again he found that he didn‟t have time to contemplate the soldier‟s unusual actions.Regis had known from the start that he would have to pull his giant friend out of this, and now his alert eyes had caught the expected flash of steel.A rogue in the line directly behind Wulfgar‟s latest opponents had drawn a blade.“Damn!” Regis muttered, setting down his drink and pulling his mace from a fold in his cloak.Such business always left a foul taste in his mouth.Wulfgar threw his two opponents aside, opening a path for the man with the knife.He charged forward, his eyes up and staring into those of the tall barbarian.He didn‟t even notice Regis dart out from between Wulfgar‟s long legs, the little mace poised to strike.It slammed into the man‟s knee, shattering the kneecap, and sent him sprawling forward, blade exposed, toward Wulfgar.Wulfgar side-stepped the lunge at the last moment and clasped his hand over the hand of his assailant.Rolling with the momentum, the barbarian knocked aside the table and slammed into the wall.One squeeze crushed the assailant‟s fingers on the knife hilt, while at the same time Wulfgar engulfed the man‟s face with his free hand and hoisted him from the ground.Crying out to Tempus, the god of battle, the barbarian, enraged at the appearance of a weapon, slammed the man‟s head through the wooden planks of the wall and left him dangling, his feet fully a foot from the floor.An impressive move, but it cost Wulfgar time.When he turned back toward the bar, he was buried under a flurry of fists and kicks from several attackers.* * *Page 22“Here she comes,” Bruenor whispered to Drizzt when he saw Whisper returning, though the drow‟s heightened senses had told him of her coming long before the dwarf was aware of it.Whisper had only been gone a half-hour or so, but it seemed much longer to the two friends in the alley, dangerously open to the sights of the crossbowmen and other thugs they knew were nearby.Whisper sauntered confidently up to them.“Here is the map you desire,” she said to Bruenor, holding up a rolled parchment.“A look, then,” the dwarf demanded, starting forward.The woman recoiled and dropped the parchment to her side.“The price is higher,” she stated flatly.“Ten times what you have already offered.”Bruenor‟s dangerous glare did not deter her.“No choice is left to you,” she hissed.“You shall find no other who can deliver this unto you.Pay the price and be done with it!”“A moment,” Bruenor said with sudden calm.“Me friend has a say in this.” He and Drizzt moved a step away.“She has discovered who we are,” the drow explained, though Bruenor had already come to the same conclusion.“And how much we can pay.”“Be it the map?” Bruenor asked.Drizzt nodded.
|
[
464,
10686,
3332,
12703,
287,
465,
5118,
11,
21254,
49990,
351,
262,
275,
18771,
13970,
683,
290,
4609,
691,
11,
340,
3947,
11,
287,
4964,
290,
15964,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
30721,
13,
1212,
11,
1165,
11,
24069,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
475,
1752,
757,
339,
1043,
326,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
423,
640,
284,
39248,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
8468,
4028,
13,
8081,
271,
550,
1900,
422,
262,
923,
326,
339,
561,
423,
284,
2834,
465,
6175,
1545,
503,
286,
428,
11,
290,
783,
465,
7995,
2951,
550,
4978,
262,
2938,
7644,
286,
7771,
13,
32,
23586,
287,
262,
1627,
3264,
2157,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
3452,
7691,
550,
7428,
257,
11865,
13,
447,
250,
43343,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
34042,
11,
4634,
866,
465,
4144,
290,
10427,
465,
285,
558,
422,
257,
5591,
287,
465,
24117,
13,
16678,
1597,
1464,
1364,
257,
15626,
6938,
287,
465,
5422,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
9617,
465,
734,
7691,
7263,
11,
4756,
257,
3108,
329,
262,
582,
351,
262,
9845,
13,
1544,
5047,
2651,
11,
465,
2951,
510,
290,
16143,
656,
883,
286,
262,
7331,
42577,
3699,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
4003,
3310,
271,
35970,
503,
422,
1022,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
890,
7405,
11,
262,
1310,
285,
558,
24357,
284,
5587,
13,
1026,
21376,
656,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
10329,
11,
48883,
262,
24813,
721,
499,
11,
290,
1908,
683,
30190,
2651,
11,
11865,
7362,
11,
3812,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1735,
12,
4169,
1496,
262,
14678,
469,
379,
262,
938,
2589,
290,
47425,
276,
465,
1021,
625,
262,
1021,
286,
465,
45800,
13,
26869,
278,
351,
262,
12858,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
13642,
7263,
262,
3084,
290,
21376,
656,
262,
3355,
13,
3198,
21229,
18577,
262,
45800,
447,
253,
82,
9353,
319,
262,
9845,
289,
2326,
11,
981,
379,
262,
976,
640,
370,
4754,
4563,
40997,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
351,
465,
1479,
1021,
290,
8169,
6347,
683,
422,
262,
2323,
13,
34,
14992,
503,
284,
24189,
385,
11,
262,
5770,
286,
3344,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
11,
37530,
379,
262,
5585,
286,
257,
4282,
11,
21376,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
832,
262,
13510,
1410,
591,
286,
262,
3355,
290,
1364,
683,
47270,
11,
465,
3625,
3938,
257,
2366,
422,
262,
4314,
13,
2025,
8036,
1445,
11,
475,
340,
1575,
370,
4754,
4563,
640,
13,
2215,
339,
2900,
736,
3812,
262,
2318,
11,
339,
373,
11694,
739,
257,
36418,
286,
33053,
290,
17364,
422,
1811,
16391,
15885,
1635,
1635,
9876,
2534,
447,
250,
4342,
673,
2058,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
25029,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
618,
339,
2497,
28424,
525,
8024,
11,
996,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
25556,
17627,
550,
1297,
683,
286,
607,
2406,
890,
878,
262,
24603,
373,
3910,
286,
340,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
550,
691,
587,
3750,
257,
2063,
12,
9769,
393,
523,
11,
475,
340,
3947,
881,
2392,
284,
262,
734,
2460,
287,
262,
23978,
11,
33247,
1280,
284,
262,
21343,
286,
262
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
10686,
3332,
12703,
287,
465,
5118,
11,
21254,
49990,
351,
262,
275,
18771,
13970,
683,
290,
4609,
691,
11,
340,
3947,
11,
287,
4964,
290,
15964,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
30721,
13,
1212,
11,
1165,
11,
24069,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
475,
1752,
757,
339,
1043,
326,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
423,
640,
284,
39248,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
8468,
4028,
13,
8081,
271,
550,
1900,
422,
262,
923,
326,
339,
561,
423,
284,
2834,
465,
6175,
1545,
503,
286,
428,
11,
290,
783,
465,
7995,
2951,
550,
4978,
262,
2938,
7644,
286,
7771,
13,
32,
23586,
287,
262,
1627,
3264,
2157,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
3452,
7691,
550,
7428,
257,
11865,
13,
447,
250,
43343,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
34042,
11,
4634,
866,
465,
4144,
290,
10427,
465,
285,
558,
422,
257,
5591,
287,
465,
24117,
13,
16678,
1597,
1464,
1364,
257,
15626,
6938,
287,
465,
5422,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
9617,
465,
734,
7691,
7263,
11,
4756,
257,
3108,
329,
262,
582,
351,
262,
9845,
13,
1544,
5047,
2651,
11,
465,
2951,
510,
290,
16143,
656,
883,
286,
262,
7331,
42577,
3699,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
4003,
3310,
271,
35970,
503,
422,
1022,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
890,
7405,
11,
262,
1310,
285,
558,
24357,
284,
5587,
13,
1026,
21376,
656,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
10329,
11,
48883,
262,
24813,
721,
499,
11,
290,
1908,
683,
30190,
2651,
11,
11865,
7362,
11,
3812,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1735,
12,
4169,
1496,
262,
14678,
469,
379,
262,
938,
2589,
290,
47425,
276,
465,
1021,
625,
262,
1021,
286,
465,
45800,
13,
26869,
278,
351,
262,
12858,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
13642,
7263,
262,
3084,
290,
21376,
656,
262,
3355,
13,
3198,
21229,
18577,
262,
45800,
447,
253,
82,
9353,
319,
262,
9845,
289,
2326,
11,
981,
379,
262,
976,
640,
370,
4754,
4563,
40997,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
351,
465,
1479,
1021,
290,
8169,
6347,
683,
422,
262,
2323,
13,
34,
14992,
503,
284,
24189,
385,
11,
262,
5770,
286,
3344,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
11,
37530,
379,
262,
5585,
286,
257,
4282,
11,
21376,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
832,
262,
13510,
1410,
591,
286,
262,
3355,
290,
1364,
683,
47270,
11,
465,
3625,
3938,
257,
2366,
422,
262,
4314,
13,
2025,
8036,
1445,
11,
475,
340,
1575,
370,
4754,
4563,
640,
13,
2215,
339,
2900,
736,
3812,
262,
2318,
11,
339,
373,
11694,
739,
257,
36418,
286,
33053,
290,
17364,
422,
1811,
16391,
15885,
1635,
1635,
9876,
2534,
447,
250,
4342,
673,
2058,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
25029,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
618,
339,
2497,
28424,
525,
8024,
11,
996,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
25556,
17627,
550,
1297,
683,
286,
607,
2406,
890,
878,
262,
24603,
373,
3910,
286,
340,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
550,
691,
587,
3750,
257,
2063,
12,
9769,
393,
523,
11,
475,
340,
3947,
881,
2392,
284,
262,
734,
2460,
287,
262,
23978,
11,
33247,
1280,
284,
262,
21343,
286,
262
] |
dnd536
|
“She would have no reason to believe that she is in any danger, not down here.Have you the money?”“Aye,” said the dwarf, “but our road is long yet, and I fear we‟ll be needing what I‟ve got and more.”“It is settled then,” Drizzt replied.Bruenor recognized the fiery gleam that flared up in the drow‟s lavender eyes.“When first we met this woman, we struck a fair deal,” he went on.“A deal we shall honor.”Bruenor understood and approved.He felt the tingle of anticipation start in his blood.He turned back on the woman and noticed at once that she now held a dagger at her side instead of the parchment.Apparently she understood the nature of the two adventurers she was dealing with.Drizzt, also noticing the metallic glint, stepped back from Bruenor, trying to appear unmenacing to Whisper, though in reality, he wanted to get a better angle on some suspicious cracks that he had noticed in the wall–cracks that might be the edgings of a secret door.Bruenor approached the woman with his empty arms outstretched.“If that be the price,” he grumbled, “then we have no choice but to pay.But I‟ll be seein‟ the map first!”Confident that she could put her dagger into the dwarf‟s eye before either of his hands could get back to his belt for a weapon, Whisper relaxed and moved her empty hand to the parchment under her cloak.But she underestimated her opponent.Bruenor‟s stubby legs twitched, launching him up high enough to slam his helmet into the woman‟s face, splattering her nose and knocking her head into the wall.He went for the map, dropping the original purse of gems onto Whisper‟s limp form and muttering, “As we agreed.”Drizzt, too, had sprung into motion.As soon as the dwarf flinched, he had called upon the innate magic of his heritage to conjure a globe of darkness in front of the window harboring the crossbowmen.No bolts came through, but the angered shouts of the two archers echoed throughout the alley.Then the cracks in the wall split open, as Drizzt had anticipated, and Whisper‟s second line of defense came rushing through.The drow was prepared, scimitars already in his hands.The blades flashed, blunt sides only, but with enough precision to disarm the burly rogue that stepped out.Then they came in again, slapping the man‟s face, and in the same fluidity of motion, Drizzt reversed the angle, slamming one pommel, and then the other, into the man‟s temples.By the time Bruenor had turned around with the map, the way was clear before them.Bruenor examined the drow‟s handiwork with true admiration.Then a crossbow quarrel ticked into the wall just an inch from his head.“Time to go,” Drizzt observed.“The end‟ll be blocked, or I‟m a bearded gnome,” Bruenor said as they neared the exit to the Page 23alley.A growling roar in the building beside them, followed by terrified screams, brought them some comfort.“Guenhwyvar,” Drizzt stated, as two cloaked men burst out into the street before them and fled without looking back.“Sure that I‟d forgotten all about that cat!” cried Bruenor.“Be glad that Guenhwyvar‟s memory is greater than your own,” laughed Drizzt, and Bruenor, despite his feelings for the cat, laughed with him.They halted at the end of the alley and scouted the street.There were no signs of any trouble, though the heavy fog provided good cover for a possible ambush.“Take it slow,” Bruenor offered.“We‟ll draw less attention.”Drizzt would have agreed, but then a second quarrel, launched from somewhere down the alley, knocked into a wooden beam between them.“Time to go!” Drizzt stated more decisively, though Bruenor needed no further encouragement, his little legs already pumping wildly as he sped off into the fog.They made their way through the twists and turns of Luskan‟s rat maze, Drizzt gracefully gliding over any rubble barriers and Bruenor simply crashing through them.
|
“She would have no reason to believe that she is in any danger, not down here.Have you the money?”“Aye,” said the dwarf, “but our road is long yet, and I fear we‟ll be needing what I‟ve got and more.”“It is settled then,” Drizzt replied.Bruenor recognized the fiery gleam that flared up in the drow‟s lavender eyes.“When first we met this woman, we struck a fair deal,” he went on.“A deal we shall honor.”Bruenor understood and approved.He felt the tingle of anticipation start in his blood.He turned back on the woman and noticed at once that she now held a dagger at her side instead of the parchment.Apparently she understood the nature of the two adventurers she was dealing with.Drizzt, also noticing the metallic glint, stepped back from Bruenor, trying to appear unmenacing to Whisper, though in reality, he wanted to get a better angle on some suspicious cracks that he had noticed in the wall–cracks that might be the edgings of a secret door.Bruenor approached the woman with his empty arms outstretched.“If that be the price,” he grumbled, “then we have no choice but to pay.But I‟ll be seein‟ the map first!”Confident that she could put her dagger into the dwarf‟s eye before either of his hands could get back to his belt for a weapon, Whisper relaxed and moved her empty hand to the parchment under her cloak.But she underestimated her opponent.Bruenor‟s stubby legs twitched, launching him up high enough to slam his helmet into the woman‟s face, splattering her nose and knocking her head into the wall.He went for the map, dropping the original purse of gems onto Whisper‟s limp form and muttering, “As we agreed.”Drizzt, too, had sprung into motion.As soon as the dwarf flinched, he had called upon the innate magic of his heritage to conjure a globe of darkness in front of the window harboring the crossbowmen.No bolts came through, but the angered shouts of the two archers echoed throughout the alley.Then the cracks in the wall split open, as Drizzt had anticipated, and Whisper‟s second line of defense came rushing through.The drow was prepared, scimitars already in his hands.The blades flashed, blunt sides only, but with enough precision to disarm the burly rogue that stepped out.Then they came in again, slapping the man‟s face, and in the same fluidity of motion, Drizzt reversed the angle, slamming one pommel, and then the other, into the man‟s temples.By the time Bruenor had turned around with the map, the way was clear before them.Bruenor examined the drow‟s handiwork with true admiration.Then a crossbow quarrel ticked into the wall just an inch from his head.“Time to go,” Drizzt observed.“The end‟ll be blocked, or I‟m a bearded gnome,” Bruenor said as they neared the exit to the Page 23alley.A growling roar in the building beside them, followed by terrified screams, brought them some comfort.“Guenhwyvar,” Drizzt stated, as two cloaked men burst out into the street before them and fled without looking back.“Sure that I‟d forgotten all about that cat!” cried Bruenor.“Be glad that Guenhwyvar‟s memory is greater than your own,” laughed Drizzt, and Bruenor, despite his feelings for the cat, laughed with him.They halted at the end of the alley and scouted the street.There were no signs of any trouble, though the heavy fog provided good cover for a possible ambush.“Take it slow,” Bruenor offered.“We‟ll draw less attention.”Drizzt would have agreed, but then a second quarrel, launched from somewhere down the alley, knocked into a wooden beam between them.“Time to go!” Drizzt stated more decisively, though Bruenor needed no further encouragement, his little legs already pumping wildly as he sped off into the fog.They made their way through the twists and turns of Luskan‟s rat maze, Drizzt gracefully gliding over any rubble barriers and Bruenor simply crashing through them.
|
[
447,
250,
3347,
561,
423,
645,
1738,
284,
1975,
326,
673,
318,
287,
597,
3514,
11,
407,
866,
994,
13,
11980,
345,
262,
1637,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
447,
251,
531,
262,
24603,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
674,
2975,
318,
890,
1865,
11,
290,
314,
3252,
356,
447,
253,
297,
307,
18139,
644,
314,
447,
253,
303,
1392,
290,
517,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
10282,
788,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
8018,
262,
27810,
26852,
321,
326,
50017,
510,
287,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
21606,
2194,
2951,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
717,
356,
1138,
428,
2415,
11,
356,
7425,
257,
3148,
1730,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1816,
319,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1730,
356,
2236,
7522,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
7247,
290,
6325,
13,
1544,
2936,
262,
256,
17697,
286,
24054,
923,
287,
465,
2910,
13,
1544,
2900,
736,
319,
262,
2415,
290,
6810,
379,
1752,
326,
673,
783,
2714,
257,
31322,
379,
607,
1735,
2427,
286,
262,
38414,
13,
30402,
673,
7247,
262,
3450,
286,
262,
734,
36843,
673,
373,
7219,
351,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
635,
28107,
262,
27306,
1278,
600,
11,
10764,
736,
422,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
555,
3653,
4092,
284,
28424,
525,
11,
996,
287,
3950,
11,
339,
2227,
284,
651,
257,
1365,
9848,
319,
617,
13678,
23217,
326,
339,
550,
6810,
287,
262,
3355,
1906,
6098,
4595,
326,
1244,
307,
262,
1225,
70,
654,
286,
257,
3200,
3420,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
10448,
262,
2415,
351,
465,
6565,
5101,
503,
49729,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
326,
307,
262,
2756,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1036,
11137,
11,
564,
250,
8524,
356,
423,
645,
3572,
475,
284,
1414,
13,
1537,
314,
447,
253,
297,
307,
766,
259,
447,
253,
262,
3975,
717,
0,
447,
251,
18546,
738,
326,
673,
714,
1234,
607,
31322,
656,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4151,
878,
2035,
286,
465,
2832,
714,
651,
736,
284,
465,
10999,
329,
257,
4282,
11,
28424,
525,
18397,
290,
3888,
607,
6565,
1021,
284,
262,
38414,
739,
607,
24117,
13,
1537,
673,
36190,
607,
6125,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
17071,
1525,
7405,
665,
10981,
11,
13925,
683,
510,
1029,
1576,
284,
21158,
465,
14335,
656,
262,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
4328,
16475,
607,
9686,
290,
21500,
607,
1182,
656,
262,
3355,
13,
1544,
1816,
329,
262,
3975,
11,
12047,
262,
2656,
27517,
286,
23685,
4291,
28424,
525,
447,
253,
82,
42102,
1296,
290,
4517,
20212,
11,
564,
250,
1722,
356,
4987,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
1165,
11,
550,
39388,
656,
6268,
13,
1722,
2582,
355,
262,
24603,
781,
259,
1740,
11,
339,
550,
1444,
2402,
262,
28690,
5536,
286,
465,
15012,
284,
11644,
495,
257,
13342,
286,
11854,
287,
2166,
286,
262,
4324,
25451,
278,
262,
3272,
8176,
3653,
13,
2949,
24667,
1625,
832,
11,
475,
262,
31997,
34757,
286,
262,
734,
610,
3533,
22211,
3690,
262,
23978,
13,
6423,
262,
23217,
287,
262,
3355
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
3347,
561,
423,
645,
1738,
284,
1975,
326,
673,
318,
287,
597,
3514,
11,
407,
866,
994,
13,
11980,
345,
262,
1637,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
447,
251,
531,
262,
24603,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
674,
2975,
318,
890,
1865,
11,
290,
314,
3252,
356,
447,
253,
297,
307,
18139,
644,
314,
447,
253,
303,
1392,
290,
517,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
10282,
788,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
8018,
262,
27810,
26852,
321,
326,
50017,
510,
287,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
21606,
2194,
2951,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
717,
356,
1138,
428,
2415,
11,
356,
7425,
257,
3148,
1730,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1816,
319,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1730,
356,
2236,
7522,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
7247,
290,
6325,
13,
1544,
2936,
262,
256,
17697,
286,
24054,
923,
287,
465,
2910,
13,
1544,
2900,
736,
319,
262,
2415,
290,
6810,
379,
1752,
326,
673,
783,
2714,
257,
31322,
379,
607,
1735,
2427,
286,
262,
38414,
13,
30402,
673,
7247,
262,
3450,
286,
262,
734,
36843,
673,
373,
7219,
351,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
635,
28107,
262,
27306,
1278,
600,
11,
10764,
736,
422,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
555,
3653,
4092,
284,
28424,
525,
11,
996,
287,
3950,
11,
339,
2227,
284,
651,
257,
1365,
9848,
319,
617,
13678,
23217,
326,
339,
550,
6810,
287,
262,
3355,
1906,
6098,
4595,
326,
1244,
307,
262,
1225,
70,
654,
286,
257,
3200,
3420,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
10448,
262,
2415,
351,
465,
6565,
5101,
503,
49729,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
326,
307,
262,
2756,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1036,
11137,
11,
564,
250,
8524,
356,
423,
645,
3572,
475,
284,
1414,
13,
1537,
314,
447,
253,
297,
307,
766,
259,
447,
253,
262,
3975,
717,
0,
447,
251,
18546,
738,
326,
673,
714,
1234,
607,
31322,
656,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4151,
878,
2035,
286,
465,
2832,
714,
651,
736,
284,
465,
10999,
329,
257,
4282,
11,
28424,
525,
18397,
290,
3888,
607,
6565,
1021,
284,
262,
38414,
739,
607,
24117,
13,
1537,
673,
36190,
607,
6125,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
17071,
1525,
7405,
665,
10981,
11,
13925,
683,
510,
1029,
1576,
284,
21158,
465,
14335,
656,
262,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
4328,
16475,
607,
9686,
290,
21500,
607,
1182,
656,
262,
3355,
13,
1544,
1816,
329,
262,
3975,
11,
12047,
262,
2656,
27517,
286,
23685,
4291,
28424,
525,
447,
253,
82,
42102,
1296,
290,
4517,
20212,
11,
564,
250,
1722,
356,
4987,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
1165,
11,
550,
39388,
656,
6268,
13,
1722,
2582,
355,
262,
24603,
781,
259,
1740,
11,
339,
550,
1444,
2402,
262,
28690,
5536,
286,
465,
15012,
284,
11644,
495,
257,
13342,
286,
11854,
287,
2166,
286,
262,
4324,
25451,
278,
262,
3272,
8176,
3653,
13,
2949,
24667,
1625,
832,
11,
475,
262,
31997,
34757,
286,
262,
734,
610,
3533,
22211,
3690,
262,
23978,
13,
6423,
262,
23217,
287,
262,
3355
] |
dnd537
|
Presently, they grew confident that there was no pursuit, and they changed their pace to an easy glide.The white of a smile showed through the dwarf‟s red beard as he kept a satisfied eye cocked over his shoulder.But when he turned back to view the road before him, he suddenly dove down to the side, scrambling to find his axe.He had come face up with the magical cat.Drizzt couldn‟t contain his laughter.“Put the thing away!” Bruenor demanded.“Manners, good dwarf,” the drow shot back.“Remember that, Guenhwyvar cleared our escape trail.”“Put it away!” Bruenor declared again, his axe swinging at the ready.Drizzt stroked the powerful cat‟s muscled neck.“Do not heed his words, friend,” he said to the cat.“He is a dwarf, and cannot appreciate the finer magics!”“Bah!” Bruenor snarled, though he breathed a bit easier as Drizzt dismissed the cat and replaced the onyx statue in his pouch.The two came upon Half-Moon Street a short while later, stopping in a final alley to look for any signs of ambush.They knew at once that there had been trouble, for several injured men stumbled, or were carried, past the alley‟s entrance.Then they saw the Cutlass, and two familiar forms sitting on the street out in front.“What‟re ye doin‟ out here?” Bruenor asked as they approached.“Seems our big friend answers insults with punches,” said Regis, who hadn‟t been touched in the fray.Wulfgar‟s face, though, was puffy and bruised, and he could barely open one eye.Dried blood, some of it his own, caked his fists and clothes.Drizzt and Bruenor looked at each other, not too surprised.“And our rooms?” Bruenor grumbled.Regis shook his head.“I doubt it.”“And my coins?”Again the halfling shook his head.“Bah!” snorted Bruenor, and he stamped off toward the door of the Cutlass.“I wouldn‟t…” Regis started, but then he shrugged and decided to let Bruenor find out for himself.Bruenor‟s shock was complete when he opened the tavern door.Tables, glass, and unconscious patrons lay broken all about the floor.The innkeeper slumped over one part of the shattered bar, a barmaid wrapping his bloodied head in bandages.The man Wulfgar had implanted into the wall still hung limply by the back of his head, groaning softly, and Bruenor couldn‟t help but chuckle at the handiwork of the mighty barbarian.Every now and then, one of the barmaids, passing by the man as she cleaned, gave him a little push, taking amusement at his swaying.Page 24“Good coins wasted,” Bruenor surmised, and he walked back out the door before the innkeeper noticed him and set the barmaids upon him.“Hell of a row!” he told Drizzt when he returned to his companions.“Everyone in on it?”“All but one,” Regis answered.“A soldier.”“A soldier of Luskan, down here?” asked Drizzt, surprised by the obvious inconsistency.Regis nodded.“And even more curious,” he continued, “it was the same guard, Jierdan, that let us into the city.” Drizzt and Bruenor exchanged concerned looks.“We‟ve killers at our backs, a busted inn before us, and a soldier paying us more mind than he should,” said Bruenor.“Time to go,” Drizzt responded for the third time.Wulfgar looked at him incredulously.“How many men did you down tonight?” Drizzt asked him, putting the logical assumption of danger right out before him.“And how many of them would drool at the opportunity to put a blade in your back?”“Besides,” added Regis before Wulfgar could answer, “I‟ve no desire to share a bed in an alley with a host of rats!”“Then to the gate,” said Bruenor.Drizzt shook his head.“Not with a guard so interested in us.Over the wall, and let none know of our passing.”* * *An hour later, they were trotting easily across the open grass, feeling the wind again beyond the break of Luskan‟s wall.Regis summed up their thoughts, saying, “Our first night in our first city, and we‟ve betrayed killers, fought down a host of ruffians, and caught the attention of the city guard.
|
Presently, they grew confident that there was no pursuit, and they changed their pace to an easy glide.The white of a smile showed through the dwarf‟s red beard as he kept a satisfied eye cocked over his shoulder.But when he turned back to view the road before him, he suddenly dove down to the side, scrambling to find his axe.He had come face up with the magical cat.Drizzt couldn‟t contain his laughter.“Put the thing away!” Bruenor demanded.“Manners, good dwarf,” the drow shot back.“Remember that, Guenhwyvar cleared our escape trail.”“Put it away!” Bruenor declared again, his axe swinging at the ready.Drizzt stroked the powerful cat‟s muscled neck.“Do not heed his words, friend,” he said to the cat.“He is a dwarf, and cannot appreciate the finer magics!”“Bah!” Bruenor snarled, though he breathed a bit easier as Drizzt dismissed the cat and replaced the onyx statue in his pouch.The two came upon Half-Moon Street a short while later, stopping in a final alley to look for any signs of ambush.They knew at once that there had been trouble, for several injured men stumbled, or were carried, past the alley‟s entrance.Then they saw the Cutlass, and two familiar forms sitting on the street out in front.“What‟re ye doin‟ out here?” Bruenor asked as they approached.“Seems our big friend answers insults with punches,” said Regis, who hadn‟t been touched in the fray.Wulfgar‟s face, though, was puffy and bruised, and he could barely open one eye.Dried blood, some of it his own, caked his fists and clothes.Drizzt and Bruenor looked at each other, not too surprised.“And our rooms?” Bruenor grumbled.Regis shook his head.“I doubt it.”“And my coins?”Again the halfling shook his head.“Bah!” snorted Bruenor, and he stamped off toward the door of the Cutlass.“I wouldn‟t…” Regis started, but then he shrugged and decided to let Bruenor find out for himself.Bruenor‟s shock was complete when he opened the tavern door.Tables, glass, and unconscious patrons lay broken all about the floor.The innkeeper slumped over one part of the shattered bar, a barmaid wrapping his bloodied head in bandages.The man Wulfgar had implanted into the wall still hung limply by the back of his head, groaning softly, and Bruenor couldn‟t help but chuckle at the handiwork of the mighty barbarian.Every now and then, one of the barmaids, passing by the man as she cleaned, gave him a little push, taking amusement at his swaying.Page 24“Good coins wasted,” Bruenor surmised, and he walked back out the door before the innkeeper noticed him and set the barmaids upon him.“Hell of a row!” he told Drizzt when he returned to his companions.“Everyone in on it?”“All but one,” Regis answered.“A soldier.”“A soldier of Luskan, down here?” asked Drizzt, surprised by the obvious inconsistency.Regis nodded.“And even more curious,” he continued, “it was the same guard, Jierdan, that let us into the city.” Drizzt and Bruenor exchanged concerned looks.“We‟ve killers at our backs, a busted inn before us, and a soldier paying us more mind than he should,” said Bruenor.“Time to go,” Drizzt responded for the third time.Wulfgar looked at him incredulously.“How many men did you down tonight?” Drizzt asked him, putting the logical assumption of danger right out before him.“And how many of them would drool at the opportunity to put a blade in your back?”“Besides,” added Regis before Wulfgar could answer, “I‟ve no desire to share a bed in an alley with a host of rats!”“Then to the gate,” said Bruenor.Drizzt shook his head.“Not with a guard so interested in us.Over the wall, and let none know of our passing.”* * *An hour later, they were trotting easily across the open grass, feeling the wind again beyond the break of Luskan‟s wall.Regis summed up their thoughts, saying, “Our first night in our first city, and we‟ve betrayed killers, fought down a host of ruffians, and caught the attention of the city guard.
|
[
25460,
1473,
11,
484,
6348,
6563,
326,
612,
373,
645,
14748,
11,
290,
484,
3421,
511,
8761,
284,
281,
2562,
48089,
13,
464,
2330,
286,
257,
8212,
3751,
832,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
2266,
21213,
355,
339,
4030,
257,
11378,
4151,
269,
3543,
625,
465,
8163,
13,
1537,
618,
339,
2900,
736,
284,
1570,
262,
2975,
878,
683,
11,
339,
6451,
38862,
866,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
36502,
284,
1064,
465,
23272,
13,
1544,
550,
1282,
1986,
510,
351,
262,
10883,
3797,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
3994,
465,
20263,
13,
447,
250,
11588,
262,
1517,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
44,
15672,
11,
922,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
16676,
326,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
12539,
674,
6654,
8025,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
11588,
340,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
6875,
757,
11,
465,
23272,
25635,
379,
262,
3492,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
9660,
9091,
262,
3665,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
1928,
20095,
7393,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
407,
32420,
465,
2456,
11,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
262,
3797,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
257,
24603,
11,
290,
2314,
9144,
262,
38575,
2153,
873,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
283,
992,
11,
996,
339,
39545,
257,
1643,
4577,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
11126,
262,
3797,
290,
6928,
262,
319,
28391,
15207,
287,
465,
36594,
13,
464,
734,
1625,
2402,
13139,
12,
31640,
3530,
257,
1790,
981,
1568,
11,
12225,
287,
257,
2457,
23978,
284,
804,
329,
597,
5895,
286,
34298,
13,
2990,
2993,
379,
1752,
326,
612,
550,
587,
5876,
11,
329,
1811,
6686,
1450,
24241,
11,
393,
547,
5281,
11,
1613,
262,
23978,
447,
253,
82,
10384,
13,
6423,
484,
2497,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
290,
734,
5385,
5107,
5586,
319,
262,
4675,
503,
287,
2166,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
447,
253,
260,
9838,
466,
259,
447,
253,
503,
994,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
355,
484,
10448,
13,
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
674,
1263,
1545,
7429,
27819,
351,
25495,
11,
447,
251,
531,
3310,
271,
11,
508,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
587,
12615,
287,
262,
40606,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
996,
11,
373,
279,
15352,
290,
44379,
11,
290,
339,
714,
8523,
1280,
530,
4151,
13,
35,
2228,
2910,
11,
617,
286,
340,
465,
898,
11,
269,
4335,
465,
33053,
290,
8242,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
3114,
379,
1123,
584,
11,
407,
1165,
6655,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
674,
9519,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1036,
11137,
13,
8081,
271,
14682,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4719,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
616,
10796,
30,
447,
251,
15316,
262,
2063,
1359,
14682,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
3013,
9741,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
339,
28305,
572,
3812,
262,
3420,
286,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1399,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2067
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
25460,
1473,
11,
484,
6348,
6563,
326,
612,
373,
645,
14748,
11,
290,
484,
3421,
511,
8761,
284,
281,
2562,
48089,
13,
464,
2330,
286,
257,
8212,
3751,
832,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
2266,
21213,
355,
339,
4030,
257,
11378,
4151,
269,
3543,
625,
465,
8163,
13,
1537,
618,
339,
2900,
736,
284,
1570,
262,
2975,
878,
683,
11,
339,
6451,
38862,
866,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
36502,
284,
1064,
465,
23272,
13,
1544,
550,
1282,
1986,
510,
351,
262,
10883,
3797,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
3994,
465,
20263,
13,
447,
250,
11588,
262,
1517,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
44,
15672,
11,
922,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
16676,
326,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
12539,
674,
6654,
8025,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
11588,
340,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
6875,
757,
11,
465,
23272,
25635,
379,
262,
3492,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
9660,
9091,
262,
3665,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
1928,
20095,
7393,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
407,
32420,
465,
2456,
11,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
262,
3797,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
257,
24603,
11,
290,
2314,
9144,
262,
38575,
2153,
873,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
283,
992,
11,
996,
339,
39545,
257,
1643,
4577,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
11126,
262,
3797,
290,
6928,
262,
319,
28391,
15207,
287,
465,
36594,
13,
464,
734,
1625,
2402,
13139,
12,
31640,
3530,
257,
1790,
981,
1568,
11,
12225,
287,
257,
2457,
23978,
284,
804,
329,
597,
5895,
286,
34298,
13,
2990,
2993,
379,
1752,
326,
612,
550,
587,
5876,
11,
329,
1811,
6686,
1450,
24241,
11,
393,
547,
5281,
11,
1613,
262,
23978,
447,
253,
82,
10384,
13,
6423,
484,
2497,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
290,
734,
5385,
5107,
5586,
319,
262,
4675,
503,
287,
2166,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
447,
253,
260,
9838,
466,
259,
447,
253,
503,
994,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
355,
484,
10448,
13,
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
674,
1263,
1545,
7429,
27819,
351,
25495,
11,
447,
251,
531,
3310,
271,
11,
508,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
587,
12615,
287,
262,
40606,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
11,
996,
11,
373,
279,
15352,
290,
44379,
11,
290,
339,
714,
8523,
1280,
530,
4151,
13,
35,
2228,
2910,
11,
617,
286,
340,
465,
898,
11,
269,
4335,
465,
33053,
290,
8242,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
3114,
379,
1123,
584,
11,
407,
1165,
6655,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
674,
9519,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1036,
11137,
13,
8081,
271,
14682,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4719,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
616,
10796,
30,
447,
251,
15316,
262,
2063,
1359,
14682,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
3013,
9741,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
339,
28305,
572,
3812,
262,
3420,
286,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1399,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2067
] |
dnd538
|
An auspicious beginning to our journey!”“Aye, but we‟ve got this!” cried Bruenor, fairly bursting with anticipation of finding his homeland now that the first obstacle, the map, had been overcome.Little did he or his friends know, however, that the map he clutched so dearly detailed several deadly regions, one in particular that would test the four friends to their limits–and beyond.Page 254.The ConjuringA landmark of wonder marked the very center of the City of Sails, a strange building that emanated a powerful aura of magic.Unlike any other structure in all the Forgotten Realms, the Hosttower of the Arcane seemed literally a tree of stone, boasting five tall spires, the largest being the central, and the other four, equally high, growing out of the main trunk with the graceful curving arc of an oak.Nowhere could any sign of the mason be seen; it was obvious to any knowledgeable viewer that magic, not physical labor, had produced this artwork.The Archmage, undisputed Master of the Hosttower, resided in the central tower, while the other four housed the wizards closest in the line of succession.Each of these lesser towers, representing the four compass directions, dominated a different side of the trunk, and its respective wizard held responsibility for watching over and influencing the events in the direction he overlooked.Thus, the wizard west of the trunk spent his days looking out to sea, and to the merchant ships and pirates riding out on Luskan‟s harbor.A conversation in the north spire would have interested the companions from Ten-Towns this day.“You have done well, Jierdan,” said Sydney, a younger, and lesser, mage in the Hosttower, though displaying enough potential to have gained an apprenticeship with one of the mightiest wizards in the guild.Not a pretty woman, Sydney cared little for physical appearances, instead devoting her energies to her unrelenting pursuit of power.She had spent most of her twenty-five years working toward one goal–the title of Wizard–and her determination and poise gave most around her little doubt about her ability to attain it.Jierdan accepted the praise with a knowing nod, understanding the condescending manner in which it was offered.“I only performed as I was instructed,” he replied under a facade of humility, tossing a glance to the frail-looking man in brown mottled robes who stood staring out of the room‟s sole window.“Why would they come here?” the wizard whispered to himself.He turned to the others, and they recoiled instinctively from his gaze.He was Dendybar the Mottled, Master of the North Spire, and though he appeared weak from a distance, closer scrutiny revealed a power in the man mightier than bulging muscles.And his well-earned reputation for valuing life far less than the pursuit of knowledge intimidated most who came before him.“Did the travelers give any reason for coming here?”“None that I would believe,” Jierdan replied quietly.“The halfling spoke of scouting out the marketplace, but I–”“Not likely,” interrupted Dendybar, speaking more to himself than to the others.“Those four weigh more into their actions than simply a merchant expedition.”Sydney pressed Jierdan, seeking to keep her high favor with the Master of the North Spire.“Where are they now?” she demanded.Jierdan didn‟t dare fight back against her in front of Dendybar.“On the docks…somewhere,”he said, then shrugged.“You do not know?” hissed the young mage.“They were to stay at the Cutlass,” Jierdan retorted.“But the fight put them out on the street.”“And you should have followed them!” Sydney scolded, dogging the soldier relentlessly.“Even a soldier of the city would be a fool to travel alone about the piers at night,” Jierdan shot back.“It does not matter where they are right now.I have the gates and the piers watched.They cannot leave Luskan without my knowledge!”“I want them found!” Sydney ordered, but then Dendybar silenced her.“Leave the watch as it is,” he told Jierdan.“They must not depart without my knowledge.
|
An auspicious beginning to our journey!”“Aye, but we‟ve got this!” cried Bruenor, fairly bursting with anticipation of finding his homeland now that the first obstacle, the map, had been overcome.Little did he or his friends know, however, that the map he clutched so dearly detailed several deadly regions, one in particular that would test the four friends to their limits–and beyond.Page 254.The ConjuringA landmark of wonder marked the very center of the City of Sails, a strange building that emanated a powerful aura of magic.Unlike any other structure in all the Forgotten Realms, the Hosttower of the Arcane seemed literally a tree of stone, boasting five tall spires, the largest being the central, and the other four, equally high, growing out of the main trunk with the graceful curving arc of an oak.Nowhere could any sign of the mason be seen; it was obvious to any knowledgeable viewer that magic, not physical labor, had produced this artwork.The Archmage, undisputed Master of the Hosttower, resided in the central tower, while the other four housed the wizards closest in the line of succession.Each of these lesser towers, representing the four compass directions, dominated a different side of the trunk, and its respective wizard held responsibility for watching over and influencing the events in the direction he overlooked.Thus, the wizard west of the trunk spent his days looking out to sea, and to the merchant ships and pirates riding out on Luskan‟s harbor.A conversation in the north spire would have interested the companions from Ten-Towns this day.“You have done well, Jierdan,” said Sydney, a younger, and lesser, mage in the Hosttower, though displaying enough potential to have gained an apprenticeship with one of the mightiest wizards in the guild.Not a pretty woman, Sydney cared little for physical appearances, instead devoting her energies to her unrelenting pursuit of power.She had spent most of her twenty-five years working toward one goal–the title of Wizard–and her determination and poise gave most around her little doubt about her ability to attain it.Jierdan accepted the praise with a knowing nod, understanding the condescending manner in which it was offered.“I only performed as I was instructed,” he replied under a facade of humility, tossing a glance to the frail-looking man in brown mottled robes who stood staring out of the room‟s sole window.“Why would they come here?” the wizard whispered to himself.He turned to the others, and they recoiled instinctively from his gaze.He was Dendybar the Mottled, Master of the North Spire, and though he appeared weak from a distance, closer scrutiny revealed a power in the man mightier than bulging muscles.And his well-earned reputation for valuing life far less than the pursuit of knowledge intimidated most who came before him.“Did the travelers give any reason for coming here?”“None that I would believe,” Jierdan replied quietly.“The halfling spoke of scouting out the marketplace, but I–”“Not likely,” interrupted Dendybar, speaking more to himself than to the others.“Those four weigh more into their actions than simply a merchant expedition.”Sydney pressed Jierdan, seeking to keep her high favor with the Master of the North Spire.“Where are they now?” she demanded.Jierdan didn‟t dare fight back against her in front of Dendybar.“On the docks…somewhere,”he said, then shrugged.“You do not know?” hissed the young mage.“They were to stay at the Cutlass,” Jierdan retorted.“But the fight put them out on the street.”“And you should have followed them!” Sydney scolded, dogging the soldier relentlessly.“Even a soldier of the city would be a fool to travel alone about the piers at night,” Jierdan shot back.“It does not matter where they are right now.I have the gates and the piers watched.They cannot leave Luskan without my knowledge!”“I want them found!” Sydney ordered, but then Dendybar silenced her.“Leave the watch as it is,” he told Jierdan.“They must not depart without my knowledge.
|
[
2025,
45062,
6243,
3726,
284,
674,
7002,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
475,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1392,
428,
0,
447,
251,
16896,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
6547,
37493,
351,
24054,
286,
4917,
465,
23184,
783,
326,
262,
717,
22007,
11,
262,
3975,
11,
550,
587,
10980,
13,
22253,
750,
339,
393,
465,
2460,
760,
11,
2158,
11,
326,
262,
3975,
339,
32170,
1740,
523,
46379,
6496,
1811,
10309,
7652,
11,
530,
287,
1948,
326,
561,
1332,
262,
1440,
2460,
284,
511,
7095,
1906,
392,
3675,
13,
9876,
35360,
13,
464,
37587,
870,
32,
20533,
286,
4240,
7498,
262,
845,
3641,
286,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
257,
6283,
2615,
326,
31184,
515,
257,
3665,
22491,
286,
5536,
13,
18521,
597,
584,
4645,
287,
477,
262,
28586,
35974,
11,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
3947,
7360,
257,
5509,
286,
7815,
11,
40776,
1936,
7331,
599,
2387,
11,
262,
4387,
852,
262,
4318,
11,
290,
262,
584,
1440,
11,
8603,
1029,
11,
3957,
503,
286,
262,
1388,
21427,
351,
262,
44363,
1090,
1075,
10389,
286,
281,
26210,
13,
3844,
1456,
714,
597,
1051,
286,
262,
285,
888,
307,
1775,
26,
340,
373,
3489,
284,
597,
29549,
19091,
326,
5536,
11,
407,
3518,
4827,
11,
550,
4635,
428,
16257,
13,
464,
5579,
25561,
11,
24149,
17128,
5599,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
11,
49330,
287,
262,
4318,
10580,
11,
981,
262,
584,
1440,
23707,
262,
34836,
11706,
287,
262,
1627,
286,
22435,
13,
10871,
286,
777,
14494,
18028,
11,
10200,
262,
1440,
31855,
11678,
11,
13354,
257,
1180,
1735,
286,
262,
21427,
11,
290,
663,
11756,
18731,
2714,
5798,
329,
4964,
625,
290,
32596,
262,
2995,
287,
262,
4571,
339,
21655,
13,
19093,
11,
262,
18731,
7421,
286,
262,
21427,
3377,
465,
1528,
2045,
503,
284,
5417,
11,
290,
284,
262,
20729,
7937,
290,
27516,
10311,
503,
319,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
25451,
13,
32,
5273,
287,
262,
5093,
599,
557,
561,
423,
4609,
262,
19429,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
428,
1110,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
1760,
880,
11,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
447,
251,
531,
11852,
11,
257,
7099,
11,
290,
14494,
11,
29241,
287,
262,
14504,
36170,
11,
996,
19407,
1576,
2785,
284,
423,
8618,
281,
38523,
1056,
351,
530,
286,
262,
1244,
6386,
34836,
287,
262,
19806,
13,
3673,
257,
2495,
2415,
11,
11852,
19951,
1310,
329,
3518,
11057,
11,
2427,
1614,
10720,
607,
27598,
284,
607,
23232,
36589,
14748,
286,
1176,
13,
3347,
550,
3377,
749,
286,
607,
8208,
12,
13261,
812,
1762,
3812,
530,
3061,
1906,
1169,
3670,
286,
16884,
1906,
392,
607,
12123,
290,
745,
786,
2921,
749,
1088,
607,
1310,
4719,
546,
607,
2694,
284,
18188,
340,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
6292,
262,
13463,
351,
257,
6970,
18666,
11,
4547,
262,
41466,
1571,
5642,
287,
543,
340,
373,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
40,
691,
6157,
355,
314,
373,
17767,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
739,
257,
43562,
286,
34935,
11,
37432,
257,
16086,
284,
262,
41890,
12,
11534,
582,
287,
7586,
285,
1252,
992,
32970,
508,
6204,
16143,
503
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
2025,
45062,
6243,
3726,
284,
674,
7002,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
475,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1392,
428,
0,
447,
251,
16896,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
6547,
37493,
351,
24054,
286,
4917,
465,
23184,
783,
326,
262,
717,
22007,
11,
262,
3975,
11,
550,
587,
10980,
13,
22253,
750,
339,
393,
465,
2460,
760,
11,
2158,
11,
326,
262,
3975,
339,
32170,
1740,
523,
46379,
6496,
1811,
10309,
7652,
11,
530,
287,
1948,
326,
561,
1332,
262,
1440,
2460,
284,
511,
7095,
1906,
392,
3675,
13,
9876,
35360,
13,
464,
37587,
870,
32,
20533,
286,
4240,
7498,
262,
845,
3641,
286,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
257,
6283,
2615,
326,
31184,
515,
257,
3665,
22491,
286,
5536,
13,
18521,
597,
584,
4645,
287,
477,
262,
28586,
35974,
11,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
3947,
7360,
257,
5509,
286,
7815,
11,
40776,
1936,
7331,
599,
2387,
11,
262,
4387,
852,
262,
4318,
11,
290,
262,
584,
1440,
11,
8603,
1029,
11,
3957,
503,
286,
262,
1388,
21427,
351,
262,
44363,
1090,
1075,
10389,
286,
281,
26210,
13,
3844,
1456,
714,
597,
1051,
286,
262,
285,
888,
307,
1775,
26,
340,
373,
3489,
284,
597,
29549,
19091,
326,
5536,
11,
407,
3518,
4827,
11,
550,
4635,
428,
16257,
13,
464,
5579,
25561,
11,
24149,
17128,
5599,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
11,
49330,
287,
262,
4318,
10580,
11,
981,
262,
584,
1440,
23707,
262,
34836,
11706,
287,
262,
1627,
286,
22435,
13,
10871,
286,
777,
14494,
18028,
11,
10200,
262,
1440,
31855,
11678,
11,
13354,
257,
1180,
1735,
286,
262,
21427,
11,
290,
663,
11756,
18731,
2714,
5798,
329,
4964,
625,
290,
32596,
262,
2995,
287,
262,
4571,
339,
21655,
13,
19093,
11,
262,
18731,
7421,
286,
262,
21427,
3377,
465,
1528,
2045,
503,
284,
5417,
11,
290,
284,
262,
20729,
7937,
290,
27516,
10311,
503,
319,
406,
17990,
272,
447,
253,
82,
25451,
13,
32,
5273,
287,
262,
5093,
599,
557,
561,
423,
4609,
262,
19429,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
428,
1110,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
1760,
880,
11,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
447,
251,
531,
11852,
11,
257,
7099,
11,
290,
14494,
11,
29241,
287,
262,
14504,
36170,
11,
996,
19407,
1576,
2785,
284,
423,
8618,
281,
38523,
1056,
351,
530,
286,
262,
1244,
6386,
34836,
287,
262,
19806,
13,
3673,
257,
2495,
2415,
11,
11852,
19951,
1310,
329,
3518,
11057,
11,
2427,
1614,
10720,
607,
27598,
284,
607,
23232,
36589,
14748,
286,
1176,
13,
3347,
550,
3377,
749,
286,
607,
8208,
12,
13261,
812,
1762,
3812,
530,
3061,
1906,
1169,
3670,
286,
16884,
1906,
392,
607,
12123,
290,
745,
786,
2921,
749,
1088,
607,
1310,
4719,
546,
607,
2694,
284,
18188,
340,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
6292,
262,
13463,
351,
257,
6970,
18666,
11,
4547,
262,
41466,
1571,
5642,
287,
543,
340,
373,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
40,
691,
6157,
355,
314,
373,
17767,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
739,
257,
43562,
286,
34935,
11,
37432,
257,
16086,
284,
262,
41890,
12,
11534,
582,
287,
7586,
285,
1252,
992,
32970,
508,
6204,
16143,
503
] |
dnd539
|
You are dismissed.Come before me again when you have something to report.”Jierdan snapped to attention and turned to leave, casting one final glare at his competitor for the mottled wizard‟s favor as he passed.He was only a soldier, not a budding mage like Sydney, but in Luskan, where the Hosttower of the Arcane was the true, secretive force behind all of the power Page 26structures in the city, a soldier did well to find the favor of a wizard.Captains of the guard only attained their positions and privileges with the prior consent of the Hosttower.“We cannot allow them to roam freely,” argued Sydney when the door had closed behind the departing soldier.“They shall bring no harm for now,” replied Dendybar.“Even if the drow carries the artifact with him, it will take him years to understand its potential.Patience, my friend, I have ways of learning what we need to know.The pieces of this puzzle will fit together nicely before much longer.”“It pains me to think that such power is so close to our grasp,” sighed the eager young mage.“And in the possession of a novice!”“Patience,” repeated the Master of the North Spire.* * *Sydney finished lighting the ring of candles that marked the perimeter of the special chamber and moved slowly toward the solitary brazier that stood on its iron tripod just outside the magic circle inscribed upon the floor.It disappointed her to know that once the brazier was also burning, she would be instructed to depart.Savoring every moment in this rarely opened room, considered by many to be the finest conjuring chamber in all the northland, Sydney had many times begged to remain in attendance.But Dendybar never let her stay, explaining that her inevitable inquiries would prove too much of a distraction.And when dealing with the nether worlds, distractions usually proved fatal.Dendybar sat cross-legged within the magic circle, chanting himself into a deep meditative trance and not even aware of Sydney‟s actions as she completed the preparations.All of his senses looked inward, searching his own being, to ensure that he was fully prepared for such a task.He had left only one window in his mind open to the outside, a fraction of his awareness hinging on a single cue: the bolt of the heavy door being snapped back into place after Sydney had departed.His heavy eyelids cracked open, their narrow line of vision solely fixed upon the fires of the brazier.These flames would be the life of the summoned spirit, giving it a tangible form for the period Dendybar kept it locked to the material plane.“Ey vesus venerais dimin doer,” the wizard began, chanting slowly at first, then building into a solid rhythm.Swept away by the insistent pull of the casting, as though the spell, once given a flicker of life, drove itself to the completion of its dweomer, Dendybar rolled on through the various inflections and arcane syllables with ease, the sweat on his face reflecting eagerness more than nerves.The mottled wizard reveled in summoning, dominating the will of beings beyond the mortal world through the sheer insistence of his considerable mental strength.This room represented the pinnacle of his studies, the indisputable evidence of the vast boundaries of his powers.This time he was targeting his favorite informant, a spirit that truly despised him, but could not refuse his call.Dendybar came to the climactic point in the casting, the naming.“Morkai,” he called softly.The brazier‟s flame brightened for just an instant.“Morkai!” Dendybar shouted, tearing the spirit from its hold on the other world.The brazier puffed into a small fireball, then died into blackness, its flames transmuted into the image of a man standing before Dendybar.The wizard‟s thin lips curled upward.How ironic, he thought, that the man he had arranged to murder would prove to be his most valuable source of information.The specter of Morkai the Red stood resolute and proud, a fitting image of the mighty wizard he had once been.He had created this very room back in the days when he served the Hosttower in the role of Master of the North Spire.
|
You are dismissed.Come before me again when you have something to report.”Jierdan snapped to attention and turned to leave, casting one final glare at his competitor for the mottled wizard‟s favor as he passed.He was only a soldier, not a budding mage like Sydney, but in Luskan, where the Hosttower of the Arcane was the true, secretive force behind all of the power Page 26structures in the city, a soldier did well to find the favor of a wizard.Captains of the guard only attained their positions and privileges with the prior consent of the Hosttower.“We cannot allow them to roam freely,” argued Sydney when the door had closed behind the departing soldier.“They shall bring no harm for now,” replied Dendybar.“Even if the drow carries the artifact with him, it will take him years to understand its potential.Patience, my friend, I have ways of learning what we need to know.The pieces of this puzzle will fit together nicely before much longer.”“It pains me to think that such power is so close to our grasp,” sighed the eager young mage.“And in the possession of a novice!”“Patience,” repeated the Master of the North Spire.* * *Sydney finished lighting the ring of candles that marked the perimeter of the special chamber and moved slowly toward the solitary brazier that stood on its iron tripod just outside the magic circle inscribed upon the floor.It disappointed her to know that once the brazier was also burning, she would be instructed to depart.Savoring every moment in this rarely opened room, considered by many to be the finest conjuring chamber in all the northland, Sydney had many times begged to remain in attendance.But Dendybar never let her stay, explaining that her inevitable inquiries would prove too much of a distraction.And when dealing with the nether worlds, distractions usually proved fatal.Dendybar sat cross-legged within the magic circle, chanting himself into a deep meditative trance and not even aware of Sydney‟s actions as she completed the preparations.All of his senses looked inward, searching his own being, to ensure that he was fully prepared for such a task.He had left only one window in his mind open to the outside, a fraction of his awareness hinging on a single cue: the bolt of the heavy door being snapped back into place after Sydney had departed.His heavy eyelids cracked open, their narrow line of vision solely fixed upon the fires of the brazier.These flames would be the life of the summoned spirit, giving it a tangible form for the period Dendybar kept it locked to the material plane.“Ey vesus venerais dimin doer,” the wizard began, chanting slowly at first, then building into a solid rhythm.Swept away by the insistent pull of the casting, as though the spell, once given a flicker of life, drove itself to the completion of its dweomer, Dendybar rolled on through the various inflections and arcane syllables with ease, the sweat on his face reflecting eagerness more than nerves.The mottled wizard reveled in summoning, dominating the will of beings beyond the mortal world through the sheer insistence of his considerable mental strength.This room represented the pinnacle of his studies, the indisputable evidence of the vast boundaries of his powers.This time he was targeting his favorite informant, a spirit that truly despised him, but could not refuse his call.Dendybar came to the climactic point in the casting, the naming.“Morkai,” he called softly.The brazier‟s flame brightened for just an instant.“Morkai!” Dendybar shouted, tearing the spirit from its hold on the other world.The brazier puffed into a small fireball, then died into blackness, its flames transmuted into the image of a man standing before Dendybar.The wizard‟s thin lips curled upward.How ironic, he thought, that the man he had arranged to murder would prove to be his most valuable source of information.The specter of Morkai the Red stood resolute and proud, a fitting image of the mighty wizard he had once been.He had created this very room back in the days when he served the Hosttower in the role of Master of the North Spire.
|
[
1639,
389,
11126,
13,
16773,
878,
502,
757,
618,
345,
423,
1223,
284,
989,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
20821,
284,
3241,
290,
2900,
284,
2666,
11,
13092,
530,
2457,
36785,
379,
465,
20319,
329,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2661,
355,
339,
3804,
13,
1544,
373,
691,
257,
10686,
11,
407,
257,
44194,
29241,
588,
11852,
11,
475,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
810,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
373,
262,
2081,
11,
32654,
2700,
2157,
477,
286,
262,
1176,
7873,
2608,
7249,
942,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
257,
10686,
750,
880,
284,
1064,
262,
2661,
286,
257,
18731,
13,
19209,
1299,
286,
262,
4860,
691,
28681,
511,
6116,
290,
18850,
351,
262,
3161,
8281,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2314,
1249,
606,
284,
35563,
12748,
11,
447,
251,
7189,
11852,
618,
262,
3420,
550,
4838,
2157,
262,
37717,
10686,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
2236,
2222,
645,
4419,
329,
783,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
611,
262,
288,
808,
10732,
262,
24127,
351,
683,
11,
340,
481,
1011,
683,
812,
284,
1833,
663,
2785,
13,
12130,
1240,
11,
616,
1545,
11,
314,
423,
2842,
286,
4673,
644,
356,
761,
284,
760,
13,
464,
5207,
286,
428,
15027,
481,
4197,
1978,
16576,
878,
881,
2392,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
24985,
502,
284,
892,
326,
884,
1176,
318,
523,
1969,
284,
674,
13180,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
262,
11069,
1862,
29241,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
287,
262,
7797,
286,
257,
38751,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12130,
1240,
11,
447,
251,
5100,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
15885,
1635,
1635,
50,
5173,
1681,
5201,
12019,
262,
5858,
286,
32268,
326,
7498,
262,
25317,
286,
262,
2041,
11847,
290,
3888,
6364,
3812,
262,
25565,
275,
3247,
959,
326,
6204,
319,
663,
6953,
47439,
655,
2354,
262,
5536,
9197,
45100,
2402,
262,
4314,
13,
1026,
11679,
607,
284,
760,
326,
1752,
262,
275,
3247,
959,
373,
635,
9482,
11,
673,
561,
307,
17767,
284,
6313,
13,
47362,
3255,
790,
2589,
287,
428,
8365,
4721,
2119,
11,
3177,
416,
867,
284,
307,
262,
18822,
11644,
870,
11847,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
11,
11852,
550,
867,
1661,
32946,
284,
3520,
287,
14858,
13,
1537,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1239,
1309,
607,
2652,
11,
11170,
326,
607,
13203,
23538,
561,
5879,
1165,
881,
286,
257,
24066,
13,
1870,
618,
7219,
351,
262,
2010,
372,
11621,
11,
38085,
3221,
8302,
10800,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
3332,
3272,
12,
40898,
1626,
262,
5536,
9197,
11,
31138,
2241,
656,
257,
2769,
1117,
12464,
43618,
290,
407,
772,
3910,
286,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
4028,
355,
673,
5668,
262,
21518,
13,
3237,
286,
465,
17627,
3114,
29879,
11,
10342,
465,
898,
852,
11,
284,
4155,
326,
339,
373,
3938,
5597,
329,
884,
257,
4876,
13,
1544,
550,
1364,
691,
530,
4324,
287,
465,
2000,
1280,
284,
262,
2354,
11,
257,
13390,
286,
465,
9359,
289,
14146,
319,
257,
2060,
28381,
25,
262,
18100,
286,
262,
4334,
3420,
852,
20821,
736,
656
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1639,
389,
11126,
13,
16773,
878,
502,
757,
618,
345,
423,
1223,
284,
989,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
20821,
284,
3241,
290,
2900,
284,
2666,
11,
13092,
530,
2457,
36785,
379,
465,
20319,
329,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2661,
355,
339,
3804,
13,
1544,
373,
691,
257,
10686,
11,
407,
257,
44194,
29241,
588,
11852,
11,
475,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
810,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
373,
262,
2081,
11,
32654,
2700,
2157,
477,
286,
262,
1176,
7873,
2608,
7249,
942,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
257,
10686,
750,
880,
284,
1064,
262,
2661,
286,
257,
18731,
13,
19209,
1299,
286,
262,
4860,
691,
28681,
511,
6116,
290,
18850,
351,
262,
3161,
8281,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2314,
1249,
606,
284,
35563,
12748,
11,
447,
251,
7189,
11852,
618,
262,
3420,
550,
4838,
2157,
262,
37717,
10686,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
2236,
2222,
645,
4419,
329,
783,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
611,
262,
288,
808,
10732,
262,
24127,
351,
683,
11,
340,
481,
1011,
683,
812,
284,
1833,
663,
2785,
13,
12130,
1240,
11,
616,
1545,
11,
314,
423,
2842,
286,
4673,
644,
356,
761,
284,
760,
13,
464,
5207,
286,
428,
15027,
481,
4197,
1978,
16576,
878,
881,
2392,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1026,
24985,
502,
284,
892,
326,
884,
1176,
318,
523,
1969,
284,
674,
13180,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
262,
11069,
1862,
29241,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
287,
262,
7797,
286,
257,
38751,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12130,
1240,
11,
447,
251,
5100,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
15885,
1635,
1635,
50,
5173,
1681,
5201,
12019,
262,
5858,
286,
32268,
326,
7498,
262,
25317,
286,
262,
2041,
11847,
290,
3888,
6364,
3812,
262,
25565,
275,
3247,
959,
326,
6204,
319,
663,
6953,
47439,
655,
2354,
262,
5536,
9197,
45100,
2402,
262,
4314,
13,
1026,
11679,
607,
284,
760,
326,
1752,
262,
275,
3247,
959,
373,
635,
9482,
11,
673,
561,
307,
17767,
284,
6313,
13,
47362,
3255,
790,
2589,
287,
428,
8365,
4721,
2119,
11,
3177,
416,
867,
284,
307,
262,
18822,
11644,
870,
11847,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
11,
11852,
550,
867,
1661,
32946,
284,
3520,
287,
14858,
13,
1537,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1239,
1309,
607,
2652,
11,
11170,
326,
607,
13203,
23538,
561,
5879,
1165,
881,
286,
257,
24066,
13,
1870,
618,
7219,
351,
262,
2010,
372,
11621,
11,
38085,
3221,
8302,
10800,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
3332,
3272,
12,
40898,
1626,
262,
5536,
9197,
11,
31138,
2241,
656,
257,
2769,
1117,
12464,
43618,
290,
407,
772,
3910,
286,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
4028,
355,
673,
5668,
262,
21518,
13,
3237,
286,
465,
17627,
3114,
29879,
11,
10342,
465,
898,
852,
11,
284,
4155,
326,
339,
373,
3938,
5597,
329,
884,
257,
4876,
13,
1544,
550,
1364,
691,
530,
4324,
287,
465,
2000,
1280,
284,
262,
2354,
11,
257,
13390,
286,
465,
9359,
289,
14146,
319,
257,
2060,
28381,
25,
262,
18100,
286,
262,
4334,
3420,
852,
20821,
736,
656
] |
dnd540
|
But then Dendybar and his cronies had conspired against him, using his trusted apprentice to drive a dagger into his heart, and thus opening the trail of succession Page 27for Dendybar himself to reach the coveted position in the spire.That same act had set a second, perhaps more significant, chain of events into motion, for it was that same apprentice, Akar Kessell, who had eventually come to possess the Crystal Shard, the mighty artifact that Dendybar now believed in Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s hands.The tales that had filtered down from Ten-Towns of Akar Kessell‟s final battle had named the dark elf as the warrior who had brought him down.Dendybar could not know that the Crystal Shard now lay buried beneath a hundred tons of ice and rock on the mountain in Icewind Dale known as Kelvin‟s Cairn, lost in the avalanche that had killed Kessell.All that he knew of the tale was that Kessell, the puny apprentice, had nearly conquered all of Icewind Dale with the Crystal Shard and that Drizzt Do‟Urden was the last to see Kessell alive.Dendybar wrung his hands eagerly whenever he thought of the power that the relic would bring to a more learned wizard.“Greetings, Morkai the Red,” Dendybar laughed.“How polite of you to accept my invitation.”“I accept every opportunity to gaze upon you, Dendybar the Assassin,” replied the specter.“I shall know you well when you ride Death‟s barge into the darkened realm.Then we shall be on even terms again…”“Silence!” Dendybar commanded.Though he would not admit the truth to himself, the mottled wizard greatly feared the day when he would have to face the mighty Morkai again.“I have brought you here for a purpose,” he told the specter.“I have no time for your empty threats.”“Then tell me the service I am to perform,” hissed the specter, “and let me be gone.Your presence offends me.”Dendybar fumed, but did not continue the argument.Time worked against a wizard in a spell of summoning, for it drained him to hold a spirit on the material plane, and each second that passed weakened him a little bit more.The greatest danger in this type of spell was that the conjuror would attempt to hold control for too long, until he found himself too weak to control the entity he had summoned.“A simple answer is all that I require from you this day, Morkai,” Dendybar said, carefully selecting each word as he went.Morkai noted the caution and suspected that Dendybar was hiding something.“Then what is the question?” the specter pressed.Dendybar held to his cautious pace, considering every word before he spoke it.He did not want Morkai to get any hint of his motives in seeking the drow, for the specter would surely pass the information across the planes.Many powerful beings, perhaps even the spirit of Morkai himself, would go after such a powerful relic if they had any idea of the shard‟s whereabouts.“Four travelers, one a drow elf, came to Luskan from Icewind Dale this day,” the mottled wizard explained.“What business do they have in the city?Why are they here?”Morkai scrutinized his nemesis, trying to find the reason for the question.“That is a query better asked of your city guard,” he replied.“Surely the guests stated their business upon entering the gate.”“But I have asked you!” Dendybar screamed, exploding suddenly in rage.Morkai was stalling, and each passing second now took its toll on the mottled wizard.
|
But then Dendybar and his cronies had conspired against him, using his trusted apprentice to drive a dagger into his heart, and thus opening the trail of succession Page 27for Dendybar himself to reach the coveted position in the spire.That same act had set a second, perhaps more significant, chain of events into motion, for it was that same apprentice, Akar Kessell, who had eventually come to possess the Crystal Shard, the mighty artifact that Dendybar now believed in Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s hands.The tales that had filtered down from Ten-Towns of Akar Kessell‟s final battle had named the dark elf as the warrior who had brought him down.Dendybar could not know that the Crystal Shard now lay buried beneath a hundred tons of ice and rock on the mountain in Icewind Dale known as Kelvin‟s Cairn, lost in the avalanche that had killed Kessell.All that he knew of the tale was that Kessell, the puny apprentice, had nearly conquered all of Icewind Dale with the Crystal Shard and that Drizzt Do‟Urden was the last to see Kessell alive.Dendybar wrung his hands eagerly whenever he thought of the power that the relic would bring to a more learned wizard.“Greetings, Morkai the Red,” Dendybar laughed.“How polite of you to accept my invitation.”“I accept every opportunity to gaze upon you, Dendybar the Assassin,” replied the specter.“I shall know you well when you ride Death‟s barge into the darkened realm.Then we shall be on even terms again…”“Silence!” Dendybar commanded.Though he would not admit the truth to himself, the mottled wizard greatly feared the day when he would have to face the mighty Morkai again.“I have brought you here for a purpose,” he told the specter.“I have no time for your empty threats.”“Then tell me the service I am to perform,” hissed the specter, “and let me be gone.Your presence offends me.”Dendybar fumed, but did not continue the argument.Time worked against a wizard in a spell of summoning, for it drained him to hold a spirit on the material plane, and each second that passed weakened him a little bit more.The greatest danger in this type of spell was that the conjuror would attempt to hold control for too long, until he found himself too weak to control the entity he had summoned.“A simple answer is all that I require from you this day, Morkai,” Dendybar said, carefully selecting each word as he went.Morkai noted the caution and suspected that Dendybar was hiding something.“Then what is the question?” the specter pressed.Dendybar held to his cautious pace, considering every word before he spoke it.He did not want Morkai to get any hint of his motives in seeking the drow, for the specter would surely pass the information across the planes.Many powerful beings, perhaps even the spirit of Morkai himself, would go after such a powerful relic if they had any idea of the shard‟s whereabouts.“Four travelers, one a drow elf, came to Luskan from Icewind Dale this day,” the mottled wizard explained.“What business do they have in the city?Why are they here?”Morkai scrutinized his nemesis, trying to find the reason for the question.“That is a query better asked of your city guard,” he replied.“Surely the guests stated their business upon entering the gate.”“But I have asked you!” Dendybar screamed, exploding suddenly in rage.Morkai was stalling, and each passing second now took its toll on the mottled wizard.
|
[
1537,
788,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
465,
1067,
17300,
550,
762,
6474,
1028,
683,
11,
1262,
465,
13467,
39252,
284,
3708,
257,
31322,
656,
465,
2612,
11,
290,
4145,
4756,
262,
8025,
286,
22435,
7873,
2681,
1640,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
2241,
284,
3151,
262,
34707,
2292,
287,
262,
599,
557,
13,
2504,
976,
719,
550,
900,
257,
1218,
11,
3737,
517,
2383,
11,
6333,
286,
2995,
656,
6268,
11,
329,
340,
373,
326,
976,
39252,
11,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
11,
508,
550,
4191,
1282,
284,
8588,
262,
12969,
32822,
11,
262,
18680,
24127,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
783,
4762,
287,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
13,
464,
19490,
326,
550,
29083,
866,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
286,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
447,
253,
82,
2457,
3344,
550,
3706,
262,
3223,
23878,
355,
262,
16491,
508,
550,
3181,
683,
866,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
714,
407,
760,
326,
262,
12969,
32822,
783,
3830,
11694,
11061,
257,
3470,
10860,
286,
4771,
290,
3881,
319,
262,
8598,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
1900,
355,
46577,
447,
253,
82,
327,
958,
77,
11,
2626,
287,
262,
44128,
326,
550,
2923,
40679,
7255,
13,
3237,
326,
339,
2993,
286,
262,
12838,
373,
326,
40679,
7255,
11,
262,
4000,
88,
39252,
11,
550,
3016,
29346,
477,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
351,
262,
12969,
32822,
290,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
373,
262,
938,
284,
766,
40679,
7255,
6776,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
1319,
2150,
465,
2832,
30130,
8797,
339,
1807,
286,
262,
1176,
326,
262,
26341,
561,
2222,
284,
257,
517,
4499,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
262,
2297,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13818,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
23507,
286,
345,
284,
2453,
616,
17023,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
2453,
790,
3663,
284,
17841,
2402,
345,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
21401,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
760,
345,
880,
618,
345,
6594,
5830,
447,
253,
82,
275,
1376,
656,
262,
44261,
13360,
13,
6423,
356,
2236,
307,
319,
772,
2846,
757,
1399,
447,
251,
447,
250,
15086,
594,
0,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
22419,
13,
10915,
339,
561,
407,
9159,
262,
3872,
284,
2241,
11,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
9257,
15240,
262,
1110,
618,
339,
561,
423,
284,
1986,
262,
18680,
337,
967,
1872,
757,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
3181,
345,
994,
329,
257,
4007,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
640,
329,
534,
6565,
7432,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
1560,
502,
262,
2139,
314,
716,
284,
1620,
11,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
564,
250,
392,
1309,
502,
307,
3750,
13,
7120,
4931,
572,
2412,
502,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
277,
18940,
11,
475,
750,
407,
2555,
262,
4578,
13,
7575,
3111,
1028,
257,
18731,
287,
257,
4822,
286,
40292,
11,
329,
340,
29738,
683,
284,
1745,
257,
4437
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
788,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
465,
1067,
17300,
550,
762,
6474,
1028,
683,
11,
1262,
465,
13467,
39252,
284,
3708,
257,
31322,
656,
465,
2612,
11,
290,
4145,
4756,
262,
8025,
286,
22435,
7873,
2681,
1640,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
2241,
284,
3151,
262,
34707,
2292,
287,
262,
599,
557,
13,
2504,
976,
719,
550,
900,
257,
1218,
11,
3737,
517,
2383,
11,
6333,
286,
2995,
656,
6268,
11,
329,
340,
373,
326,
976,
39252,
11,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
11,
508,
550,
4191,
1282,
284,
8588,
262,
12969,
32822,
11,
262,
18680,
24127,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
783,
4762,
287,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
13,
464,
19490,
326,
550,
29083,
866,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
286,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
447,
253,
82,
2457,
3344,
550,
3706,
262,
3223,
23878,
355,
262,
16491,
508,
550,
3181,
683,
866,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
714,
407,
760,
326,
262,
12969,
32822,
783,
3830,
11694,
11061,
257,
3470,
10860,
286,
4771,
290,
3881,
319,
262,
8598,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
1900,
355,
46577,
447,
253,
82,
327,
958,
77,
11,
2626,
287,
262,
44128,
326,
550,
2923,
40679,
7255,
13,
3237,
326,
339,
2993,
286,
262,
12838,
373,
326,
40679,
7255,
11,
262,
4000,
88,
39252,
11,
550,
3016,
29346,
477,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
351,
262,
12969,
32822,
290,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
373,
262,
938,
284,
766,
40679,
7255,
6776,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
1319,
2150,
465,
2832,
30130,
8797,
339,
1807,
286,
262,
1176,
326,
262,
26341,
561,
2222,
284,
257,
517,
4499,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
262,
2297,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13818,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
23507,
286,
345,
284,
2453,
616,
17023,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
2453,
790,
3663,
284,
17841,
2402,
345,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
21401,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
760,
345,
880,
618,
345,
6594,
5830,
447,
253,
82,
275,
1376,
656,
262,
44261,
13360,
13,
6423,
356,
2236,
307,
319,
772,
2846,
757,
1399,
447,
251,
447,
250,
15086,
594,
0,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
22419,
13,
10915,
339,
561,
407,
9159,
262,
3872,
284,
2241,
11,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
9257,
15240,
262,
1110,
618,
339,
561,
423,
284,
1986,
262,
18680,
337,
967,
1872,
757,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
3181,
345,
994,
329,
257,
4007,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
640,
329,
534,
6565,
7432,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
1560,
502,
262,
2139,
314,
716,
284,
1620,
11,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
564,
250,
392,
1309,
502,
307,
3750,
13,
7120,
4931,
572,
2412,
502,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
277,
18940,
11,
475,
750,
407,
2555,
262,
4578,
13,
7575,
3111,
1028,
257,
18731,
287,
257,
4822,
286,
40292,
11,
329,
340,
29738,
683,
284,
1745,
257,
4437
] |
dnd541
|
The essence of Morkai had lost little power in death, and he fought stubbornly against the spell‟s binding dweomer.Dendybar snapped open a parchment before him.“I have a dozen of these penned already,” he warned.Morkai recoiled.He understood the nature of the writing, a scroll that revealed the true name of his very being.And once read, stripping the veil of secrecy from the name and laying bare the privacy of his soul, Dendybar would invoke the true power of the scroll, using offkey inflections of tone to distort Morkai‟s name and disrupt the harmony of his spirit, thus racking him to the core of his being.“How long shall I search for your answers?” Morkai asked.Dendybar smiled at his victory, though the drain on him continued to heighten.“Two hours,”Page 28he replied without delay, having carefully decided the length of the search before the summoning, choosing a time limit that would give Morkai enough opportunity to find some answers, but not long enough to allow the spirit to learn more than he should.Morkai smiled, guessing the motives behind the decision.He snapped backward suddenly and was gone in a puff of smoke, the flames that had sustained his form relegated back to their brazier to await his return.Dendybar‟s relief was immediate.Although he still had to concentrate to keep the gate to the planes in place, the pull against his will and the drain on his power lessened considerably when the spirit had gone.Morkai‟s willpower had nearly broken him during their encounter, and Dendybar shook his head in disbelief that the old master could reach out from the grave so mightily.A shudder ran up his spine as he pondered his wisdom in plotting against one so powerful.Every time he summoned Morkai, he was reminded that his own day of reckoning would surely come.Morkai had little trouble in learning about the four adventurers.In fact, the specter already knew much about them.He had taken a great interest in Ten-Towns during his reign as Master of the North Spire, and his curiosity had not died with his body.Even now, he often looked in on the doings in Icewind Dale, and anyone who concerned himself with Ten-Towns in recent months knew something of the four heroes.Morkai‟s continued interest in the world he had left behind was not an uncommon trait in the spirit world.Death altered the ambitions of the soul, replacing the love of material or social gains with an eternal hunger for knowledge.Some spirits had looked down upon the Realms for centuries untold, simply collecting information and watching the living go about their lives.Perhaps it was envy for the physical sensations they could no longer feel.But whatever the reason, the wealth of knowledge in a single spirit often outweighed the collected works in all of the libraries in the Realms combined.Morkai learned much in the two hours Dendybar had alotted him.His turn now came to choose his words carefully.He was compelled to satisfy the summoner‟s request, but he intended to answer in as cryptic and ambiguous a manner as he possibly could.* * *Dendybar‟s eyes glinted when he saw the brazier‟s flames begin their telltale dance once again.Had it been two hours already?
|
The essence of Morkai had lost little power in death, and he fought stubbornly against the spell‟s binding dweomer.Dendybar snapped open a parchment before him.“I have a dozen of these penned already,” he warned.Morkai recoiled.He understood the nature of the writing, a scroll that revealed the true name of his very being.And once read, stripping the veil of secrecy from the name and laying bare the privacy of his soul, Dendybar would invoke the true power of the scroll, using offkey inflections of tone to distort Morkai‟s name and disrupt the harmony of his spirit, thus racking him to the core of his being.“How long shall I search for your answers?” Morkai asked.Dendybar smiled at his victory, though the drain on him continued to heighten.“Two hours,”Page 28he replied without delay, having carefully decided the length of the search before the summoning, choosing a time limit that would give Morkai enough opportunity to find some answers, but not long enough to allow the spirit to learn more than he should.Morkai smiled, guessing the motives behind the decision.He snapped backward suddenly and was gone in a puff of smoke, the flames that had sustained his form relegated back to their brazier to await his return.Dendybar‟s relief was immediate.Although he still had to concentrate to keep the gate to the planes in place, the pull against his will and the drain on his power lessened considerably when the spirit had gone.Morkai‟s willpower had nearly broken him during their encounter, and Dendybar shook his head in disbelief that the old master could reach out from the grave so mightily.A shudder ran up his spine as he pondered his wisdom in plotting against one so powerful.Every time he summoned Morkai, he was reminded that his own day of reckoning would surely come.Morkai had little trouble in learning about the four adventurers.In fact, the specter already knew much about them.He had taken a great interest in Ten-Towns during his reign as Master of the North Spire, and his curiosity had not died with his body.Even now, he often looked in on the doings in Icewind Dale, and anyone who concerned himself with Ten-Towns in recent months knew something of the four heroes.Morkai‟s continued interest in the world he had left behind was not an uncommon trait in the spirit world.Death altered the ambitions of the soul, replacing the love of material or social gains with an eternal hunger for knowledge.Some spirits had looked down upon the Realms for centuries untold, simply collecting information and watching the living go about their lives.Perhaps it was envy for the physical sensations they could no longer feel.But whatever the reason, the wealth of knowledge in a single spirit often outweighed the collected works in all of the libraries in the Realms combined.Morkai learned much in the two hours Dendybar had alotted him.His turn now came to choose his words carefully.He was compelled to satisfy the summoner‟s request, but he intended to answer in as cryptic and ambiguous a manner as he possibly could.* * *Dendybar‟s eyes glinted when he saw the brazier‟s flames begin their telltale dance once again.Had it been two hours already?
|
[
464,
12799,
286,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
2626,
1310,
1176,
287,
1918,
11,
290,
339,
8350,
24444,
306,
1028,
262,
4822,
447,
253,
82,
12765,
288,
732,
12057,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
20821,
1280,
257,
38414,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
257,
8667,
286,
777,
34989,
1541,
11,
447,
251,
339,
7728,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
664,
78,
3902,
13,
1544,
7247,
262,
3450,
286,
262,
3597,
11,
257,
10743,
326,
4602,
262,
2081,
1438,
286,
465,
845,
852,
13,
1870,
1752,
1100,
11,
37727,
262,
30615,
286,
22780,
422,
262,
1438,
290,
16299,
6247,
262,
6782,
286,
465,
5848,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
561,
26342,
262,
2081,
1176,
286,
262,
10743,
11,
1262,
572,
2539,
1167,
26448,
286,
8216,
284,
30867,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
1438,
290,
10114,
262,
22471,
286,
465,
4437,
11,
4145,
374,
5430,
683,
284,
262,
4755,
286,
465,
852,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
890,
2236,
314,
2989,
329,
534,
7429,
30,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
1965,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
379,
465,
5373,
11,
996,
262,
14782,
319,
683,
3767,
284,
6001,
268,
13,
447,
250,
7571,
2250,
11,
447,
251,
9876,
2579,
258,
8712,
1231,
5711,
11,
1719,
7773,
3066,
262,
4129,
286,
262,
2989,
878,
262,
40292,
11,
11236,
257,
640,
4179,
326,
561,
1577,
337,
967,
1872,
1576,
3663,
284,
1064,
617,
7429,
11,
475,
407,
890,
1576,
284,
1249,
262,
4437,
284,
2193,
517,
621,
339,
815,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
13541,
11,
25260,
262,
21508,
2157,
262,
2551,
13,
1544,
20821,
19528,
6451,
290,
373,
3750,
287,
257,
33679,
286,
7523,
11,
262,
16209,
326,
550,
12605,
465,
1296,
36391,
736,
284,
511,
275,
3247,
959,
284,
25507,
465,
1441,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
8259,
373,
7103,
13,
7003,
339,
991,
550,
284,
20062,
284,
1394,
262,
8946,
284,
262,
13016,
287,
1295,
11,
262,
2834,
1028,
465,
481,
290,
262,
14782,
319,
465,
1176,
1342,
2945,
15394,
618,
262,
4437,
550,
3750,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
50094,
550,
3016,
5445,
683,
1141,
511,
8791,
11,
290,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
14682,
465,
1182,
287,
29894,
326,
262,
1468,
4958,
714,
3151,
503,
422,
262,
12296,
523,
1244,
813,
13,
32,
50130,
4966,
510,
465,
19656,
355,
339,
16723,
1068,
465,
11501,
287,
29353,
1028,
530,
523,
3665,
13,
6109,
640,
339,
20056,
337,
967,
1872,
11,
339,
373,
14516,
326,
465,
898,
1110,
286,
49654,
561,
10403,
1282,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
550,
1310,
5876,
287,
4673,
546,
262,
1440,
36843,
13,
818,
1109,
11,
262,
5444,
263,
1541,
2993,
881,
546,
606,
13,
1544,
550,
2077,
257,
1049,
1393,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
1141,
465,
13580,
355,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
290,
465,
20136,
550,
407,
3724,
351,
465,
1767,
13,
6104,
783,
11,
339,
1690,
3114,
287,
319,
262,
466,
654,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
290,
2687,
508,
5213,
2241,
351,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
2274,
1933,
2993,
1223,
286,
262,
1440,
10281,
13,
44,
967
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
12799,
286,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
2626,
1310,
1176,
287,
1918,
11,
290,
339,
8350,
24444,
306,
1028,
262,
4822,
447,
253,
82,
12765,
288,
732,
12057,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
20821,
1280,
257,
38414,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
257,
8667,
286,
777,
34989,
1541,
11,
447,
251,
339,
7728,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
664,
78,
3902,
13,
1544,
7247,
262,
3450,
286,
262,
3597,
11,
257,
10743,
326,
4602,
262,
2081,
1438,
286,
465,
845,
852,
13,
1870,
1752,
1100,
11,
37727,
262,
30615,
286,
22780,
422,
262,
1438,
290,
16299,
6247,
262,
6782,
286,
465,
5848,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
561,
26342,
262,
2081,
1176,
286,
262,
10743,
11,
1262,
572,
2539,
1167,
26448,
286,
8216,
284,
30867,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
1438,
290,
10114,
262,
22471,
286,
465,
4437,
11,
4145,
374,
5430,
683,
284,
262,
4755,
286,
465,
852,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
890,
2236,
314,
2989,
329,
534,
7429,
30,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
1965,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
379,
465,
5373,
11,
996,
262,
14782,
319,
683,
3767,
284,
6001,
268,
13,
447,
250,
7571,
2250,
11,
447,
251,
9876,
2579,
258,
8712,
1231,
5711,
11,
1719,
7773,
3066,
262,
4129,
286,
262,
2989,
878,
262,
40292,
11,
11236,
257,
640,
4179,
326,
561,
1577,
337,
967,
1872,
1576,
3663,
284,
1064,
617,
7429,
11,
475,
407,
890,
1576,
284,
1249,
262,
4437,
284,
2193,
517,
621,
339,
815,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
13541,
11,
25260,
262,
21508,
2157,
262,
2551,
13,
1544,
20821,
19528,
6451,
290,
373,
3750,
287,
257,
33679,
286,
7523,
11,
262,
16209,
326,
550,
12605,
465,
1296,
36391,
736,
284,
511,
275,
3247,
959,
284,
25507,
465,
1441,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
8259,
373,
7103,
13,
7003,
339,
991,
550,
284,
20062,
284,
1394,
262,
8946,
284,
262,
13016,
287,
1295,
11,
262,
2834,
1028,
465,
481,
290,
262,
14782,
319,
465,
1176,
1342,
2945,
15394,
618,
262,
4437,
550,
3750,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
50094,
550,
3016,
5445,
683,
1141,
511,
8791,
11,
290,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
14682,
465,
1182,
287,
29894,
326,
262,
1468,
4958,
714,
3151,
503,
422,
262,
12296,
523,
1244,
813,
13,
32,
50130,
4966,
510,
465,
19656,
355,
339,
16723,
1068,
465,
11501,
287,
29353,
1028,
530,
523,
3665,
13,
6109,
640,
339,
20056,
337,
967,
1872,
11,
339,
373,
14516,
326,
465,
898,
1110,
286,
49654,
561,
10403,
1282,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
550,
1310,
5876,
287,
4673,
546,
262,
1440,
36843,
13,
818,
1109,
11,
262,
5444,
263,
1541,
2993,
881,
546,
606,
13,
1544,
550,
2077,
257,
1049,
1393,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
1141,
465,
13580,
355,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
290,
465,
20136,
550,
407,
3724,
351,
465,
1767,
13,
6104,
783,
11,
339,
1690,
3114,
287,
319,
262,
466,
654,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
290,
2687,
508,
5213,
2241,
351,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
2274,
1933,
2993,
1223,
286,
262,
1440,
10281,
13,
44,
967
] |
dnd542
|
he wondered, for his rest seemed much shorter, and he felt that he had not fully recovered from his first encounter with the specter.He could not refute the dance of the flames, though.He straightened himself and tucked his ankles in closer, tightening and securing his cross-legged, meditative position.The ball of fire puffed in its climactic throes and Morkai appeared before him.The specter stood back obediently, not offering any information until Dendybar specifically asked for it.The complete story behind the visit of the four friends to Luskan remained sketchy to Morkai, but he had learned much of their quest, and more than he wanted Dendybar to find out about.He still hadn‟t discerned the true intentions behind the mottled wizard‟s inquiries, but felt certain that Dendybar was up to no good, whatever his goals.“What is the purpose of the visit?” Dendybar demanded, angry at Morkai‟s stalling tactics.“You yourself have summoned me,” Morkai responded slyly.“I am compelled to appear.”“No games!” growled the mottled wizard.He glared at the specter, fingering the scroll of torment in open threat.Notorious for answering literally, beings from other planes often flustered their conjurors by distorting the connotative meaning of a question‟s exact wording.Dendybar smiled in concession to the specter‟s simple logic and clarified the question.“What is the purpose of the visit to Luskan by the four travelers from Icewind Dale?”“Varied reasons,” Morkai replied.“One has come in search of the homeland of his father, and his father before him.”“The Drow?” Dendybar asked, trying to find some way to link his suspicions that Drizzt Page 29planned to return to the underworld of his birth with the Crystal Shard.Perhaps an uprising by the dark elves, using the power of the shard?“Is it the drow who seeks his homeland?”“Nay,” replied the specter, pleased that Dendybar had fallen off on a tangent, delaying the more specific, and more dangerous line of questioning.The passing minutes would soon begin to dissipate Dendybar‟s hold upon the specter, and Morkai hoped that he could find a way to get free of the mottled wizard before revealing too much about Bruenor‟s company.“Drizzt Do‟Urden has forsaken his homeland altogether.He shall never return to the bowels of the world, and certainly not with his dearest friends in tow!”“Then who?”“Another of the four flees from danger at his back,” Morkai offered, twisting the line of inquiry.“Who seeks his homeland?” Dendybar demanded more emphatically.“The dwarf, Bruenor Battlehammer,” replied Morkai, compelled to obey.“He seeks his birthplace, Mithril Hall, and his friends have joined in his quest.Why does this interest you?The companions have no connection to Luskan, and pose no threat to the Hosttower.”“I did not summon you here to answer your questions!” Dendybar scolded.“Now tell me who is running from danger.
|
he wondered, for his rest seemed much shorter, and he felt that he had not fully recovered from his first encounter with the specter.He could not refute the dance of the flames, though.He straightened himself and tucked his ankles in closer, tightening and securing his cross-legged, meditative position.The ball of fire puffed in its climactic throes and Morkai appeared before him.The specter stood back obediently, not offering any information until Dendybar specifically asked for it.The complete story behind the visit of the four friends to Luskan remained sketchy to Morkai, but he had learned much of their quest, and more than he wanted Dendybar to find out about.He still hadn‟t discerned the true intentions behind the mottled wizard‟s inquiries, but felt certain that Dendybar was up to no good, whatever his goals.“What is the purpose of the visit?” Dendybar demanded, angry at Morkai‟s stalling tactics.“You yourself have summoned me,” Morkai responded slyly.“I am compelled to appear.”“No games!” growled the mottled wizard.He glared at the specter, fingering the scroll of torment in open threat.Notorious for answering literally, beings from other planes often flustered their conjurors by distorting the connotative meaning of a question‟s exact wording.Dendybar smiled in concession to the specter‟s simple logic and clarified the question.“What is the purpose of the visit to Luskan by the four travelers from Icewind Dale?”“Varied reasons,” Morkai replied.“One has come in search of the homeland of his father, and his father before him.”“The Drow?” Dendybar asked, trying to find some way to link his suspicions that Drizzt Page 29planned to return to the underworld of his birth with the Crystal Shard.Perhaps an uprising by the dark elves, using the power of the shard?“Is it the drow who seeks his homeland?”“Nay,” replied the specter, pleased that Dendybar had fallen off on a tangent, delaying the more specific, and more dangerous line of questioning.The passing minutes would soon begin to dissipate Dendybar‟s hold upon the specter, and Morkai hoped that he could find a way to get free of the mottled wizard before revealing too much about Bruenor‟s company.“Drizzt Do‟Urden has forsaken his homeland altogether.He shall never return to the bowels of the world, and certainly not with his dearest friends in tow!”“Then who?”“Another of the four flees from danger at his back,” Morkai offered, twisting the line of inquiry.“Who seeks his homeland?” Dendybar demanded more emphatically.“The dwarf, Bruenor Battlehammer,” replied Morkai, compelled to obey.“He seeks his birthplace, Mithril Hall, and his friends have joined in his quest.Why does this interest you?The companions have no connection to Luskan, and pose no threat to the Hosttower.”“I did not summon you here to answer your questions!” Dendybar scolded.“Now tell me who is running from danger.
|
[
258,
14028,
11,
329,
465,
1334,
3947,
881,
12238,
11,
290,
339,
2936,
326,
339,
550,
407,
3938,
11911,
422,
465,
717,
8791,
351,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
1544,
714,
407,
45071,
262,
9280,
286,
262,
16209,
11,
996,
13,
1544,
3892,
2945,
2241,
290,
29779,
465,
42415,
287,
5699,
11,
36040,
290,
19732,
465,
3272,
12,
40898,
11,
1117,
12464,
2292,
13,
464,
2613,
286,
2046,
279,
18339,
287,
663,
5424,
12009,
9244,
274,
290,
337,
967,
1872,
4120,
878,
683,
13,
464,
5444,
263,
6204,
736,
41652,
306,
11,
407,
6011,
597,
1321,
1566,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
5734,
1965,
329,
340,
13,
464,
1844,
1621,
2157,
262,
3187,
286,
262,
1440,
2460,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
6150,
17548,
88,
284,
337,
967,
1872,
11,
475,
339,
550,
4499,
881,
286,
511,
1235,
11,
290,
517,
621,
339,
2227,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
284,
1064,
503,
546,
13,
1544,
991,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
22024,
276,
262,
2081,
14953,
2157,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
23538,
11,
475,
2936,
1728,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
373,
510,
284,
645,
922,
11,
4232,
465,
4661,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
318,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3187,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
12284,
11,
7954,
379,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
336,
9221,
10815,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
3511,
423,
20056,
502,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
7082,
49822,
306,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
20232,
284,
1656,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
1830,
0,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
13,
1544,
50030,
379,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
8038,
1586,
262,
10743,
286,
33378,
287,
1280,
2372,
13,
3673,
9982,
329,
18877,
7360,
11,
9791,
422,
584,
13016,
1690,
781,
436,
1068,
511,
11644,
333,
669,
416,
1233,
24707,
262,
369,
1662,
876,
3616,
286,
257,
1808,
447,
253,
82,
2748,
26814,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
287,
33130,
284,
262,
5444,
263,
447,
253,
82,
2829,
9156,
290,
28464,
262,
1808,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
318,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3187,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
416,
262,
1440,
23325,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
19852,
798,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
468,
1282,
287,
2989,
286,
262,
23184,
286,
465,
2988,
11,
290,
465,
2988,
878,
683,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
360,
808,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1965,
11,
2111,
284,
1064,
617,
835,
284,
2792,
465,
30508,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
7873,
2808,
36800,
284,
1441,
284,
262,
42494,
286,
465,
4082,
351,
262,
12969,
32822,
13,
13710,
281,
26312,
416,
262,
3223,
31959,
11,
1262,
262,
1176,
286,
262,
427,
446,
30,
447,
250,
3792,
340,
262,
288,
808,
508,
12932,
465,
23184,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45,
323,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
10607,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
9292,
572,
319,
257,
13875,
298,
11,
35221,
262,
517,
2176,
11,
290,
517,
4923,
1627,
286,
14085,
13,
464,
6427,
2431,
561,
2582,
2221,
284
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
258,
14028,
11,
329,
465,
1334,
3947,
881,
12238,
11,
290,
339,
2936,
326,
339,
550,
407,
3938,
11911,
422,
465,
717,
8791,
351,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
1544,
714,
407,
45071,
262,
9280,
286,
262,
16209,
11,
996,
13,
1544,
3892,
2945,
2241,
290,
29779,
465,
42415,
287,
5699,
11,
36040,
290,
19732,
465,
3272,
12,
40898,
11,
1117,
12464,
2292,
13,
464,
2613,
286,
2046,
279,
18339,
287,
663,
5424,
12009,
9244,
274,
290,
337,
967,
1872,
4120,
878,
683,
13,
464,
5444,
263,
6204,
736,
41652,
306,
11,
407,
6011,
597,
1321,
1566,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
5734,
1965,
329,
340,
13,
464,
1844,
1621,
2157,
262,
3187,
286,
262,
1440,
2460,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
6150,
17548,
88,
284,
337,
967,
1872,
11,
475,
339,
550,
4499,
881,
286,
511,
1235,
11,
290,
517,
621,
339,
2227,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
284,
1064,
503,
546,
13,
1544,
991,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
22024,
276,
262,
2081,
14953,
2157,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
23538,
11,
475,
2936,
1728,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
373,
510,
284,
645,
922,
11,
4232,
465,
4661,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
318,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3187,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
12284,
11,
7954,
379,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
336,
9221,
10815,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
3511,
423,
20056,
502,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
7082,
49822,
306,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
20232,
284,
1656,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2949,
1830,
0,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
13,
1544,
50030,
379,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
8038,
1586,
262,
10743,
286,
33378,
287,
1280,
2372,
13,
3673,
9982,
329,
18877,
7360,
11,
9791,
422,
584,
13016,
1690,
781,
436,
1068,
511,
11644,
333,
669,
416,
1233,
24707,
262,
369,
1662,
876,
3616,
286,
257,
1808,
447,
253,
82,
2748,
26814,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
287,
33130,
284,
262,
5444,
263,
447,
253,
82,
2829,
9156,
290,
28464,
262,
1808,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
318,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
3187,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
416,
262,
1440,
23325,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
19852,
798,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
468,
1282,
287,
2989,
286,
262,
23184,
286,
465,
2988,
11,
290,
465,
2988,
878,
683,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
360,
808,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1965,
11,
2111,
284,
1064,
617,
835,
284,
2792,
465,
30508,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
7873,
2808,
36800,
284,
1441,
284,
262,
42494,
286,
465,
4082,
351,
262,
12969,
32822,
13,
13710,
281,
26312,
416,
262,
3223,
31959,
11,
1262,
262,
1176,
286,
262,
427,
446,
30,
447,
250,
3792,
340,
262,
288,
808,
508,
12932,
465,
23184,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45,
323,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
10607,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
9292,
572,
319,
257,
13875,
298,
11,
35221,
262,
517,
2176,
11,
290,
517,
4923,
1627,
286,
14085,
13,
464,
6427,
2431,
561,
2582,
2221,
284
] |
dnd543
|
And what is the danger?”“Behold,” the specter instructed.With a wave of his hand, Morkai imparted an image upon the mind of the mottled wizard, a picture of a black-cloaked rider wildly charging across the tundra.The horse‟s bridle was white with lather, but the rider pressed the beast onward relentlessly.“The halfling flees from this man,” Morkai explained, “though the rider‟s purpose remains a mystery to me.” Telling Dendybar even this much angered the specter, but Morkai could not yet resist the commands of his nemesis.He felt the bonds of the wizard‟s will loosening, though, and suspected that the summoning neared its end.Dendybar paused to consider the information.Nothing of what Morkai had told him gave any direct link to the Crystal Shard, but he had learned, at least, that the four friends did not mean to stay in Luskan for very long.And he had discovered a potential ally, a further source of information.The black-cloaked rider must be mighty indeed to have set the halfling‟s formidable troupe fleeing down the road.Dendybar was beginning to formulate his next moves, when a sudden insistent pull of Morkai‟s stubborn resistance broke his concentration.Enraged, he shot a threatening glare back at the specter and began unrolling the parchment.“Impudent!” he growled, and though he could have stretched out his hold on the specter a bit longer if he had put his energies into a battle of wills, he started reciting the scroll.Morkai recoiled, though he had consciously provoked Dendybar to this point.The specter could accept the racking, for it signaled the end of the inquisition.And Morkai was glad that Dendybar hadn‟t forced him to reveal the events even farther from Luskan, back in the dale just beyond the borders of Ten-Towns.As Dendybar‟s recitations twanged discordantly on the harmony of his soul, Morkai removed the focal point of his concentration across hundreds of miles, back to the image of the merchant caravan now one day out from Bremen, the closest of the Ten Towns, and to the image of the brave young woman who had joined up with the traders.The specter took comfort in the knowledge that she had, for a while at least, escaped the probings of the mottled wizard.Not that Morkai was altruistic; he had never been accused of an abundance of that trait.He simply took great satisfaction in hindering in any way he could the knave who had arranged his murder.* * *Catti-brie‟s red-brown locks tossed about her shoulders.She sat high up on the lead wagon of the merchant caravan that had set out from Ten-Towns on the previous day, bound for Luskan.Page 30Unbothered by the chill breeze, she kept her eyes on the road ahead, searching for some sign that the assassin had passed that way.She had relayed information about Entreri to Cassius, and he would pass it along to the dwarves.Catti-brie wondered now if she had been justified in sneaking away with the merchant caravan before Clan Battlehammer could organize its own chase.But only she had seen the assassin at work.She knew well that if the dwarves went after him in a frontal assault, their caution wiped away in their lust of revenge for Fender and Grollo, many more of the clan would die.Selfishly, perhaps, Catti-brie had determined that the assassin was her own business.He had unnerved her, had stripped away years of training and discipline and reduced her to the quivering semblance of a frightened child.But she was a young woman now, no more a girl.She had to personally respond to that emotional humiliation, or the scars from it would haunt her to her grave, forever paralyzing her along her path to discover her true potential in life.She would find her friends in Luskan and warn them of the danger at their backs, and then together they would take care of Artemis Entreri.“We make a strong pace,” the lead driver assured her, sympathetic to her desire for haste.Catti-brie did not look at him; her eyes rooted on the flat horizon before her.“Me heart tells me „tisn‟t strong enough,” she lamented.The driver looked at her curiously, but had learned better than to press her on the point.
|
And what is the danger?”“Behold,” the specter instructed.With a wave of his hand, Morkai imparted an image upon the mind of the mottled wizard, a picture of a black-cloaked rider wildly charging across the tundra.The horse‟s bridle was white with lather, but the rider pressed the beast onward relentlessly.“The halfling flees from this man,” Morkai explained, “though the rider‟s purpose remains a mystery to me.” Telling Dendybar even this much angered the specter, but Morkai could not yet resist the commands of his nemesis.He felt the bonds of the wizard‟s will loosening, though, and suspected that the summoning neared its end.Dendybar paused to consider the information.Nothing of what Morkai had told him gave any direct link to the Crystal Shard, but he had learned, at least, that the four friends did not mean to stay in Luskan for very long.And he had discovered a potential ally, a further source of information.The black-cloaked rider must be mighty indeed to have set the halfling‟s formidable troupe fleeing down the road.Dendybar was beginning to formulate his next moves, when a sudden insistent pull of Morkai‟s stubborn resistance broke his concentration.Enraged, he shot a threatening glare back at the specter and began unrolling the parchment.“Impudent!” he growled, and though he could have stretched out his hold on the specter a bit longer if he had put his energies into a battle of wills, he started reciting the scroll.Morkai recoiled, though he had consciously provoked Dendybar to this point.The specter could accept the racking, for it signaled the end of the inquisition.And Morkai was glad that Dendybar hadn‟t forced him to reveal the events even farther from Luskan, back in the dale just beyond the borders of Ten-Towns.As Dendybar‟s recitations twanged discordantly on the harmony of his soul, Morkai removed the focal point of his concentration across hundreds of miles, back to the image of the merchant caravan now one day out from Bremen, the closest of the Ten Towns, and to the image of the brave young woman who had joined up with the traders.The specter took comfort in the knowledge that she had, for a while at least, escaped the probings of the mottled wizard.Not that Morkai was altruistic; he had never been accused of an abundance of that trait.He simply took great satisfaction in hindering in any way he could the knave who had arranged his murder.* * *Catti-brie‟s red-brown locks tossed about her shoulders.She sat high up on the lead wagon of the merchant caravan that had set out from Ten-Towns on the previous day, bound for Luskan.Page 30Unbothered by the chill breeze, she kept her eyes on the road ahead, searching for some sign that the assassin had passed that way.She had relayed information about Entreri to Cassius, and he would pass it along to the dwarves.Catti-brie wondered now if she had been justified in sneaking away with the merchant caravan before Clan Battlehammer could organize its own chase.But only she had seen the assassin at work.She knew well that if the dwarves went after him in a frontal assault, their caution wiped away in their lust of revenge for Fender and Grollo, many more of the clan would die.Selfishly, perhaps, Catti-brie had determined that the assassin was her own business.He had unnerved her, had stripped away years of training and discipline and reduced her to the quivering semblance of a frightened child.But she was a young woman now, no more a girl.She had to personally respond to that emotional humiliation, or the scars from it would haunt her to her grave, forever paralyzing her along her path to discover her true potential in life.She would find her friends in Luskan and warn them of the danger at their backs, and then together they would take care of Artemis Entreri.“We make a strong pace,” the lead driver assured her, sympathetic to her desire for haste.Catti-brie did not look at him; her eyes rooted on the flat horizon before her.“Me heart tells me „tisn‟t strong enough,” she lamented.The driver looked at her curiously, but had learned better than to press her on the point.
|
[
1870,
644,
318,
262,
3514,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3856,
2946,
11,
447,
251,
262,
5444,
263,
17767,
13,
3152,
257,
6769,
286,
465,
1021,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
848,
19112,
281,
2939,
2402,
262,
2000,
286,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
11,
257,
4286,
286,
257,
2042,
12,
565,
78,
4335,
17876,
20278,
11642,
1973,
262,
256,
917,
430,
13,
464,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
38265,
293,
373,
2330,
351,
300,
1032,
11,
475,
262,
17876,
12070,
262,
13824,
38232,
37952,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2063,
1359,
5104,
274,
422,
428,
582,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
4893,
11,
564,
250,
2016,
262,
17876,
447,
253,
82,
4007,
3793,
257,
10715,
284,
502,
13,
447,
251,
309,
9417,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
772,
428,
881,
31997,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
475,
337,
967,
1872,
714,
407,
1865,
4180,
262,
9729,
286,
465,
36945,
9339,
13,
1544,
2936,
262,
13100,
286,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
481,
37222,
3101,
11,
996,
11,
290,
9885,
326,
262,
40292,
497,
1144,
663,
886,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
24487,
284,
2074,
262,
1321,
13,
18465,
286,
644,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
1297,
683,
2921,
597,
1277,
2792,
284,
262,
12969,
32822,
11,
475,
339,
550,
4499,
11,
379,
1551,
11,
326,
262,
1440,
2460,
750,
407,
1612,
284,
2652,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
329,
845,
890,
13,
1870,
339,
550,
5071,
257,
2785,
12525,
11,
257,
2252,
2723,
286,
1321,
13,
464,
2042,
12,
565,
78,
4335,
17876,
1276,
307,
18680,
5600,
284,
423,
900,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
24599,
4057,
431,
19105,
866,
262,
2975,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
373,
3726,
284,
46418,
465,
1306,
6100,
11,
618,
257,
4802,
1035,
7609,
2834,
286,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
24444,
6625,
6265,
465,
10368,
13,
4834,
18312,
11,
339,
2823,
257,
11123,
36785,
736,
379,
262,
5444,
263,
290,
2540,
555,
18886,
262,
38414,
13,
447,
250,
26950,
463,
298,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
290,
996,
339,
714,
423,
19110,
503,
465,
1745,
319,
262,
5444,
263,
257,
1643,
2392,
611,
339,
550,
1234,
465,
27598,
656,
257,
3344,
286,
49928,
11,
339,
2067,
664,
1780,
262,
10743,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
664,
78,
3902,
11,
996,
339,
550,
30410,
29579,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
284,
428,
966,
13,
464,
5444,
263,
714,
2453,
262,
374,
5430,
11,
329,
340,
34676,
262,
886,
286,
262,
7949,
10027,
13,
1870,
337,
967,
1872,
373,
9675,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
4137,
683,
284,
7766,
262,
2995,
772,
18485,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
736,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
655,
3675,
262,
11637,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1722,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
664,
20597,
665,
5102,
36446,
3875,
319,
262,
22471,
286,
465,
5848,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
4615,
262,
25397,
966,
286,
465,
10368,
1973,
5179,
286,
4608,
11,
736,
284,
262,
2939,
286,
262,
20729,
44321,
783,
530,
1110,
503,
422,
347,
2787,
268,
11,
262,
11706,
286,
262,
9368,
40752,
11,
290,
284,
262
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1870,
644,
318,
262,
3514,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3856,
2946,
11,
447,
251,
262,
5444,
263,
17767,
13,
3152,
257,
6769,
286,
465,
1021,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
848,
19112,
281,
2939,
2402,
262,
2000,
286,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
11,
257,
4286,
286,
257,
2042,
12,
565,
78,
4335,
17876,
20278,
11642,
1973,
262,
256,
917,
430,
13,
464,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
38265,
293,
373,
2330,
351,
300,
1032,
11,
475,
262,
17876,
12070,
262,
13824,
38232,
37952,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2063,
1359,
5104,
274,
422,
428,
582,
11,
447,
251,
337,
967,
1872,
4893,
11,
564,
250,
2016,
262,
17876,
447,
253,
82,
4007,
3793,
257,
10715,
284,
502,
13,
447,
251,
309,
9417,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
772,
428,
881,
31997,
262,
5444,
263,
11,
475,
337,
967,
1872,
714,
407,
1865,
4180,
262,
9729,
286,
465,
36945,
9339,
13,
1544,
2936,
262,
13100,
286,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
481,
37222,
3101,
11,
996,
11,
290,
9885,
326,
262,
40292,
497,
1144,
663,
886,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
24487,
284,
2074,
262,
1321,
13,
18465,
286,
644,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
1297,
683,
2921,
597,
1277,
2792,
284,
262,
12969,
32822,
11,
475,
339,
550,
4499,
11,
379,
1551,
11,
326,
262,
1440,
2460,
750,
407,
1612,
284,
2652,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
329,
845,
890,
13,
1870,
339,
550,
5071,
257,
2785,
12525,
11,
257,
2252,
2723,
286,
1321,
13,
464,
2042,
12,
565,
78,
4335,
17876,
1276,
307,
18680,
5600,
284,
423,
900,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
24599,
4057,
431,
19105,
866,
262,
2975,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
373,
3726,
284,
46418,
465,
1306,
6100,
11,
618,
257,
4802,
1035,
7609,
2834,
286,
337,
967,
1872,
447,
253,
82,
24444,
6625,
6265,
465,
10368,
13,
4834,
18312,
11,
339,
2823,
257,
11123,
36785,
736,
379,
262,
5444,
263,
290,
2540,
555,
18886,
262,
38414,
13,
447,
250,
26950,
463,
298,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
290,
996,
339,
714,
423,
19110,
503,
465,
1745,
319,
262,
5444,
263,
257,
1643,
2392,
611,
339,
550,
1234,
465,
27598,
656,
257,
3344,
286,
49928,
11,
339,
2067,
664,
1780,
262,
10743,
13,
44,
967,
1872,
664,
78,
3902,
11,
996,
339,
550,
30410,
29579,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
284,
428,
966,
13,
464,
5444,
263,
714,
2453,
262,
374,
5430,
11,
329,
340,
34676,
262,
886,
286,
262,
7949,
10027,
13,
1870,
337,
967,
1872,
373,
9675,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
4137,
683,
284,
7766,
262,
2995,
772,
18485,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
736,
287,
262,
288,
1000,
655,
3675,
262,
11637,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1722,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
664,
20597,
665,
5102,
36446,
3875,
319,
262,
22471,
286,
465,
5848,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
4615,
262,
25397,
966,
286,
465,
10368,
1973,
5179,
286,
4608,
11,
736,
284,
262,
2939,
286,
262,
20729,
44321,
783,
530,
1110,
503,
422,
347,
2787,
268,
11,
262,
11706,
286,
262,
9368,
40752,
11,
290,
284,
262
] |
dnd544
|
She had made it clear to them from the start that her business was private.And being the adopted daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer, and reputedly a fine fighter in her own right, the merchants had counted themselves lucky to have her along and had respected her desire for privacy.Besides, as one of the drivers had so eloquently argued during their informal meeting before the journey, “The notion of staring at an ox‟s ass for near to three-hunnerd miles makes the thought o‟ having that girl along for company sit well with me!”They had even moved up their departure date to accommodate her.“Do not worry, Catti-brie,” the driver assured her, “we‟ll get you there!”Catti-brie shook her blowing hair out of her face and looked into the sun as it set on the horizon before her.“But can it be in time?” she asked softly and rhetorically, knowing that her whisper would break apart in the wind as soon as it passed her lips.Page 315.The CragsDrizzt took the lead as the four companions jogged along the banks of the river Mirar, putting as much ground between themselves and Luskan as possible.Although they hadn‟t slept in many hours, their encounters in the City of Sails had sent a burst of adrenaline through their veins and none of them was weary.Something magical hung in the air that night, a crispy tingling that would have made the most exhausted traveler lament closing his eyes to it.The river, rushing swiftly and high from the spring melt, sparkled in the evening glow, its whitecaps catching the starlight and throwing it back into the air in a spray of bejeweled droplets.Normally cautious, the friends could not help but let their guard down.They felt no danger lurking near, felt nothing but the sharp, refreshing chill of the spring night and the mysterious pull of the heavens.Bruenor lost himself in dreams of Mithril Hall; Regis in memories of Calimport; even Wulfgar, so despondent about his ill-fated encounter with civilization, felt his spirits soar.He thought of similar nights on the open tundra, when he had dreamed of what lay beyond the horizons of his world.Now, out beyond those horizons, Wulfgar found only one element missing.To his surprise, and against the adventuring instincts that denied such comfortable thoughts, he wished that Catti-brie, the woman he had grown to cherish, was with him now to share the beauty of this night.If the others had not been so preoccupied with their own enjoyment of the evening, they would have noticed an extra bounce in Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s graceful step as well.To the drow, these magical nights, when the heavenly dome reached down below the horizon, bolstered his confidence in the most important and difficult decision he had ever made, the choice to forsake his people and his homeland.No stars sparkled above Menzoberranzan, the dark city of the black elves.No unexplainable allure tugged at the heartstrings from the cold stone of the immense cavern‟s lightless ceiling.“How much my people have lost by walking in darkness,” Drizzt whispered into the night.The pull of the mysteries of the endless sky carried the joy of his spirit beyond its normal boundaries and opened his mind to the unanswerable questions of the multiverse.He was an elf, and though his skin was black, there remained in his soul a semblance of the harmonic joy of his surface cousins.He wondered how general these feelings truly ran among his people.Did they remain in the hearts of all drow?Or had eons of sublimation extinguished the spiritual flames?To Drizzt‟s reckoning, perhaps the greatest loss that his people had suffered when they retreated to the depths of the world was the loss of the ability to ponder the spirituality of existence simply for the sake of thought.The crystalline sheen of the Mirar gradually dulled as the lightening dawn dimmed the stars.It came as an unspoken disappointment to the friends as they set their camp in a sheltered spot near the banks of the river.“Be knowin‟ that nights like that are few,” Bruenor observed as the first ray of light crept over the eastern horizon.
|
She had made it clear to them from the start that her business was private.And being the adopted daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer, and reputedly a fine fighter in her own right, the merchants had counted themselves lucky to have her along and had respected her desire for privacy.Besides, as one of the drivers had so eloquently argued during their informal meeting before the journey, “The notion of staring at an ox‟s ass for near to three-hunnerd miles makes the thought o‟ having that girl along for company sit well with me!”They had even moved up their departure date to accommodate her.“Do not worry, Catti-brie,” the driver assured her, “we‟ll get you there!”Catti-brie shook her blowing hair out of her face and looked into the sun as it set on the horizon before her.“But can it be in time?” she asked softly and rhetorically, knowing that her whisper would break apart in the wind as soon as it passed her lips.Page 315.The CragsDrizzt took the lead as the four companions jogged along the banks of the river Mirar, putting as much ground between themselves and Luskan as possible.Although they hadn‟t slept in many hours, their encounters in the City of Sails had sent a burst of adrenaline through their veins and none of them was weary.Something magical hung in the air that night, a crispy tingling that would have made the most exhausted traveler lament closing his eyes to it.The river, rushing swiftly and high from the spring melt, sparkled in the evening glow, its whitecaps catching the starlight and throwing it back into the air in a spray of bejeweled droplets.Normally cautious, the friends could not help but let their guard down.They felt no danger lurking near, felt nothing but the sharp, refreshing chill of the spring night and the mysterious pull of the heavens.Bruenor lost himself in dreams of Mithril Hall; Regis in memories of Calimport; even Wulfgar, so despondent about his ill-fated encounter with civilization, felt his spirits soar.He thought of similar nights on the open tundra, when he had dreamed of what lay beyond the horizons of his world.Now, out beyond those horizons, Wulfgar found only one element missing.To his surprise, and against the adventuring instincts that denied such comfortable thoughts, he wished that Catti-brie, the woman he had grown to cherish, was with him now to share the beauty of this night.If the others had not been so preoccupied with their own enjoyment of the evening, they would have noticed an extra bounce in Drizzt Do‟Urden‟s graceful step as well.To the drow, these magical nights, when the heavenly dome reached down below the horizon, bolstered his confidence in the most important and difficult decision he had ever made, the choice to forsake his people and his homeland.No stars sparkled above Menzoberranzan, the dark city of the black elves.No unexplainable allure tugged at the heartstrings from the cold stone of the immense cavern‟s lightless ceiling.“How much my people have lost by walking in darkness,” Drizzt whispered into the night.The pull of the mysteries of the endless sky carried the joy of his spirit beyond its normal boundaries and opened his mind to the unanswerable questions of the multiverse.He was an elf, and though his skin was black, there remained in his soul a semblance of the harmonic joy of his surface cousins.He wondered how general these feelings truly ran among his people.Did they remain in the hearts of all drow?Or had eons of sublimation extinguished the spiritual flames?To Drizzt‟s reckoning, perhaps the greatest loss that his people had suffered when they retreated to the depths of the world was the loss of the ability to ponder the spirituality of existence simply for the sake of thought.The crystalline sheen of the Mirar gradually dulled as the lightening dawn dimmed the stars.It came as an unspoken disappointment to the friends as they set their camp in a sheltered spot near the banks of the river.“Be knowin‟ that nights like that are few,” Bruenor observed as the first ray of light crept over the eastern horizon.
|
[
3347,
550,
925,
340,
1598,
284,
606,
422,
262,
923,
326,
607,
1597,
373,
2839,
13,
1870,
852,
262,
8197,
4957,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
17980,
11,
290,
1128,
7241,
306,
257,
3734,
10543,
287,
607,
898,
826,
11,
262,
21779,
550,
14789,
2405,
9670,
284,
423,
607,
1863,
290,
550,
14462,
607,
6227,
329,
6782,
13,
23937,
11,
355,
530,
286,
262,
6643,
550,
523,
32973,
1473,
7189,
1141,
511,
22176,
3249,
878,
262,
7002,
11,
564,
250,
464,
9495,
286,
16143,
379,
281,
12018,
447,
253,
82,
840,
329,
1474,
284,
1115,
12,
20088,
1008,
67,
4608,
1838,
262,
1807,
267,
447,
253,
1719,
326,
2576,
1863,
329,
1664,
1650,
880,
351,
502,
0,
447,
251,
2990,
550,
772,
3888,
510,
511,
12928,
3128,
284,
15550,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
407,
5490,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
447,
251,
262,
4639,
13933,
607,
11,
564,
250,
732,
447,
253,
297,
651,
345,
612,
0,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14682,
607,
19280,
4190,
503,
286,
607,
1986,
290,
3114,
656,
262,
4252,
355,
340,
900,
319,
262,
17810,
878,
607,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
460,
340,
307,
287,
640,
30,
447,
251,
673,
1965,
26625,
290,
11388,
26847,
11,
6970,
326,
607,
31992,
561,
2270,
5475,
287,
262,
2344,
355,
2582,
355,
340,
3804,
607,
11914,
13,
9876,
32647,
13,
464,
3864,
3775,
20564,
3019,
83,
1718,
262,
1085,
355,
262,
1440,
19429,
474,
42545,
1863,
262,
6341,
286,
262,
7850,
7381,
283,
11,
5137,
355,
881,
2323,
1022,
2405,
290,
406,
17990,
272,
355,
1744,
13,
7003,
484,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
21256,
287,
867,
2250,
11,
511,
16925,
287,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
550,
1908,
257,
11173,
286,
37607,
832,
511,
32375,
290,
4844,
286,
606,
373,
34730,
13,
22210,
10883,
9174,
287,
262,
1633,
326,
1755,
11,
257,
42807,
256,
278,
1359,
326,
561,
423,
925,
262,
749,
19064,
40168,
23146,
9605,
465,
2951,
284,
340,
13,
464,
7850,
11,
15795,
23994,
290,
1029,
422,
262,
6076,
16867,
11,
9009,
992,
287,
262,
6180,
19634,
11,
663,
2330,
27979,
16508,
262,
3491,
2971,
290,
9644,
340,
736,
656,
262,
1633,
287,
257,
11662,
286,
307,
47483,
18449,
3102,
46916,
13,
43625,
21205,
11,
262,
2460,
714,
407,
1037,
475,
1309,
511,
4860,
866,
13,
2990,
2936,
645,
3514,
36105,
1474,
11,
2936,
2147,
475,
262,
7786,
11,
23056,
20493,
286,
262,
6076,
1755,
290,
262,
11428,
2834,
286,
262,
27636,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2626,
2241,
287,
10625,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
26,
3310,
271,
287,
9846,
286,
2199,
11748,
26,
772,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
523,
11267,
623,
298,
546,
465,
2801,
12,
69,
515,
8791,
351,
14355,
11,
2936,
465,
13747,
48701,
13,
1544,
1807,
286,
2092,
12513,
319,
262,
1280,
256,
917,
430,
11,
618,
339,
550,
27947,
286,
644,
3830,
3675,
262,
3076,
29457,
286,
465,
995,
13,
3844,
11,
503,
3675,
883,
3076,
29457,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
1043,
691,
530,
5002,
4814,
13,
2514,
465,
5975,
11,
290,
1028,
262,
19980,
870,
26744
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
3347,
550,
925,
340,
1598,
284,
606,
422,
262,
923,
326,
607,
1597,
373,
2839,
13,
1870,
852,
262,
8197,
4957,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
17980,
11,
290,
1128,
7241,
306,
257,
3734,
10543,
287,
607,
898,
826,
11,
262,
21779,
550,
14789,
2405,
9670,
284,
423,
607,
1863,
290,
550,
14462,
607,
6227,
329,
6782,
13,
23937,
11,
355,
530,
286,
262,
6643,
550,
523,
32973,
1473,
7189,
1141,
511,
22176,
3249,
878,
262,
7002,
11,
564,
250,
464,
9495,
286,
16143,
379,
281,
12018,
447,
253,
82,
840,
329,
1474,
284,
1115,
12,
20088,
1008,
67,
4608,
1838,
262,
1807,
267,
447,
253,
1719,
326,
2576,
1863,
329,
1664,
1650,
880,
351,
502,
0,
447,
251,
2990,
550,
772,
3888,
510,
511,
12928,
3128,
284,
15550,
607,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
407,
5490,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
447,
251,
262,
4639,
13933,
607,
11,
564,
250,
732,
447,
253,
297,
651,
345,
612,
0,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
14682,
607,
19280,
4190,
503,
286,
607,
1986,
290,
3114,
656,
262,
4252,
355,
340,
900,
319,
262,
17810,
878,
607,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
460,
340,
307,
287,
640,
30,
447,
251,
673,
1965,
26625,
290,
11388,
26847,
11,
6970,
326,
607,
31992,
561,
2270,
5475,
287,
262,
2344,
355,
2582,
355,
340,
3804,
607,
11914,
13,
9876,
32647,
13,
464,
3864,
3775,
20564,
3019,
83,
1718,
262,
1085,
355,
262,
1440,
19429,
474,
42545,
1863,
262,
6341,
286,
262,
7850,
7381,
283,
11,
5137,
355,
881,
2323,
1022,
2405,
290,
406,
17990,
272,
355,
1744,
13,
7003,
484,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
21256,
287,
867,
2250,
11,
511,
16925,
287,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
550,
1908,
257,
11173,
286,
37607,
832,
511,
32375,
290,
4844,
286,
606,
373,
34730,
13,
22210,
10883,
9174,
287,
262,
1633,
326,
1755,
11,
257,
42807,
256,
278,
1359,
326,
561,
423,
925,
262,
749,
19064,
40168,
23146,
9605,
465,
2951,
284,
340,
13,
464,
7850,
11,
15795,
23994,
290,
1029,
422,
262,
6076,
16867,
11,
9009,
992,
287,
262,
6180,
19634,
11,
663,
2330,
27979,
16508,
262,
3491,
2971,
290,
9644,
340,
736,
656,
262,
1633,
287,
257,
11662,
286,
307,
47483,
18449,
3102,
46916,
13,
43625,
21205,
11,
262,
2460,
714,
407,
1037,
475,
1309,
511,
4860,
866,
13,
2990,
2936,
645,
3514,
36105,
1474,
11,
2936,
2147,
475,
262,
7786,
11,
23056,
20493,
286,
262,
6076,
1755,
290,
262,
11428,
2834,
286,
262,
27636,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2626,
2241,
287,
10625,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
26,
3310,
271,
287,
9846,
286,
2199,
11748,
26,
772,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
523,
11267,
623,
298,
546,
465,
2801,
12,
69,
515,
8791,
351,
14355,
11,
2936,
465,
13747,
48701,
13,
1544,
1807,
286,
2092,
12513,
319,
262,
1280,
256,
917,
430,
11,
618,
339,
550,
27947,
286,
644,
3830,
3675,
262,
3076,
29457,
286,
465,
995,
13,
3844,
11,
503,
3675,
883,
3076,
29457,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
1043,
691,
530,
5002,
4814,
13,
2514,
465,
5975,
11,
290,
1028,
262,
19980,
870,
26744
] |
dnd545
|
A glimmer edged his eye, a hint of the wondrous fantasizing that the normally practical dwarf rarely enjoyed.Drizzt noted the dwarf‟s dreamy glow and thought of the nights that he and Bruenor had spent on Bruenor‟s Climb, their special meeting place, back in the dwarf‟s valley in Ten-Towns.“Too few,” he agreed.With a resigned sigh, they set to work, Drizzt and Wulfgar starting breakfast while Bruenor and Regis examined the map they had obtained in Luskan.For all of his grumbling and teasing about the halfling, Bruenor had pressured him to come along for a very definite reason, aside from their friendship, and though the dwarf had masked his emotions well, he was truly overjoyed when Regis had come up huffing and puffing on the road out of Ten-Towns in a last-minute plea to join the quest.Regis knew the land south of the Spine of the World better than any of them.Bruenor himself hadn‟t been out of Icewind Dale in nearly two centuries, and then he had been just an unbearded dwarf-child.Wulfgar had never left the dale, and Drizzt‟s only trek across the world‟s surface had Page 32been a nighttime adventure, skipping from shadow to shadow and avoiding many of the places the companions would need to search out, if they were ever to find Mithril Hall.Regis ran his fingers across the map, excitedly recalling to Bruenor his experiences in each of the places listed, particularly Mirabar, the mining city of great wealth to the north, and Waterdeep, true to its name as the City of Splendors, down the coast to the south.Bruenor slipped his finger across the map, studying the physical features of the terrain.“Mirabar‟d be more to me liking,” he said at length, tapping the mark of the city tucked within the southern slopes of the Spine of the World.“Mithril Hall‟s in mountains, that much I know, and not aside the sea.”Regis considered the dwarf‟s observations for just a moment, then plunked his finger down on yet another spot, by the scale of the map a hundred miles and more inland from Luskan.“Longsaddle,” he said.“Halfway to Silverymoon, and halfway between Mirabar and Waterdeep.A good place to search out our course.”“A city?” Bruenor asked, for the mark on the map was no more than a small black dot.“A village,” Regis corrected.“There are not many people there, but a family of wizards, the Harpells, have lived there for many years and know the northland as well as any.They would be happy to help us.”Bruenor scratched his chin and nodded.“A fair hike.What might we be seeing along the way?”“The crags,” Regis admitted, a bit disheartened as he remembered the place.“Wild and orc-filled.I wish we had another road, but Longsaddle still seems the best choice.”“All roads in the north hold danger,” Bruenor reminded him.They continued their scrutiny of the map, Regis recalling more and more as they went.A series of unusual and unidentified markings–three in particular, running in an almost straight line due east of Luskan to the river network south of Lurkwood–caught Bruenor‟s eye.“Ancestral mounds,” Regis explained.“Holy places of the Uthgardt.”“Uthgardt?”“Barbarians,” answered Regis grimly.“Like those in the dale.More wise to the ways of civilization, perhaps, but no less fierce.Their separate tribes are all about the northland, wandering the wilds.Bruenor groaned in understanding of the halfling‟s dismay, all too familiar himself with the savage ways and fighting prowess of barbarians.Orcs would prove much less formidable foes.By the time the two had finished their discussion, Drizzt was stretching out in the cool shade of a tree overhanging the river and Wulfgar was halfway through his third helping of breakfast.“Yer jaw still dances for food, I see!” Bruenor called as he noted the meager portions left on the skillet.“A night filled with adventure,” Wulfgar replied gaily, and his friends were glad to observe that the brawl had apparently left no scars upon his attitude.“A fine meal and a fine sleep, and I shall be ready for the road once more!”“Well don‟t ye get too comfortable yet!” Bruenor ordered.
|
A glimmer edged his eye, a hint of the wondrous fantasizing that the normally practical dwarf rarely enjoyed.Drizzt noted the dwarf‟s dreamy glow and thought of the nights that he and Bruenor had spent on Bruenor‟s Climb, their special meeting place, back in the dwarf‟s valley in Ten-Towns.“Too few,” he agreed.With a resigned sigh, they set to work, Drizzt and Wulfgar starting breakfast while Bruenor and Regis examined the map they had obtained in Luskan.For all of his grumbling and teasing about the halfling, Bruenor had pressured him to come along for a very definite reason, aside from their friendship, and though the dwarf had masked his emotions well, he was truly overjoyed when Regis had come up huffing and puffing on the road out of Ten-Towns in a last-minute plea to join the quest.Regis knew the land south of the Spine of the World better than any of them.Bruenor himself hadn‟t been out of Icewind Dale in nearly two centuries, and then he had been just an unbearded dwarf-child.Wulfgar had never left the dale, and Drizzt‟s only trek across the world‟s surface had Page 32been a nighttime adventure, skipping from shadow to shadow and avoiding many of the places the companions would need to search out, if they were ever to find Mithril Hall.Regis ran his fingers across the map, excitedly recalling to Bruenor his experiences in each of the places listed, particularly Mirabar, the mining city of great wealth to the north, and Waterdeep, true to its name as the City of Splendors, down the coast to the south.Bruenor slipped his finger across the map, studying the physical features of the terrain.“Mirabar‟d be more to me liking,” he said at length, tapping the mark of the city tucked within the southern slopes of the Spine of the World.“Mithril Hall‟s in mountains, that much I know, and not aside the sea.”Regis considered the dwarf‟s observations for just a moment, then plunked his finger down on yet another spot, by the scale of the map a hundred miles and more inland from Luskan.“Longsaddle,” he said.“Halfway to Silverymoon, and halfway between Mirabar and Waterdeep.A good place to search out our course.”“A city?” Bruenor asked, for the mark on the map was no more than a small black dot.“A village,” Regis corrected.“There are not many people there, but a family of wizards, the Harpells, have lived there for many years and know the northland as well as any.They would be happy to help us.”Bruenor scratched his chin and nodded.“A fair hike.What might we be seeing along the way?”“The crags,” Regis admitted, a bit disheartened as he remembered the place.“Wild and orc-filled.I wish we had another road, but Longsaddle still seems the best choice.”“All roads in the north hold danger,” Bruenor reminded him.They continued their scrutiny of the map, Regis recalling more and more as they went.A series of unusual and unidentified markings–three in particular, running in an almost straight line due east of Luskan to the river network south of Lurkwood–caught Bruenor‟s eye.“Ancestral mounds,” Regis explained.“Holy places of the Uthgardt.”“Uthgardt?”“Barbarians,” answered Regis grimly.“Like those in the dale.More wise to the ways of civilization, perhaps, but no less fierce.Their separate tribes are all about the northland, wandering the wilds.Bruenor groaned in understanding of the halfling‟s dismay, all too familiar himself with the savage ways and fighting prowess of barbarians.Orcs would prove much less formidable foes.By the time the two had finished their discussion, Drizzt was stretching out in the cool shade of a tree overhanging the river and Wulfgar was halfway through his third helping of breakfast.“Yer jaw still dances for food, I see!” Bruenor called as he noted the meager portions left on the skillet.“A night filled with adventure,” Wulfgar replied gaily, and his friends were glad to observe that the brawl had apparently left no scars upon his attitude.“A fine meal and a fine sleep, and I shall be ready for the road once more!”“Well don‟t ye get too comfortable yet!” Bruenor ordered.
|
[
32,
1278,
10957,
45871,
465,
4151,
11,
257,
9254,
286,
262,
3135,
7596,
23857,
2890,
326,
262,
7685,
8472,
24603,
8365,
8359,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
4367,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4320,
88,
19634,
290,
1807,
286,
262,
12513,
326,
339,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
3377,
319,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
1012,
14107,
11,
511,
2041,
3249,
1295,
11,
736,
287,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
19272,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
250,
23307,
1178,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4987,
13,
3152,
257,
16542,
19680,
11,
484,
900,
284,
670,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
3599,
12607,
981,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
11068,
262,
3975,
484,
550,
6492,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1890,
477,
286,
465,
1036,
14739,
290,
34417,
546,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
32098,
683,
284,
1282,
1863,
329,
257,
845,
21892,
1738,
11,
7263,
422,
511,
14738,
11,
290,
996,
262,
24603,
550,
29229,
465,
10825,
880,
11,
339,
373,
4988,
625,
2633,
276,
618,
3310,
271,
550,
1282,
510,
289,
1648,
278,
290,
33679,
278,
319,
262,
2975,
503,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
257,
938,
12,
11374,
16720,
284,
4654,
262,
1235,
13,
8081,
271,
2993,
262,
1956,
5366,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
1365,
621,
597,
286,
606,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2241,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
587,
503,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
287,
3016,
734,
10675,
11,
290,
788,
339,
550,
587,
655,
281,
555,
1350,
10676,
24603,
12,
9410,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
550,
1239,
1364,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
691,
30784,
1973,
262,
995,
447,
253,
82,
4417,
550,
7873,
3933,
47436,
257,
45324,
8855,
11,
31017,
422,
9082,
284,
9082,
290,
14928,
867,
286,
262,
4113,
262,
19429,
561,
761,
284,
2989,
503,
11,
611,
484,
547,
1683,
284,
1064,
44137,
22379,
4789,
13,
8081,
271,
4966,
465,
9353,
1973,
262,
3975,
11,
6568,
306,
38203,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
465,
6461,
287,
1123,
286,
262,
4113,
5610,
11,
3573,
7381,
397,
283,
11,
262,
9691,
1748,
286,
1049,
5129,
284,
262,
5093,
11,
290,
5638,
22089,
11,
2081,
284,
663,
1438,
355,
262,
2254,
286,
13341,
437,
669,
11,
866,
262,
7051,
284,
262,
5366,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
18859,
465,
7660,
1973,
262,
3975,
11,
11065,
262,
3518,
3033,
286,
262,
15510,
13,
447,
250,
27453,
397,
283,
447,
253,
67,
307,
517,
284,
502,
24976,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
379,
4129,
11,
24435,
262,
1317,
286,
262,
1748,
29779,
1626,
262,
8372,
35082,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
13,
447,
250,
44,
342,
22379,
4789,
447,
253,
82,
287,
12269,
11,
326,
881,
314,
760,
11,
290,
407,
7263,
262,
5417,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3177,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
13050,
329,
655,
257,
2589,
11,
788,
458,
2954,
276,
465,
7660,
866,
319,
1865,
1194,
4136,
11,
416,
262,
5046,
286,
262,
3975,
257,
3470,
4608,
290,
517,
37874,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
1278,
10957,
45871,
465,
4151,
11,
257,
9254,
286,
262,
3135,
7596,
23857,
2890,
326,
262,
7685,
8472,
24603,
8365,
8359,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
4367,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4320,
88,
19634,
290,
1807,
286,
262,
12513,
326,
339,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
3377,
319,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
1012,
14107,
11,
511,
2041,
3249,
1295,
11,
736,
287,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
19272,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
250,
23307,
1178,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4987,
13,
3152,
257,
16542,
19680,
11,
484,
900,
284,
670,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
3599,
12607,
981,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
11068,
262,
3975,
484,
550,
6492,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1890,
477,
286,
465,
1036,
14739,
290,
34417,
546,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
32098,
683,
284,
1282,
1863,
329,
257,
845,
21892,
1738,
11,
7263,
422,
511,
14738,
11,
290,
996,
262,
24603,
550,
29229,
465,
10825,
880,
11,
339,
373,
4988,
625,
2633,
276,
618,
3310,
271,
550,
1282,
510,
289,
1648,
278,
290,
33679,
278,
319,
262,
2975,
503,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
287,
257,
938,
12,
11374,
16720,
284,
4654,
262,
1235,
13,
8081,
271,
2993,
262,
1956,
5366,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
1365,
621,
597,
286,
606,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2241,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
587,
503,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
287,
3016,
734,
10675,
11,
290,
788,
339,
550,
587,
655,
281,
555,
1350,
10676,
24603,
12,
9410,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
550,
1239,
1364,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
691,
30784,
1973,
262,
995,
447,
253,
82,
4417,
550,
7873,
3933,
47436,
257,
45324,
8855,
11,
31017,
422,
9082,
284,
9082,
290,
14928,
867,
286,
262,
4113,
262,
19429,
561,
761,
284,
2989,
503,
11,
611,
484,
547,
1683,
284,
1064,
44137,
22379,
4789,
13,
8081,
271,
4966,
465,
9353,
1973,
262,
3975,
11,
6568,
306,
38203,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
465,
6461,
287,
1123,
286,
262,
4113,
5610,
11,
3573,
7381,
397,
283,
11,
262,
9691,
1748,
286,
1049,
5129,
284,
262,
5093,
11,
290,
5638,
22089,
11,
2081,
284,
663,
1438,
355,
262,
2254,
286,
13341,
437,
669,
11,
866,
262,
7051,
284,
262,
5366,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
18859,
465,
7660,
1973,
262,
3975,
11,
11065,
262,
3518,
3033,
286,
262,
15510,
13,
447,
250,
27453,
397,
283,
447,
253,
67,
307,
517,
284,
502,
24976,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
379,
4129,
11,
24435,
262,
1317,
286,
262,
1748,
29779,
1626,
262,
8372,
35082,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
13,
447,
250,
44,
342,
22379,
4789,
447,
253,
82,
287,
12269,
11,
326,
881,
314,
760,
11,
290,
407,
7263,
262,
5417,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3177,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
13050,
329,
655,
257,
2589,
11,
788,
458,
2954,
276,
465,
7660,
866,
319,
1865,
1194,
4136,
11,
416,
262,
5046,
286,
262,
3975,
257,
3470,
4608,
290,
517,
37874,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447
] |
dnd546
|
“Ye‟ve a third of a watch to keep this day!”Regis looked about, perplexed, always quick to recognize an increase in his workload.“A third?” he asked.“Why not a fourth?”“The elf‟s eyes are for the night,” Bruenor explained.“Let him be ready to find our way when the day‟s flown.”“And where is our way?” Drizzt asked from his mossy bed.“Have you come to a decision for our next destination?”“Longsaddle,” Regis replied.“Two hundred miles east and south, around Neverwinter Wood and across the crags.”“The name is unknown to me,” Drizzt replied.“Home of the Harpells,” Regis explained.“A family of wizards renowned for their good-natured hospitality.I spent some time there on my way to Ten-Towns.”Page 33Wulfgar balked at the idea.The barbarians of Icewind Dale despised wizards, considering the black arts a power employed only by cowards.“I have no desire to view this place,” he stated flatly.“Who asked ye?” growled Bruenor, and Wulfgar found himself backing down from his resolve, like a son refusing to hold a stubborn argument in the face of a scolding by his father.“You will enjoy Longsaddle,” Regis assured him.“The Harpells have truly earned their hospitable reputation, and the wonders of Longsaddle will show you a side of magic you never expected.They will even accept…” He found his hand involuntarily pointing to Drizzt, and he cut short the statement in embarrassment.But the stoic drow just smiled.“Fear not, my friend,” he consoled Regis.“Your words ring of truth, and I have come to accept my station in your world.” He paused and looked individually into each uncomfortable stare that was upon him.“I know my friends, and I dismiss my enemies,” he stated with a finality that dismissed their worries.“With a blade, ye do,” Bruenor added with a soft chuckle, though Drizzt‟s keen ears caught the whisper.“If I must,” the drow agreed, smiling.Then he rolled over to get some sleep, fully trusting in his friends‟ abilities to keep him safe.They passed a lazy day in the shade beside the river.Late in the afternoon, Drizzt and Bruenor ate a meal and discussed their course, leaving Wulfgar and Regis soundly asleep, at least until they had eaten their own fill.“We‟ll stay with the river for a night more,” Brueror said.“Then southeast across the open ground.That‟d clear us of the wood and lay open a straight path „fore us.”“Perhaps it would be better if we traveled only by night for a few days,” Drizzt suggested.“We know not what eyes follow us out of the City of Sails.”“Agreed,” replied Bruenor.“Let‟s be off, then.
|
“Ye‟ve a third of a watch to keep this day!”Regis looked about, perplexed, always quick to recognize an increase in his workload.“A third?” he asked.“Why not a fourth?”“The elf‟s eyes are for the night,” Bruenor explained.“Let him be ready to find our way when the day‟s flown.”“And where is our way?” Drizzt asked from his mossy bed.“Have you come to a decision for our next destination?”“Longsaddle,” Regis replied.“Two hundred miles east and south, around Neverwinter Wood and across the crags.”“The name is unknown to me,” Drizzt replied.“Home of the Harpells,” Regis explained.“A family of wizards renowned for their good-natured hospitality.I spent some time there on my way to Ten-Towns.”Page 33Wulfgar balked at the idea.The barbarians of Icewind Dale despised wizards, considering the black arts a power employed only by cowards.“I have no desire to view this place,” he stated flatly.“Who asked ye?” growled Bruenor, and Wulfgar found himself backing down from his resolve, like a son refusing to hold a stubborn argument in the face of a scolding by his father.“You will enjoy Longsaddle,” Regis assured him.“The Harpells have truly earned their hospitable reputation, and the wonders of Longsaddle will show you a side of magic you never expected.They will even accept…” He found his hand involuntarily pointing to Drizzt, and he cut short the statement in embarrassment.But the stoic drow just smiled.“Fear not, my friend,” he consoled Regis.“Your words ring of truth, and I have come to accept my station in your world.” He paused and looked individually into each uncomfortable stare that was upon him.“I know my friends, and I dismiss my enemies,” he stated with a finality that dismissed their worries.“With a blade, ye do,” Bruenor added with a soft chuckle, though Drizzt‟s keen ears caught the whisper.“If I must,” the drow agreed, smiling.Then he rolled over to get some sleep, fully trusting in his friends‟ abilities to keep him safe.They passed a lazy day in the shade beside the river.Late in the afternoon, Drizzt and Bruenor ate a meal and discussed their course, leaving Wulfgar and Regis soundly asleep, at least until they had eaten their own fill.“We‟ll stay with the river for a night more,” Brueror said.“Then southeast across the open ground.That‟d clear us of the wood and lay open a straight path „fore us.”“Perhaps it would be better if we traveled only by night for a few days,” Drizzt suggested.“We know not what eyes follow us out of the City of Sails.”“Agreed,” replied Bruenor.“Let‟s be off, then.
|
[
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
257,
2368,
286,
257,
2342,
284,
1394,
428,
1110,
0,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3114,
546,
11,
35682,
276,
11,
1464,
2068,
284,
7564,
281,
2620,
287,
465,
26211,
13,
447,
250,
32,
2368,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
5195,
407,
257,
5544,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
23878,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
389,
329,
262,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
683,
307,
3492,
284,
1064,
674,
835,
618,
262,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
22371,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
810,
318,
674,
835,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
422,
465,
42853,
88,
3996,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
1282,
284,
257,
2551,
329,
674,
1306,
10965,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
14617,
82,
37382,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
7571,
3470,
4608,
7627,
290,
5366,
11,
1088,
7236,
40078,
5326,
290,
1973,
262,
1067,
3775,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
1438,
318,
6439,
284,
502,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
16060,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1641,
286,
34836,
22140,
329,
511,
922,
12,
32353,
1522,
33362,
13,
40,
3377,
617,
640,
612,
319,
616,
835,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
4747,
54,
4754,
4563,
48776,
276,
379,
262,
2126,
13,
464,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
44990,
34836,
11,
6402,
262,
2042,
10848,
257,
1176,
9322,
691,
416,
9875,
1371,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
6227,
284,
1570,
428,
1295,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5081,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
1965,
9838,
30,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
1043,
2241,
12285,
866,
422,
465,
10568,
11,
588,
257,
3367,
15487,
284,
1745,
257,
24444,
4578,
287,
262,
1986,
286,
257,
629,
33266,
416,
465,
2988,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
481,
2883,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
13933,
683,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
423,
4988,
7366,
511,
10496,
4674,
8507,
11,
290,
262,
19294,
286,
5882,
82,
37382,
481,
905,
345,
257,
1735,
286,
5536,
345,
1239,
2938,
13,
2990,
481,
772,
2453,
1399,
447,
251,
679,
1043,
465,
1021,
1876,
49605,
10609,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
339,
2005,
1790,
262,
2643,
287,
24655,
13,
1537,
262,
3995,
291,
288,
808,
655,
13541,
13,
447,
250,
37798,
407,
11,
616,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
339,
762,
45342,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
2456,
5858,
286,
3872,
11,
290,
314,
423,
1282,
284,
2453,
616,
4429,
287,
534,
995,
13,
447,
251,
679,
24487,
290,
3114,
17033,
656,
1123,
12916,
24170,
326,
373,
2402,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
760,
616,
2460,
11,
290,
314,
6735,
616,
5775,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5081,
351,
257,
957,
1483,
326,
11126,
511,
18572,
13,
447,
250,
3152,
257,
11865,
11,
9838,
466,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2087,
351,
257,
2705,
43355,
11,
996,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
257,
2368,
286,
257,
2342,
284,
1394,
428,
1110,
0,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3114,
546,
11,
35682,
276,
11,
1464,
2068,
284,
7564,
281,
2620,
287,
465,
26211,
13,
447,
250,
32,
2368,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
5195,
407,
257,
5544,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
23878,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
389,
329,
262,
1755,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
683,
307,
3492,
284,
1064,
674,
835,
618,
262,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
22371,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
810,
318,
674,
835,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
422,
465,
42853,
88,
3996,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
1282,
284,
257,
2551,
329,
674,
1306,
10965,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
14617,
82,
37382,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
7571,
3470,
4608,
7627,
290,
5366,
11,
1088,
7236,
40078,
5326,
290,
1973,
262,
1067,
3775,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
1438,
318,
6439,
284,
502,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
16060,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
32,
1641,
286,
34836,
22140,
329,
511,
922,
12,
32353,
1522,
33362,
13,
40,
3377,
617,
640,
612,
319,
616,
835,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
4747,
54,
4754,
4563,
48776,
276,
379,
262,
2126,
13,
464,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
44990,
34836,
11,
6402,
262,
2042,
10848,
257,
1176,
9322,
691,
416,
9875,
1371,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
645,
6227,
284,
1570,
428,
1295,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5081,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
1965,
9838,
30,
447,
251,
1663,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
1043,
2241,
12285,
866,
422,
465,
10568,
11,
588,
257,
3367,
15487,
284,
1745,
257,
24444,
4578,
287,
262,
1986,
286,
257,
629,
33266,
416,
465,
2988,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
481,
2883,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
13933,
683,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
423,
4988,
7366,
511,
10496,
4674,
8507,
11,
290,
262,
19294,
286,
5882,
82,
37382,
481,
905,
345,
257,
1735,
286,
5536,
345,
1239,
2938,
13,
2990,
481,
772,
2453,
1399,
447,
251,
679,
1043,
465,
1021,
1876,
49605,
10609,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
339,
2005,
1790,
262,
2643,
287,
24655,
13,
1537,
262,
3995,
291,
288,
808,
655,
13541,
13,
447,
250,
37798,
407,
11,
616,
1545,
11,
447,
251,
339,
762,
45342,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
2456,
5858,
286,
3872,
11,
290,
314,
423,
1282,
284,
2453,
616,
4429,
287,
534,
995,
13,
447,
251,
679,
24487,
290,
3114,
17033,
656,
1123,
12916,
24170,
326,
373,
2402,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
760,
616,
2460,
11,
290,
314,
6735,
616,
5775,
11,
447,
251,
339,
5081,
351,
257,
957,
1483,
326,
11126,
511,
18572,
13,
447,
250,
3152,
257,
11865,
11,
9838,
466,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2087,
351,
257,
2705,
43355,
11,
996,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82
] |
dnd547
|
A long road before us, and a longer one after that!”“Too long,” murmured Regis, opening a lazy eye.Bruenor shot him a dangerous glare.He was nervous about this trek and about bringing his friends on a dangerous road, and in an emotional defense, he took all complaints about the adventure personally.“To walk, I mean,” Regis quickly explained.“There are farmhouses in this area, so there must be some horses about.”“Horses‟d bring too a high price in these parts,” replied Bruenor.“Maybe…” said the halfling slyly, and his friends could easily guess what he was thinking.Their frowns reflected a general disapproval.“The crags stand before us!” Regis argued.“Horses might outrun orcs, but without them, we shall surely fight for every mile of our hike!Besides, it would only be a loan.We could return the beasts when we were through with them.”Drizzt and Bruenor did not approve of the halfling‟s proposed trickery, but could not refute his logic.Horses would certainly aid them at this point of the journey.“Wake the boy,” Bruenor growled.“And about my plan?” asked Regis.“We‟ll make the choice when we find the opportunity!”Regis was contented, confident that his friends would opt for the horses.He ate his fill, then scraped together the supper‟s meager remnants and went to wake Wulfgar.* * *They were on the trail again soon after, and a short time after that, they saw the lights of a small settlement in the distance.“Take us there,” Bruenor told Drizzt.“Mighten be that Rumblebelly‟s plan‟s worth a try.”Wulfgar, having missed the conversation at the camp, didn‟t understand, but offered no Page 34argument, or even questioned the dwarf.After the disaster at the Cutlass, he had resigned himself to a more passive role on the trip, letting the other three decide which trails they were to take.He would follow without complaint, keeping his hammer ready for when it became needed.They moved inland away from the river for a few miles, then came upon several farms clustered together inside a stout wooden fence.“There are dogs about,” Drizzt noted, sensing them with his exceptional hearing.“Then Rumblebelly goes in alone,” said Bruenor.Wulfgar‟s face twisted in confusion, especially since the halfling‟s look indicated that he wasn‟t thrilled with the idea.“That I cannot allow,” the barbarian spouted.“If any among us needs protection, it is the little one.I‟ll not hide here in the dark while he walks alone into danger!”“He goes in alone,” Bruenor said again.“We‟re here for no fight, boy.Rumblebelly‟s to get us some horses.”Regis smiled helplessly, caught fully in the trap that Bruenor had clearly set for him.Bruenor would allow him to appropriate the horses, as Regis had insisted, but with the grudging permission came a measure of responsibility and bravery on his part.It was the dwarf‟s way, of absolving himself of involvement in the trickery.Wulfgar remained steadfast in his determination to stand by the halfling, but Regis knew that the young warrior might inadvertently cause him problems in such delicate negotiations.“You stay with the others,” he explained to the barbarian.
|
A long road before us, and a longer one after that!”“Too long,” murmured Regis, opening a lazy eye.Bruenor shot him a dangerous glare.He was nervous about this trek and about bringing his friends on a dangerous road, and in an emotional defense, he took all complaints about the adventure personally.“To walk, I mean,” Regis quickly explained.“There are farmhouses in this area, so there must be some horses about.”“Horses‟d bring too a high price in these parts,” replied Bruenor.“Maybe…” said the halfling slyly, and his friends could easily guess what he was thinking.Their frowns reflected a general disapproval.“The crags stand before us!” Regis argued.“Horses might outrun orcs, but without them, we shall surely fight for every mile of our hike!Besides, it would only be a loan.We could return the beasts when we were through with them.”Drizzt and Bruenor did not approve of the halfling‟s proposed trickery, but could not refute his logic.Horses would certainly aid them at this point of the journey.“Wake the boy,” Bruenor growled.“And about my plan?” asked Regis.“We‟ll make the choice when we find the opportunity!”Regis was contented, confident that his friends would opt for the horses.He ate his fill, then scraped together the supper‟s meager remnants and went to wake Wulfgar.* * *They were on the trail again soon after, and a short time after that, they saw the lights of a small settlement in the distance.“Take us there,” Bruenor told Drizzt.“Mighten be that Rumblebelly‟s plan‟s worth a try.”Wulfgar, having missed the conversation at the camp, didn‟t understand, but offered no Page 34argument, or even questioned the dwarf.After the disaster at the Cutlass, he had resigned himself to a more passive role on the trip, letting the other three decide which trails they were to take.He would follow without complaint, keeping his hammer ready for when it became needed.They moved inland away from the river for a few miles, then came upon several farms clustered together inside a stout wooden fence.“There are dogs about,” Drizzt noted, sensing them with his exceptional hearing.“Then Rumblebelly goes in alone,” said Bruenor.Wulfgar‟s face twisted in confusion, especially since the halfling‟s look indicated that he wasn‟t thrilled with the idea.“That I cannot allow,” the barbarian spouted.“If any among us needs protection, it is the little one.I‟ll not hide here in the dark while he walks alone into danger!”“He goes in alone,” Bruenor said again.“We‟re here for no fight, boy.Rumblebelly‟s to get us some horses.”Regis smiled helplessly, caught fully in the trap that Bruenor had clearly set for him.Bruenor would allow him to appropriate the horses, as Regis had insisted, but with the grudging permission came a measure of responsibility and bravery on his part.It was the dwarf‟s way, of absolving himself of involvement in the trickery.Wulfgar remained steadfast in his determination to stand by the halfling, but Regis knew that the young warrior might inadvertently cause him problems in such delicate negotiations.“You stay with the others,” he explained to the barbarian.
|
[
32,
890,
2975,
878,
514,
11,
290,
257,
2392,
530,
706,
326,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
23307,
890,
11,
447,
251,
38023,
1522,
3310,
271,
11,
4756,
257,
16931,
4151,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2823,
683,
257,
4923,
36785,
13,
1544,
373,
10927,
546,
428,
30784,
290,
546,
6079,
465,
2460,
319,
257,
4923,
2975,
11,
290,
287,
281,
7016,
3761,
11,
339,
1718,
477,
9687,
546,
262,
8855,
7620,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
2513,
11,
314,
1612,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2952,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
389,
5318,
20089,
287,
428,
1989,
11,
523,
612,
1276,
307,
617,
14260,
546,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
39,
11836,
447,
253,
67,
2222,
1165,
257,
1029,
2756,
287,
777,
3354,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
13300,
1399,
447,
251,
531,
262,
2063,
1359,
49822,
306,
11,
290,
465,
2460,
714,
3538,
4724,
644,
339,
373,
3612,
13,
14574,
22002,
82,
12548,
257,
2276,
40174,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1067,
3775,
1302,
878,
514,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
7189,
13,
447,
250,
39,
11836,
1244,
503,
5143,
46448,
11,
475,
1231,
606,
11,
356,
2236,
10403,
1907,
329,
790,
10591,
286,
674,
18390,
0,
23937,
11,
340,
561,
691,
307,
257,
8063,
13,
1135,
714,
1441,
262,
21930,
618,
356,
547,
832,
351,
606,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
750,
407,
14762,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
5150,
6908,
1924,
11,
475,
714,
407,
45071,
465,
9156,
13,
39,
11836,
561,
3729,
6133,
606,
379,
428,
966,
286,
262,
7002,
13,
447,
250,
54,
539,
262,
2933,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
546,
616,
1410,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
787,
262,
3572,
618,
356,
1064,
262,
3663,
0,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
373,
2695,
276,
11,
6563,
326,
465,
2460,
561,
2172,
329,
262,
14260,
13,
1544,
15063,
465,
6070,
11,
788,
15881,
276,
1978,
262,
43743,
447,
253,
82,
49853,
30468,
290,
1816,
284,
7765,
370,
4754,
4563,
15885,
1635,
1635,
2990,
547,
319,
262,
8025,
757,
2582,
706,
11,
290,
257,
1790,
640,
706,
326,
11,
484,
2497,
262,
7588,
286,
257,
1402,
9443,
287,
262,
5253,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
514,
612,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1297,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
44,
432,
268,
307,
326,
42888,
65,
6148,
447,
253,
82,
1410,
447,
253,
82,
2861,
257,
1949,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
1719,
6825,
262,
5273,
379,
262,
1413,
11,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1833,
11,
475,
4438,
645,
7873,
4974,
49140,
11,
393,
772,
11434,
262,
24603,
13,
3260,
262,
9336,
379,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
339,
550,
16542,
2241,
284,
257,
517,
14513,
2597,
319,
262,
5296,
11,
9616,
262,
584,
1115,
5409,
543,
19196,
484,
547,
284,
1011,
13,
1544,
561,
1061,
1231,
8224,
11,
5291,
465,
15554,
3492,
329,
618,
340,
2627,
2622,
13,
2990,
3888,
37874,
1497,
422,
262,
7850,
329,
257,
1178,
4608,
11
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
890,
2975,
878,
514,
11,
290,
257,
2392,
530,
706,
326,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
23307,
890,
11,
447,
251,
38023,
1522,
3310,
271,
11,
4756,
257,
16931,
4151,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2823,
683,
257,
4923,
36785,
13,
1544,
373,
10927,
546,
428,
30784,
290,
546,
6079,
465,
2460,
319,
257,
4923,
2975,
11,
290,
287,
281,
7016,
3761,
11,
339,
1718,
477,
9687,
546,
262,
8855,
7620,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
2513,
11,
314,
1612,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2952,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1858,
389,
5318,
20089,
287,
428,
1989,
11,
523,
612,
1276,
307,
617,
14260,
546,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
39,
11836,
447,
253,
67,
2222,
1165,
257,
1029,
2756,
287,
777,
3354,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
13300,
1399,
447,
251,
531,
262,
2063,
1359,
49822,
306,
11,
290,
465,
2460,
714,
3538,
4724,
644,
339,
373,
3612,
13,
14574,
22002,
82,
12548,
257,
2276,
40174,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1067,
3775,
1302,
878,
514,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
7189,
13,
447,
250,
39,
11836,
1244,
503,
5143,
46448,
11,
475,
1231,
606,
11,
356,
2236,
10403,
1907,
329,
790,
10591,
286,
674,
18390,
0,
23937,
11,
340,
561,
691,
307,
257,
8063,
13,
1135,
714,
1441,
262,
21930,
618,
356,
547,
832,
351,
606,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
750,
407,
14762,
286,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
5150,
6908,
1924,
11,
475,
714,
407,
45071,
465,
9156,
13,
39,
11836,
561,
3729,
6133,
606,
379,
428,
966,
286,
262,
7002,
13,
447,
250,
54,
539,
262,
2933,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
546,
616,
1410,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
787,
262,
3572,
618,
356,
1064,
262,
3663,
0,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
373,
2695,
276,
11,
6563,
326,
465,
2460,
561,
2172,
329,
262,
14260,
13,
1544,
15063,
465,
6070,
11,
788,
15881,
276,
1978,
262,
43743,
447,
253,
82,
49853,
30468,
290,
1816,
284,
7765,
370,
4754,
4563,
15885,
1635,
1635,
2990,
547,
319,
262,
8025,
757,
2582,
706,
11,
290,
257,
1790,
640,
706,
326,
11,
484,
2497,
262,
7588,
286,
257,
1402,
9443,
287,
262,
5253,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
514,
612,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1297,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
44,
432,
268,
307,
326,
42888,
65,
6148,
447,
253,
82,
1410,
447,
253,
82,
2861,
257,
1949,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
1719,
6825,
262,
5273,
379,
262,
1413,
11,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1833,
11,
475,
4438,
645,
7873,
4974,
49140,
11,
393,
772,
11434,
262,
24603,
13,
3260,
262,
9336,
379,
262,
9712,
31172,
11,
339,
550,
16542,
2241,
284,
257,
517,
14513,
2597,
319,
262,
5296,
11,
9616,
262,
584,
1115,
5409,
543,
19196,
484,
547,
284,
1011,
13,
1544,
561,
1061,
1231,
8224,
11,
5291,
465,
15554,
3492,
329,
618,
340,
2627,
2622,
13,
2990,
3888,
37874,
1497,
422,
262,
7850,
329,
257,
1178,
4608,
11
] |
dnd548
|
“I can handle this deal alone.”Mustering up his nerve, he pulled his belt over the hang of his belly and strode off toward the small settlement.The threatening snarls of several dogs greeted him as he approached the fence‟s gate.He considered turning back–the ruby pendant probably wouldn‟t do him much good against vicious dogs–but then he saw the silhouette of a man leave one of the farmhouses and start his way.“What do you want?” the farmer demanded, standing defiantly on the other side of the gate and clutching an antique pole arm, probably passed down through his family‟s generations.“I am but a weary traveler,” Regis started to explain, trying to appear as pitiful as he could.It was a tale the farmer had heard far too often.“Go away!” he ordered.“But–”“Get you gone!”Over a ridge some distance away, the three companions watched the confrontation, though only Drizzt viewed the scene in the dim light well enough to understand what was happening.The drow could see the tenseness in the farmer by the way he gripped the halberd, and could judge the deep resolve in the man‟s demands by the unbending scowl upon his face.But then Regis pulled something out from under his jacket, and the farmer relaxed his grip upon the weapon almost immediately.A moment later, the gate swung open and Regis walked in.The friends waited anxiously for several grueling hours with no further sign of Regis.They considered confronting the farmers themselves, worried that some foul treachery had befallen the halfling.Then finally, with the moon well past its peak, Regis emerged from the gate, leading two horses and two ponies.The farmers and their families waved good-bye to him as he left, making him promise to stop and visit if he ever passed their way again.“Amazing,” laughed Drizzt.Bruenor and Wulfgar just shook their heads in disbelief.For the first time since he had entered the settlement, Regis pondered that his delay might have caused his friends some distress.The farmer had insisted that he join in for supper before they sat down to discuss whatever business he had come about, and since Regis had to be polite (and since he had only eaten one supper that day) he agreed, though he kept the meal as short as possible and politely declined, when offered his fourth helping.Getting the horses proved easy enough after that.All he had to do was promise to leave them with the wizards in Longsaddle when he and his friends moved on from there.Regis felt certain that his friends could not stay mad at him for very long.He had kept them waiting and worrying for half the night, but his endeavor would save them many days on a Page 35dangerous road.After an hour or two of feeling the wind rushing past them as they rode, they would forget any anger they held for him, he knew.Even if they didn‟t so easily forgive, a good meal was always worth a little inconvenience to Regis.Drizzt purposely kept the party moving more to the east than the southeast.He found no landmarks on Bruenor‟s map that would let him approximate the straight course to Longsaddle.If he tried the direct route and missed the mark, no matter how slightly, they would come upon the main road from the northern city of Mirabar not knowing whether to turn north or south.By going directly east, the drow was assured that they would hit the road to the north of Longsaddle.His path would add a few miles, but perhaps save them several days of backtracking.Their ride was clear and easy for the next day and night, and after that, Bruenor decided that they were far enough from Luskan to assume a more normal traveling schedule.“We can go by day, now,” he announced early in the afternoon of their second day with the horses.“I prefer the night,” Drizzt said.
|
“I can handle this deal alone.”Mustering up his nerve, he pulled his belt over the hang of his belly and strode off toward the small settlement.The threatening snarls of several dogs greeted him as he approached the fence‟s gate.He considered turning back–the ruby pendant probably wouldn‟t do him much good against vicious dogs–but then he saw the silhouette of a man leave one of the farmhouses and start his way.“What do you want?” the farmer demanded, standing defiantly on the other side of the gate and clutching an antique pole arm, probably passed down through his family‟s generations.“I am but a weary traveler,” Regis started to explain, trying to appear as pitiful as he could.It was a tale the farmer had heard far too often.“Go away!” he ordered.“But–”“Get you gone!”Over a ridge some distance away, the three companions watched the confrontation, though only Drizzt viewed the scene in the dim light well enough to understand what was happening.The drow could see the tenseness in the farmer by the way he gripped the halberd, and could judge the deep resolve in the man‟s demands by the unbending scowl upon his face.But then Regis pulled something out from under his jacket, and the farmer relaxed his grip upon the weapon almost immediately.A moment later, the gate swung open and Regis walked in.The friends waited anxiously for several grueling hours with no further sign of Regis.They considered confronting the farmers themselves, worried that some foul treachery had befallen the halfling.Then finally, with the moon well past its peak, Regis emerged from the gate, leading two horses and two ponies.The farmers and their families waved good-bye to him as he left, making him promise to stop and visit if he ever passed their way again.“Amazing,” laughed Drizzt.Bruenor and Wulfgar just shook their heads in disbelief.For the first time since he had entered the settlement, Regis pondered that his delay might have caused his friends some distress.The farmer had insisted that he join in for supper before they sat down to discuss whatever business he had come about, and since Regis had to be polite (and since he had only eaten one supper that day) he agreed, though he kept the meal as short as possible and politely declined, when offered his fourth helping.Getting the horses proved easy enough after that.All he had to do was promise to leave them with the wizards in Longsaddle when he and his friends moved on from there.Regis felt certain that his friends could not stay mad at him for very long.He had kept them waiting and worrying for half the night, but his endeavor would save them many days on a Page 35dangerous road.After an hour or two of feeling the wind rushing past them as they rode, they would forget any anger they held for him, he knew.Even if they didn‟t so easily forgive, a good meal was always worth a little inconvenience to Regis.Drizzt purposely kept the party moving more to the east than the southeast.He found no landmarks on Bruenor‟s map that would let him approximate the straight course to Longsaddle.If he tried the direct route and missed the mark, no matter how slightly, they would come upon the main road from the northern city of Mirabar not knowing whether to turn north or south.By going directly east, the drow was assured that they would hit the road to the north of Longsaddle.His path would add a few miles, but perhaps save them several days of backtracking.Their ride was clear and easy for the next day and night, and after that, Bruenor decided that they were far enough from Luskan to assume a more normal traveling schedule.“We can go by day, now,” he announced early in the afternoon of their second day with the horses.“I prefer the night,” Drizzt said.
|
[
447,
250,
40,
460,
5412,
428,
1730,
3436,
13,
447,
251,
34320,
1586,
510,
465,
16384,
11,
339,
5954,
465,
10999,
625,
262,
8181,
286,
465,
19921,
290,
9660,
2934,
572,
3812,
262,
1402,
9443,
13,
464,
11123,
3013,
7063,
82,
286,
1811,
6844,
21272,
683,
355,
339,
10448,
262,
13990,
447,
253,
82,
8946,
13,
1544,
3177,
6225,
736,
1906,
1169,
43506,
279,
23048,
2192,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
466,
683,
881,
922,
1028,
17686,
6844,
1906,
4360,
788,
339,
2497,
262,
41834,
286,
257,
582,
2666,
530,
286,
262,
5318,
20089,
290,
923,
465,
835,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
345,
765,
30,
447,
251,
262,
18739,
12284,
11,
5055,
36219,
306,
319,
262,
584,
1735,
286,
262,
8946,
290,
48281,
281,
38504,
16825,
3211,
11,
2192,
3804,
866,
832,
465,
1641,
447,
253,
82,
10439,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
475,
257,
34730,
40168,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2067,
284,
4727,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
355,
6028,
4135,
355,
339,
714,
13,
1026,
373,
257,
12838,
262,
18739,
550,
2982,
1290,
1165,
1690,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
339,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3855,
345,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
5886,
257,
32525,
617,
5253,
1497,
11,
262,
1115,
19429,
7342,
262,
19207,
11,
996,
691,
5809,
3019,
83,
9569,
262,
3715,
287,
262,
5391,
1657,
880,
1576,
284,
1833,
644,
373,
5836,
13,
464,
288,
808,
714,
766,
262,
11192,
9449,
287,
262,
18739,
416,
262,
835,
339,
42046,
262,
10284,
527,
67,
11,
290,
714,
5052,
262,
2769,
10568,
287,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
8665,
416,
262,
22619,
1571,
629,
4883,
2402,
465,
1986,
13,
1537,
788,
3310,
271,
5954,
1223,
503,
422,
739,
465,
15224,
11,
290,
262,
18739,
18397,
465,
11762,
2402,
262,
4282,
2048,
3393,
13,
32,
2589,
1568,
11,
262,
8946,
28507,
1280,
290,
3310,
271,
6807,
287,
13,
464,
2460,
13488,
7296,
6819,
329,
1811,
22848,
10809,
2250,
351,
645,
2252,
1051,
286,
3310,
271,
13,
2990,
3177,
31291,
262,
9818,
2405,
11,
7960,
326,
617,
15626,
32550,
88,
550,
307,
7207,
268,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
6423,
3443,
11,
351,
262,
8824,
880,
1613,
663,
9103,
11,
3310,
271,
9349,
422,
262,
8946,
11,
3756,
734,
14260,
290,
734,
46370,
13,
464,
9818,
290,
511,
4172,
26834,
922,
12,
16390,
284,
683,
355,
339,
1364,
11,
1642,
683,
6991,
284,
2245,
290,
3187,
611,
339,
1683,
3804,
511,
835,
757,
13,
447,
250,
42770,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
655,
14682,
511,
6665,
287,
29894,
13,
1890,
262,
717,
640,
1201,
339,
550,
5982,
262,
9443,
11,
3310,
271,
16723,
1068,
326,
465,
5711,
1244,
423,
4073,
465,
2460,
617,
17087,
13,
464,
18739,
550,
11189,
326,
339,
4654,
287,
329,
43743,
878,
484,
3332,
866,
284,
2112,
4232,
1597,
339,
550,
1282,
546,
11,
290,
1201,
3310,
271,
550,
284,
307,
23507,
357,
392,
1201,
339,
550,
691,
17065,
530,
43743,
326,
1110,
8,
339,
4987,
11,
996,
339
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
40,
460,
5412,
428,
1730,
3436,
13,
447,
251,
34320,
1586,
510,
465,
16384,
11,
339,
5954,
465,
10999,
625,
262,
8181,
286,
465,
19921,
290,
9660,
2934,
572,
3812,
262,
1402,
9443,
13,
464,
11123,
3013,
7063,
82,
286,
1811,
6844,
21272,
683,
355,
339,
10448,
262,
13990,
447,
253,
82,
8946,
13,
1544,
3177,
6225,
736,
1906,
1169,
43506,
279,
23048,
2192,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
466,
683,
881,
922,
1028,
17686,
6844,
1906,
4360,
788,
339,
2497,
262,
41834,
286,
257,
582,
2666,
530,
286,
262,
5318,
20089,
290,
923,
465,
835,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
345,
765,
30,
447,
251,
262,
18739,
12284,
11,
5055,
36219,
306,
319,
262,
584,
1735,
286,
262,
8946,
290,
48281,
281,
38504,
16825,
3211,
11,
2192,
3804,
866,
832,
465,
1641,
447,
253,
82,
10439,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
475,
257,
34730,
40168,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
2067,
284,
4727,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
355,
6028,
4135,
355,
339,
714,
13,
1026,
373,
257,
12838,
262,
18739,
550,
2982,
1290,
1165,
1690,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
339,
6149,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3855,
345,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
5886,
257,
32525,
617,
5253,
1497,
11,
262,
1115,
19429,
7342,
262,
19207,
11,
996,
691,
5809,
3019,
83,
9569,
262,
3715,
287,
262,
5391,
1657,
880,
1576,
284,
1833,
644,
373,
5836,
13,
464,
288,
808,
714,
766,
262,
11192,
9449,
287,
262,
18739,
416,
262,
835,
339,
42046,
262,
10284,
527,
67,
11,
290,
714,
5052,
262,
2769,
10568,
287,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
8665,
416,
262,
22619,
1571,
629,
4883,
2402,
465,
1986,
13,
1537,
788,
3310,
271,
5954,
1223,
503,
422,
739,
465,
15224,
11,
290,
262,
18739,
18397,
465,
11762,
2402,
262,
4282,
2048,
3393,
13,
32,
2589,
1568,
11,
262,
8946,
28507,
1280,
290,
3310,
271,
6807,
287,
13,
464,
2460,
13488,
7296,
6819,
329,
1811,
22848,
10809,
2250,
351,
645,
2252,
1051,
286,
3310,
271,
13,
2990,
3177,
31291,
262,
9818,
2405,
11,
7960,
326,
617,
15626,
32550,
88,
550,
307,
7207,
268,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
6423,
3443,
11,
351,
262,
8824,
880,
1613,
663,
9103,
11,
3310,
271,
9349,
422,
262,
8946,
11,
3756,
734,
14260,
290,
734,
46370,
13,
464,
9818,
290,
511,
4172,
26834,
922,
12,
16390,
284,
683,
355,
339,
1364,
11,
1642,
683,
6991,
284,
2245,
290,
3187,
611,
339,
1683,
3804,
511,
835,
757,
13,
447,
250,
42770,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
655,
14682,
511,
6665,
287,
29894,
13,
1890,
262,
717,
640,
1201,
339,
550,
5982,
262,
9443,
11,
3310,
271,
16723,
1068,
326,
465,
5711,
1244,
423,
4073,
465,
2460,
617,
17087,
13,
464,
18739,
550,
11189,
326,
339,
4654,
287,
329,
43743,
878,
484,
3332,
866,
284,
2112,
4232,
1597,
339,
550,
1282,
546,
11,
290,
1201,
3310,
271,
550,
284,
307,
23507,
357,
392,
1201,
339,
550,
691,
17065,
530,
43743,
326,
1110,
8,
339,
4987,
11,
996,
339
] |
dnd549
|
He had just awakened and was brushing down his slender, well-muscled black stallion.“Not me,” argued Regis.“Nights are for sleeping, and the horses are all but blind to holes and rocks that could lame them up.”“The best for both then,” offered Wulfgar, stretching the last sleep out of his bones.“We can leave after the sun peaks, keeping it behind us for Drizzt, and ride long into the night.”“Good thinking, lad,” laughed Bruenor.“Seems to be afternoon now, in fact.On the horses, then!Time‟s for going!”“You might have held your thoughts to yourself until after supper!” Regis grumbled at Wulfgar, reluctantly hoisting the saddle onto the back of the little white pony.Wulfgar moved to help his struggling friend.“But we would have lost half a day‟s ride,” he replied.“A pity that would have been,” Regis retorted.* * *That day, the fourth since they had left Luskan, the companions came upon the crags, a narrow stretch of broken mounds and rolling hills.A rough, untamed beauty defined the place, an overpowering sense of wilderness that gave every traveler here a feeling of conquest, that he might be the first to gaze upon any particular spot.And, as was always the case in the wilds, with the adventurous excitement came a degree of danger.They had barely entered the first dell in the up-and-down terrain when Drizzt spotted tracks that he knew well: the trampling march of an orc band.“Less than a day old,” he told his concerned companions.“How many?” asked Bruenor.Drizzt shrugged.“A dozen at least, maybe twice that number.”“We‟ll keep to our path,” the dwarf suggested.“They‟re in front of us, and that‟s better‟n behind.”When sunset came, marking the halfway point of that day‟s journey, the companions took a short break, letting the horses graze in a small meadow.The orc trail was still before them, but Wulfgar, taking up the rear of the troupe had his sights trained behind.“We are being followed,” he said to his friends‟ inquiring faces.“Orcs?” Regis asked.The barbarian shook his head.“None like I have ever seen.By my reckoning, our pursuit is cunning and cautious.”“Might be that the orcs here are more wise to the ways of goodly folk than be the orcs of the dale,” said Bruenor, but he suspected something other than orcs, and he didn‟t have to look at Regis to know that the halfling shared his concerns.The first map marking that Regis had identified as an Page 36ancestral mound could not be far from their present position.“Back to the horses,” Drizzt suggested.“A hard ride might do much to improve our position.”“Go till after moonset,” Bruenor agreed.“And stop when ye‟ve found a place we can hold against attack.I‟ve a feeling we‟re to see some fighting „fore the dawn finds us!”They encountered no tangible signs during the ride, which took them nearly across the span of the crags.Even the orc trail faded off to the north, leaving the path before them apparently clear.Wulfgar was certain, though, that he caught several sounds behind them, and movements along the periphery of his vision.Drizzt would have liked to continue until the crags were fully behind them, but in the harsh terrain, the horses had reached the limit of their endurance.
|
He had just awakened and was brushing down his slender, well-muscled black stallion.“Not me,” argued Regis.“Nights are for sleeping, and the horses are all but blind to holes and rocks that could lame them up.”“The best for both then,” offered Wulfgar, stretching the last sleep out of his bones.“We can leave after the sun peaks, keeping it behind us for Drizzt, and ride long into the night.”“Good thinking, lad,” laughed Bruenor.“Seems to be afternoon now, in fact.On the horses, then!Time‟s for going!”“You might have held your thoughts to yourself until after supper!” Regis grumbled at Wulfgar, reluctantly hoisting the saddle onto the back of the little white pony.Wulfgar moved to help his struggling friend.“But we would have lost half a day‟s ride,” he replied.“A pity that would have been,” Regis retorted.* * *That day, the fourth since they had left Luskan, the companions came upon the crags, a narrow stretch of broken mounds and rolling hills.A rough, untamed beauty defined the place, an overpowering sense of wilderness that gave every traveler here a feeling of conquest, that he might be the first to gaze upon any particular spot.And, as was always the case in the wilds, with the adventurous excitement came a degree of danger.They had barely entered the first dell in the up-and-down terrain when Drizzt spotted tracks that he knew well: the trampling march of an orc band.“Less than a day old,” he told his concerned companions.“How many?” asked Bruenor.Drizzt shrugged.“A dozen at least, maybe twice that number.”“We‟ll keep to our path,” the dwarf suggested.“They‟re in front of us, and that‟s better‟n behind.”When sunset came, marking the halfway point of that day‟s journey, the companions took a short break, letting the horses graze in a small meadow.The orc trail was still before them, but Wulfgar, taking up the rear of the troupe had his sights trained behind.“We are being followed,” he said to his friends‟ inquiring faces.“Orcs?” Regis asked.The barbarian shook his head.“None like I have ever seen.By my reckoning, our pursuit is cunning and cautious.”“Might be that the orcs here are more wise to the ways of goodly folk than be the orcs of the dale,” said Bruenor, but he suspected something other than orcs, and he didn‟t have to look at Regis to know that the halfling shared his concerns.The first map marking that Regis had identified as an Page 36ancestral mound could not be far from their present position.“Back to the horses,” Drizzt suggested.“A hard ride might do much to improve our position.”“Go till after moonset,” Bruenor agreed.“And stop when ye‟ve found a place we can hold against attack.I‟ve a feeling we‟re to see some fighting „fore the dawn finds us!”They encountered no tangible signs during the ride, which took them nearly across the span of the crags.Even the orc trail faded off to the north, leaving the path before them apparently clear.Wulfgar was certain, though, that he caught several sounds behind them, and movements along the periphery of his vision.Drizzt would have liked to continue until the crags were fully behind them, but in the harsh terrain, the horses had reached the limit of their endurance.
|
[
1544,
550,
655,
39217,
290,
373,
42798,
866,
465,
36808,
11,
880,
12,
14664,
20095,
2042,
22549,
295,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
502,
11,
447,
251,
7189,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
45,
2337,
389,
329,
11029,
11,
290,
262,
14260,
389,
477,
475,
7770,
284,
10421,
290,
12586,
326,
714,
30248,
606,
510,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
1266,
329,
1111,
788,
11,
447,
251,
4438,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
20880,
262,
938,
3993,
503,
286,
465,
11945,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
460,
2666,
706,
262,
4252,
25740,
11,
5291,
340,
2157,
514,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
6594,
890,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10248,
3612,
11,
9717,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
284,
307,
6672,
783,
11,
287,
1109,
13,
2202,
262,
14260,
11,
788,
0,
7575,
447,
253,
82,
329,
1016,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
1244,
423,
2714,
534,
6066,
284,
3511,
1566,
706,
43743,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1036,
11137,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
35462,
8169,
9665,
262,
33083,
4291,
262,
736,
286,
262,
1310,
2330,
26902,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3888,
284,
1037,
465,
9648,
1545,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
561,
423,
2626,
2063,
257,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
6594,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
326,
561,
423,
587,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1005,
9741,
15885,
1635,
1635,
2504,
1110,
11,
262,
5544,
1201,
484,
550,
1364,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
262,
19429,
1625,
2402,
262,
1067,
3775,
11,
257,
7135,
7539,
286,
5445,
285,
3733,
290,
10708,
18639,
13,
32,
5210,
11,
1418,
2434,
8737,
5447,
262,
1295,
11,
281,
42905,
278,
2565,
286,
22775,
326,
2921,
790,
40168,
994,
257,
4203,
286,
29179,
11,
326,
339,
1244,
307,
262,
717,
284,
17841,
2402,
597,
1948,
4136,
13,
1870,
11,
355,
373,
1464,
262,
1339,
287,
262,
4295,
82,
11,
351,
262,
39770,
14067,
1625,
257,
4922,
286,
3514,
13,
2990,
550,
8523,
5982,
262,
717,
390,
297,
287,
262,
510,
12,
392,
12,
2902,
15510,
618,
5809,
3019,
83,
13489,
8339,
326,
339,
2993,
880,
25,
262,
29957,
11347,
9960,
286,
281,
26393,
4097,
13,
447,
250,
22058,
621,
257,
1110,
1468,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
465,
5213,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
32,
8667,
379,
1551,
11,
3863,
5403,
326,
1271,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
1394,
284,
674,
3108,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
5220,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
287,
2166,
286,
514,
11,
290,
326,
447,
253,
82,
1365,
447,
253,
77,
2157,
13,
447,
251,
2215,
26428,
1625,
11,
18730,
262,
19487,
966,
286,
326,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
7002,
11,
262,
19429,
1718,
257,
1790,
2270,
11,
9616,
262,
14260,
7933,
2736,
287,
257,
1402,
502,
4584,
13,
464,
26393,
8025,
373,
991,
878,
606,
11,
475,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
2263,
510,
262,
8286,
286,
262,
4057,
431,
550,
465,
21343
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
550,
655,
39217,
290,
373,
42798,
866,
465,
36808,
11,
880,
12,
14664,
20095,
2042,
22549,
295,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
502,
11,
447,
251,
7189,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
45,
2337,
389,
329,
11029,
11,
290,
262,
14260,
389,
477,
475,
7770,
284,
10421,
290,
12586,
326,
714,
30248,
606,
510,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
1266,
329,
1111,
788,
11,
447,
251,
4438,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
20880,
262,
938,
3993,
503,
286,
465,
11945,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
460,
2666,
706,
262,
4252,
25740,
11,
5291,
340,
2157,
514,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
6594,
890,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10248,
3612,
11,
9717,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
284,
307,
6672,
783,
11,
287,
1109,
13,
2202,
262,
14260,
11,
788,
0,
7575,
447,
253,
82,
329,
1016,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
1244,
423,
2714,
534,
6066,
284,
3511,
1566,
706,
43743,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1036,
11137,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
35462,
8169,
9665,
262,
33083,
4291,
262,
736,
286,
262,
1310,
2330,
26902,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3888,
284,
1037,
465,
9648,
1545,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
561,
423,
2626,
2063,
257,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
6594,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
32,
26246,
326,
561,
423,
587,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1005,
9741,
15885,
1635,
1635,
2504,
1110,
11,
262,
5544,
1201,
484,
550,
1364,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
262,
19429,
1625,
2402,
262,
1067,
3775,
11,
257,
7135,
7539,
286,
5445,
285,
3733,
290,
10708,
18639,
13,
32,
5210,
11,
1418,
2434,
8737,
5447,
262,
1295,
11,
281,
42905,
278,
2565,
286,
22775,
326,
2921,
790,
40168,
994,
257,
4203,
286,
29179,
11,
326,
339,
1244,
307,
262,
717,
284,
17841,
2402,
597,
1948,
4136,
13,
1870,
11,
355,
373,
1464,
262,
1339,
287,
262,
4295,
82,
11,
351,
262,
39770,
14067,
1625,
257,
4922,
286,
3514,
13,
2990,
550,
8523,
5982,
262,
717,
390,
297,
287,
262,
510,
12,
392,
12,
2902,
15510,
618,
5809,
3019,
83,
13489,
8339,
326,
339,
2993,
880,
25,
262,
29957,
11347,
9960,
286,
281,
26393,
4097,
13,
447,
250,
22058,
621,
257,
1110,
1468,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
465,
5213,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
32,
8667,
379,
1551,
11,
3863,
5403,
326,
1271,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
297,
1394,
284,
674,
3108,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
5220,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
447,
253,
260,
287,
2166,
286,
514,
11,
290,
326,
447,
253,
82,
1365,
447,
253,
77,
2157,
13,
447,
251,
2215,
26428,
1625,
11,
18730,
262,
19487,
966,
286,
326,
1110,
447,
253,
82,
7002,
11,
262,
19429,
1718,
257,
1790,
2270,
11,
9616,
262,
14260,
7933,
2736,
287,
257,
1402,
502,
4584,
13,
464,
26393,
8025,
373,
991,
878,
606,
11,
475,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
2263,
510,
262,
8286,
286,
262,
4057,
431,
550,
465,
21343
] |
dnd550
|
He pulled up into a small copse of fir trees set on top of a small rise, fully suspecting, like the others, that unfriendly eyes were watching them from more than one direction.Drizzt was up one of the trees before the others had even dismounted.They tethered the horses close together and set themselves around the beasts.Even Regis would find no sleep, for, though he trusted Drizzt‟s night vision, his blood had already begun pumping in anticipation of what was to come.Bruenor, a veteran of a hundred fights, felt secure enough in his battle prowess.He propped himself calmly against a tree, his many-notched axe across his chest, one hand firmly in place upon its handle.Wulfgar, though, made other preparations.He began by gathering together broken sticks and branches and sharpening their points.Seeking every advantage, he set them in strategic positions around the area to provide the best layout for his stand, using their deadly points to cut down the routes of approach for his attackers.Other sticks he cunningly concealed in angles that would trip up and stick the orcs before they ever reached him.Regis, the most nervous of all, watched it all and noted the differences in his friends‟ tactics.He felt that there was little he could do to prepare himself for such a fight, and he sought only to keep himself far enough out of the way so as not to hinder the efforts of his friends.Perhaps the opportunity would arise for him to make a surprise strike, but he didn‟t even consider such possibilities at this point.Bravery came to the halfling spontaneously.It was certainly nothing he ever planned.With all of their diversions and preparations deflecting their nervous anticipation, it came as almost a relief when, barely an hour later, their anxiety became reality.Drizzt whispered down to them that there was movement on the fields below the copse.“How many?” Bruenor called back.“Four to one against us, and maybe more,” Drizzt replied.The dwarf turned to Wulfgar.“Ye ready, boy?”Wulfgar slapped his hammer out before him.“Four against one?” he laughed.Bruenor liked the young warrior‟s confidence, though the dwarf realized that the odds might actually prove more lopsided, since Regis wouldn‟t likely be out in the open fighting.“Let „em in, or hit them out in the field?” Bruenor asked Drizzt.“Let them in,” the drow replied.“Their stealthy approach shows me that they believe surprise is with them.”“And a turned surprise is better‟n a first blow from afar,” Bruenor finished.“Do what ye can with yer bow when it‟s started, elf.We‟ll be waitin‟ fer ye!”Wulfgar imagined the fire seething in the drow‟s lavender eyes, a deadly gleam that always belied Drizzt‟s outward calm before a battle.The barbarian took comfort, for the drow‟s lust for battle outweighed even his own, and he had never seen the whirring scimitars outdone by any foe.He slapped his hammer again and crouched in a hole beside the roots of one of the trees.Bruenor slipped between the bulky bodies of two of the horses, pulling his feet up into a stirrup on each, and Regis, after he had stuffed the bedrolls to give the appearance of sleeping bodies, scooted under the low-hanging boughs of one of the trees.The orcs approached the camp in a ring, obviously looking for an easy strike.Drizzt smiled in Page 37hope as he noted the gaps in their ring, open flanks that would prevent quick support to any isolated group.The whole band would hit the perimeter of the copse together, and Wulfgar, closest to the edge, would most likely launch the first strike.The orcs crept in, one group slipping toward the horses, another toward the bedrolls.
|
He pulled up into a small copse of fir trees set on top of a small rise, fully suspecting, like the others, that unfriendly eyes were watching them from more than one direction.Drizzt was up one of the trees before the others had even dismounted.They tethered the horses close together and set themselves around the beasts.Even Regis would find no sleep, for, though he trusted Drizzt‟s night vision, his blood had already begun pumping in anticipation of what was to come.Bruenor, a veteran of a hundred fights, felt secure enough in his battle prowess.He propped himself calmly against a tree, his many-notched axe across his chest, one hand firmly in place upon its handle.Wulfgar, though, made other preparations.He began by gathering together broken sticks and branches and sharpening their points.Seeking every advantage, he set them in strategic positions around the area to provide the best layout for his stand, using their deadly points to cut down the routes of approach for his attackers.Other sticks he cunningly concealed in angles that would trip up and stick the orcs before they ever reached him.Regis, the most nervous of all, watched it all and noted the differences in his friends‟ tactics.He felt that there was little he could do to prepare himself for such a fight, and he sought only to keep himself far enough out of the way so as not to hinder the efforts of his friends.Perhaps the opportunity would arise for him to make a surprise strike, but he didn‟t even consider such possibilities at this point.Bravery came to the halfling spontaneously.It was certainly nothing he ever planned.With all of their diversions and preparations deflecting their nervous anticipation, it came as almost a relief when, barely an hour later, their anxiety became reality.Drizzt whispered down to them that there was movement on the fields below the copse.“How many?” Bruenor called back.“Four to one against us, and maybe more,” Drizzt replied.The dwarf turned to Wulfgar.“Ye ready, boy?”Wulfgar slapped his hammer out before him.“Four against one?” he laughed.Bruenor liked the young warrior‟s confidence, though the dwarf realized that the odds might actually prove more lopsided, since Regis wouldn‟t likely be out in the open fighting.“Let „em in, or hit them out in the field?” Bruenor asked Drizzt.“Let them in,” the drow replied.“Their stealthy approach shows me that they believe surprise is with them.”“And a turned surprise is better‟n a first blow from afar,” Bruenor finished.“Do what ye can with yer bow when it‟s started, elf.We‟ll be waitin‟ fer ye!”Wulfgar imagined the fire seething in the drow‟s lavender eyes, a deadly gleam that always belied Drizzt‟s outward calm before a battle.The barbarian took comfort, for the drow‟s lust for battle outweighed even his own, and he had never seen the whirring scimitars outdone by any foe.He slapped his hammer again and crouched in a hole beside the roots of one of the trees.Bruenor slipped between the bulky bodies of two of the horses, pulling his feet up into a stirrup on each, and Regis, after he had stuffed the bedrolls to give the appearance of sleeping bodies, scooted under the low-hanging boughs of one of the trees.The orcs approached the camp in a ring, obviously looking for an easy strike.Drizzt smiled in Page 37hope as he noted the gaps in their ring, open flanks that would prevent quick support to any isolated group.The whole band would hit the perimeter of the copse together, and Wulfgar, closest to the edge, would most likely launch the first strike.The orcs crept in, one group slipping toward the horses, another toward the bedrolls.
|
[
1544,
5954,
510,
656,
257,
1402,
2243,
325,
286,
37979,
7150,
900,
319,
1353,
286,
257,
1402,
4485,
11,
3938,
4099,
278,
11,
588,
262,
1854,
11,
326,
3684,
1289,
306,
2951,
547,
4964,
606,
422,
517,
621,
530,
4571,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
510,
530,
286,
262,
7150,
878,
262,
1854,
550,
772,
595,
29728,
13,
2990,
28408,
6083,
262,
14260,
1969,
1978,
290,
900,
2405,
1088,
262,
21930,
13,
6104,
3310,
271,
561,
1064,
645,
3993,
11,
329,
11,
996,
339,
13467,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
1755,
5761,
11,
465,
2910,
550,
1541,
9258,
26916,
287,
24054,
286,
644,
373,
284,
1282,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
11,
257,
9298,
286,
257,
3470,
11418,
11,
2936,
5713,
1576,
287,
465,
3344,
30721,
13,
1544,
386,
1496,
2241,
30180,
1028,
257,
5509,
11,
465,
867,
12,
1662,
1740,
23272,
1973,
465,
7721,
11,
530,
1021,
14245,
287,
1295,
2402,
663,
5412,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
996,
11,
925,
584,
21518,
13,
1544,
2540,
416,
11228,
1978,
5445,
16461,
290,
13737,
290,
7786,
3101,
511,
2173,
13,
4653,
18754,
790,
4621,
11,
339,
900,
606,
287,
10039,
6116,
1088,
262,
1989,
284,
2148,
262,
1266,
12461,
329,
465,
1302,
11,
1262,
511,
10309,
2173,
284,
2005,
866,
262,
11926,
286,
3164,
329,
465,
16391,
13,
6395,
16461,
339,
34218,
306,
18176,
287,
18333,
326,
561,
5296,
510,
290,
4859,
262,
46448,
878,
484,
1683,
4251,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
11,
262,
749,
10927,
286,
477,
11,
7342,
340,
477,
290,
4367,
262,
5400,
287,
465,
2460,
447,
253,
10815,
13,
1544,
2936,
326,
612,
373,
1310,
339,
714,
466,
284,
8335,
2241,
329,
884,
257,
1907,
11,
290,
339,
7194,
691,
284,
1394,
2241,
1290,
1576,
503,
286,
262,
835,
523,
355,
407,
284,
34541,
262,
4040,
286,
465,
2460,
13,
13710,
262,
3663,
561,
15058,
329,
683,
284,
787,
257,
5975,
5587,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
2074,
884,
12779,
379,
428,
966,
13,
42333,
548,
1625,
284,
262,
2063,
1359,
37512,
13,
1026,
373,
3729,
2147,
339,
1683,
6027,
13,
3152,
477,
286,
511,
15070,
507,
290,
21518,
31685,
278,
511,
10927,
24054,
11,
340,
1625,
355,
2048,
257,
8259,
618,
11,
8523,
281,
1711,
1568,
11,
511,
9751,
2627,
3950,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
25029,
866,
284,
606,
326,
612,
373,
3356,
319,
262,
7032,
2174,
262,
2243,
325,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1444,
736,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
284,
530,
1028,
514,
11,
290,
3863,
517,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
464,
24603,
2900,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
3492,
11,
2933,
30,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
31213,
465,
15554,
503,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
1028,
530,
30,
447,
251,
339,
13818,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
8288,
262,
1862,
16491,
447,
253,
82,
6628,
11,
996,
262,
24603,
6939,
326,
262,
10402,
1244,
1682,
5879,
517,
300,
2840,
1384,
11,
1201,
3310,
271,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1884,
307,
503,
287,
262,
1280,
4330
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
5954,
510,
656,
257,
1402,
2243,
325,
286,
37979,
7150,
900,
319,
1353,
286,
257,
1402,
4485,
11,
3938,
4099,
278,
11,
588,
262,
1854,
11,
326,
3684,
1289,
306,
2951,
547,
4964,
606,
422,
517,
621,
530,
4571,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
510,
530,
286,
262,
7150,
878,
262,
1854,
550,
772,
595,
29728,
13,
2990,
28408,
6083,
262,
14260,
1969,
1978,
290,
900,
2405,
1088,
262,
21930,
13,
6104,
3310,
271,
561,
1064,
645,
3993,
11,
329,
11,
996,
339,
13467,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
1755,
5761,
11,
465,
2910,
550,
1541,
9258,
26916,
287,
24054,
286,
644,
373,
284,
1282,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
11,
257,
9298,
286,
257,
3470,
11418,
11,
2936,
5713,
1576,
287,
465,
3344,
30721,
13,
1544,
386,
1496,
2241,
30180,
1028,
257,
5509,
11,
465,
867,
12,
1662,
1740,
23272,
1973,
465,
7721,
11,
530,
1021,
14245,
287,
1295,
2402,
663,
5412,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
996,
11,
925,
584,
21518,
13,
1544,
2540,
416,
11228,
1978,
5445,
16461,
290,
13737,
290,
7786,
3101,
511,
2173,
13,
4653,
18754,
790,
4621,
11,
339,
900,
606,
287,
10039,
6116,
1088,
262,
1989,
284,
2148,
262,
1266,
12461,
329,
465,
1302,
11,
1262,
511,
10309,
2173,
284,
2005,
866,
262,
11926,
286,
3164,
329,
465,
16391,
13,
6395,
16461,
339,
34218,
306,
18176,
287,
18333,
326,
561,
5296,
510,
290,
4859,
262,
46448,
878,
484,
1683,
4251,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
11,
262,
749,
10927,
286,
477,
11,
7342,
340,
477,
290,
4367,
262,
5400,
287,
465,
2460,
447,
253,
10815,
13,
1544,
2936,
326,
612,
373,
1310,
339,
714,
466,
284,
8335,
2241,
329,
884,
257,
1907,
11,
290,
339,
7194,
691,
284,
1394,
2241,
1290,
1576,
503,
286,
262,
835,
523,
355,
407,
284,
34541,
262,
4040,
286,
465,
2460,
13,
13710,
262,
3663,
561,
15058,
329,
683,
284,
787,
257,
5975,
5587,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
2074,
884,
12779,
379,
428,
966,
13,
42333,
548,
1625,
284,
262,
2063,
1359,
37512,
13,
1026,
373,
3729,
2147,
339,
1683,
6027,
13,
3152,
477,
286,
511,
15070,
507,
290,
21518,
31685,
278,
511,
10927,
24054,
11,
340,
1625,
355,
2048,
257,
8259,
618,
11,
8523,
281,
1711,
1568,
11,
511,
9751,
2627,
3950,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
25029,
866,
284,
606,
326,
612,
373,
3356,
319,
262,
7032,
2174,
262,
2243,
325,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1444,
736,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
284,
530,
1028,
514,
11,
290,
3863,
517,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
464,
24603,
2900,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
3492,
11,
2933,
30,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
31213,
465,
15554,
503,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
1028,
530,
30,
447,
251,
339,
13818,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
8288,
262,
1862,
16491,
447,
253,
82,
6628,
11,
996,
262,
24603,
6939,
326,
262,
10402,
1244,
1682,
5879,
517,
300,
2840,
1384,
11,
1201,
3310,
271,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1884,
307,
503,
287,
262,
1280,
4330
] |
dnd551
|
Four of them passed Wulfgar, but he waited a second longer, allowing the others to get close enough to the horses for Bruenor to strike.Then the time for hiding had ended.Wulfgar sprang from his concealment, Aegis-fang, his magical warhammer, already in motion.“Tempus!” he cried to his god of battle, and his first blow crashed in, swatting two of the orcs to the ground.The other group rushed to get the horses free and out of the camp, hoping to cut off any escape route.But were greeted by the snarling dwarf and his ringing axe!As the surprised orcs leaped into the saddles, Bruenor clove one down the middle, and took a second one‟s head clean from its shoulders before the remaining two even knew that they had been attacked.Drizzt picked as targets the orcs closest to the groups under attack, delaying the support against his friends for as long as possible.His bowstring twanged, once, twice, and a third time, and a like number of orcs fell to the earth, their eyes closed and their hands helplessly clenched upon the shafts of the killing arrows.The surprise strikes had cut deeply into the ranks of their enemies, and now the drow pulled his scimitars and dropped from his perch, confident that he and his companions could finish the rest off quickly.His smile was short-lived, though, for as he descended, he noticed more movement in the field.Drizzt had come down in the middle of three creatures, his blades in motion before his feet had even touched the ground.The orcs were not totally surprised–one had seen the drow dropping–but Drizzt had them off balance and swinging around to bring their weapons to bear.With the drow‟s lightninglike strikes, any delay at all meant certain death, and Drizzt was the only one in the jumble of bodies under control.His scimitars slashed and thrust into orcan flesh with killing precision.Wulfgar‟s fortunes were equally bright.He faced two of the creatures, and though they were vicious fighters, they could not match the giant barbarian‟s power.One got its crude weapon up in time to block Wulfgar‟s swing, but Aegis-fang blasted through the defense, shattering the weapon and then the unfortunate orc‟s skull without even slowing for the effort.Bruenor fell into trouble first.His initial attacks went off perfectly, leaving him with only two standing opponents–odds that the dwarf liked.But in the excitement, the horses reared and bolted, tearing their tethers free from the branches.Bruenor tumbled to the ground, and before he could recover, was clipped in the head by the hoof of his own pony.One of the orcs was similarly thrown down, but the last one landed free of the commotion and rushed to finish off the stunned dwarf as the horses cleared the area.Luckily, one of those spontaneous moments of bravery came over Regis at that moment.He slipped out from under the tree, falling in silently behind the orc.It was tall for an orc, and even on the tips of his toes, Regis did not like the angle of a strike at its head.Shrugging resignedly, the halfling reversed his strategy.Before the orc could even begin to strike at Bruenor, the halfling‟s mace came up between its knees and higher, driving into its groin and lifting it clear off the ground.The howling victim grasped at its injury, its eyes lolling about aimlessly, and dropped to the ground with no further ambitions for battle.It had all happened in an instant, but victory was not yet won.Another six orcs poured into the fray, two cutting off Drizzt‟s attempt to get to Regis and Bruenor, three more going to the aid of their lone companion facing the giant barbarian.And one, creeping along the same line Regis had taken, closed on the unsuspecting halfling.Page 38At the same moment Regis made out the drow‟s warning call, a club slammed between his shoulder blades, blasting the wind from his lungs and tossing him to the ground.Wulfgar was pressed on all four sides, and despite his boasts before the battle, he found that he didn‟t care for the situation.He concentrated on parrying, hoping that the drow could get to him before his defenses broke down.He was too badly outnumbered.An orcan blade cut into a rib, another clipped his arm.Drizzt knew that he could defeat the two he now faced, but doubted that it would be in time for him to help his barbarian friend.Or the halfling.
|
Four of them passed Wulfgar, but he waited a second longer, allowing the others to get close enough to the horses for Bruenor to strike.Then the time for hiding had ended.Wulfgar sprang from his concealment, Aegis-fang, his magical warhammer, already in motion.“Tempus!” he cried to his god of battle, and his first blow crashed in, swatting two of the orcs to the ground.The other group rushed to get the horses free and out of the camp, hoping to cut off any escape route.But were greeted by the snarling dwarf and his ringing axe!As the surprised orcs leaped into the saddles, Bruenor clove one down the middle, and took a second one‟s head clean from its shoulders before the remaining two even knew that they had been attacked.Drizzt picked as targets the orcs closest to the groups under attack, delaying the support against his friends for as long as possible.His bowstring twanged, once, twice, and a third time, and a like number of orcs fell to the earth, their eyes closed and their hands helplessly clenched upon the shafts of the killing arrows.The surprise strikes had cut deeply into the ranks of their enemies, and now the drow pulled his scimitars and dropped from his perch, confident that he and his companions could finish the rest off quickly.His smile was short-lived, though, for as he descended, he noticed more movement in the field.Drizzt had come down in the middle of three creatures, his blades in motion before his feet had even touched the ground.The orcs were not totally surprised–one had seen the drow dropping–but Drizzt had them off balance and swinging around to bring their weapons to bear.With the drow‟s lightninglike strikes, any delay at all meant certain death, and Drizzt was the only one in the jumble of bodies under control.His scimitars slashed and thrust into orcan flesh with killing precision.Wulfgar‟s fortunes were equally bright.He faced two of the creatures, and though they were vicious fighters, they could not match the giant barbarian‟s power.One got its crude weapon up in time to block Wulfgar‟s swing, but Aegis-fang blasted through the defense, shattering the weapon and then the unfortunate orc‟s skull without even slowing for the effort.Bruenor fell into trouble first.His initial attacks went off perfectly, leaving him with only two standing opponents–odds that the dwarf liked.But in the excitement, the horses reared and bolted, tearing their tethers free from the branches.Bruenor tumbled to the ground, and before he could recover, was clipped in the head by the hoof of his own pony.One of the orcs was similarly thrown down, but the last one landed free of the commotion and rushed to finish off the stunned dwarf as the horses cleared the area.Luckily, one of those spontaneous moments of bravery came over Regis at that moment.He slipped out from under the tree, falling in silently behind the orc.It was tall for an orc, and even on the tips of his toes, Regis did not like the angle of a strike at its head.Shrugging resignedly, the halfling reversed his strategy.Before the orc could even begin to strike at Bruenor, the halfling‟s mace came up between its knees and higher, driving into its groin and lifting it clear off the ground.The howling victim grasped at its injury, its eyes lolling about aimlessly, and dropped to the ground with no further ambitions for battle.It had all happened in an instant, but victory was not yet won.Another six orcs poured into the fray, two cutting off Drizzt‟s attempt to get to Regis and Bruenor, three more going to the aid of their lone companion facing the giant barbarian.And one, creeping along the same line Regis had taken, closed on the unsuspecting halfling.Page 38At the same moment Regis made out the drow‟s warning call, a club slammed between his shoulder blades, blasting the wind from his lungs and tossing him to the ground.Wulfgar was pressed on all four sides, and despite his boasts before the battle, he found that he didn‟t care for the situation.He concentrated on parrying, hoping that the drow could get to him before his defenses broke down.He was too badly outnumbered.An orcan blade cut into a rib, another clipped his arm.Drizzt knew that he could defeat the two he now faced, but doubted that it would be in time for him to help his barbarian friend.Or the halfling.
|
[
15137,
286,
606,
3804,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
475,
339,
13488,
257,
1218,
2392,
11,
5086,
262,
1854,
284,
651,
1969,
1576,
284,
262,
14260,
329,
8274,
268,
273,
284,
5587,
13,
6423,
262,
640,
329,
11816,
550,
4444,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
43908,
422,
465,
21363,
434,
11,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
11,
465,
10883,
1175,
17980,
11,
1541,
287,
6268,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
0,
447,
251,
339,
16896,
284,
465,
5770,
286,
3344,
11,
290,
465,
717,
6611,
14997,
287,
11,
44284,
889,
734,
286,
262,
46448,
284,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
584,
1448,
13999,
284,
651,
262,
14260,
1479,
290,
503,
286,
262,
1413,
11,
7725,
284,
2005,
572,
597,
6654,
6339,
13,
1537,
547,
21272,
416,
262,
3013,
30045,
24603,
290,
465,
32333,
23272,
0,
1722,
262,
6655,
46448,
443,
5813,
656,
262,
17766,
829,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
537,
659,
530,
866,
262,
3504,
11,
290,
1718,
257,
1218,
530,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
3424,
422,
663,
12450,
878,
262,
5637,
734,
772,
2993,
326,
484,
550,
587,
7384,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
6497,
355,
6670,
262,
46448,
11706,
284,
262,
2628,
739,
1368,
11,
35221,
262,
1104,
1028,
465,
2460,
329,
355,
890,
355,
1744,
13,
6653,
9563,
8841,
665,
5102,
11,
1752,
11,
5403,
11,
290,
257,
2368,
640,
11,
290,
257,
588,
1271,
286,
46448,
3214,
284,
262,
4534,
11,
511,
2951,
4838,
290,
511,
2832,
21144,
306,
47344,
2402,
262,
18619,
82,
286,
262,
5170,
20507,
13,
464,
5975,
8956,
550,
2005,
7744,
656,
262,
9803,
286,
511,
5775,
11,
290,
783,
262,
288,
808,
5954,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
290,
5710,
422,
465,
583,
354,
11,
6563,
326,
339,
290,
465,
19429,
714,
5461,
262,
1334,
572,
2952,
13,
6653,
8212,
373,
1790,
12,
24489,
11,
996,
11,
329,
355,
339,
23667,
11,
339,
6810,
517,
3356,
287,
262,
2214,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
550,
1282,
866,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
1115,
8109,
11,
465,
20784,
287,
6268,
878,
465,
3625,
550,
772,
12615,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
46448,
547,
407,
6635,
6655,
1906,
505,
550,
1775,
262,
288,
808,
12047,
1906,
4360,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
606,
572,
5236,
290,
25635,
1088,
284,
2222,
511,
3777,
284,
6842,
13,
3152,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
14357,
2339,
8956,
11,
597,
5711,
379,
477,
4001,
1728,
1918,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
262,
691,
530,
287,
262,
474,
10344,
286,
5920,
739,
1630,
13,
6653,
629,
320,
27745,
34930,
290,
14613,
656,
393,
5171,
11222,
351,
5170,
15440,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
27806,
547,
8603,
6016,
13,
1544,
7452,
734,
286,
262,
8109,
11,
290,
996,
484,
547,
17686,
8486,
11,
484,
714,
407,
2872,
262,
6175,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
1176,
13,
3198,
1392,
663,
14897,
4282,
510,
287,
640,
284,
2512,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
9628,
11,
475,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
26044,
832,
262,
3761,
11,
48883,
262,
4282,
290,
788,
262,
14855,
26393,
447,
253,
82,
14511,
1231,
772,
21605,
329,
262,
3626,
13,
33,
622
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
15137,
286,
606,
3804,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
475,
339,
13488,
257,
1218,
2392,
11,
5086,
262,
1854,
284,
651,
1969,
1576,
284,
262,
14260,
329,
8274,
268,
273,
284,
5587,
13,
6423,
262,
640,
329,
11816,
550,
4444,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
43908,
422,
465,
21363,
434,
11,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
11,
465,
10883,
1175,
17980,
11,
1541,
287,
6268,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
0,
447,
251,
339,
16896,
284,
465,
5770,
286,
3344,
11,
290,
465,
717,
6611,
14997,
287,
11,
44284,
889,
734,
286,
262,
46448,
284,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
584,
1448,
13999,
284,
651,
262,
14260,
1479,
290,
503,
286,
262,
1413,
11,
7725,
284,
2005,
572,
597,
6654,
6339,
13,
1537,
547,
21272,
416,
262,
3013,
30045,
24603,
290,
465,
32333,
23272,
0,
1722,
262,
6655,
46448,
443,
5813,
656,
262,
17766,
829,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
537,
659,
530,
866,
262,
3504,
11,
290,
1718,
257,
1218,
530,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
3424,
422,
663,
12450,
878,
262,
5637,
734,
772,
2993,
326,
484,
550,
587,
7384,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
6497,
355,
6670,
262,
46448,
11706,
284,
262,
2628,
739,
1368,
11,
35221,
262,
1104,
1028,
465,
2460,
329,
355,
890,
355,
1744,
13,
6653,
9563,
8841,
665,
5102,
11,
1752,
11,
5403,
11,
290,
257,
2368,
640,
11,
290,
257,
588,
1271,
286,
46448,
3214,
284,
262,
4534,
11,
511,
2951,
4838,
290,
511,
2832,
21144,
306,
47344,
2402,
262,
18619,
82,
286,
262,
5170,
20507,
13,
464,
5975,
8956,
550,
2005,
7744,
656,
262,
9803,
286,
511,
5775,
11,
290,
783,
262,
288,
808,
5954,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
290,
5710,
422,
465,
583,
354,
11,
6563,
326,
339,
290,
465,
19429,
714,
5461,
262,
1334,
572,
2952,
13,
6653,
8212,
373,
1790,
12,
24489,
11,
996,
11,
329,
355,
339,
23667,
11,
339,
6810,
517,
3356,
287,
262,
2214,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
550,
1282,
866,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
1115,
8109,
11,
465,
20784,
287,
6268,
878,
465,
3625,
550,
772,
12615,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
46448,
547,
407,
6635,
6655,
1906,
505,
550,
1775,
262,
288,
808,
12047,
1906,
4360,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
606,
572,
5236,
290,
25635,
1088,
284,
2222,
511,
3777,
284,
6842,
13,
3152,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
14357,
2339,
8956,
11,
597,
5711,
379,
477,
4001,
1728,
1918,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
262,
691,
530,
287,
262,
474,
10344,
286,
5920,
739,
1630,
13,
6653,
629,
320,
27745,
34930,
290,
14613,
656,
393,
5171,
11222,
351,
5170,
15440,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
27806,
547,
8603,
6016,
13,
1544,
7452,
734,
286,
262,
8109,
11,
290,
996,
484,
547,
17686,
8486,
11,
484,
714,
407,
2872,
262,
6175,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
1176,
13,
3198,
1392,
663,
14897,
4282,
510,
287,
640,
284,
2512,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
9628,
11,
475,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
26044,
832,
262,
3761,
11,
48883,
262,
4282,
290,
788,
262,
14855,
26393,
447,
253,
82,
14511,
1231,
772,
21605,
329,
262,
3626,
13,
33,
622
] |
dnd552
|
And there were still reinforcements on the field.Regis rolled onto his back to lay right beside Bruenor, and the dwarf‟s groaning told him that the fight was over for both of them.Then the orc was above him, its club raised above its head, and an evil smile spread wide upon its ugly face.Regis closed his eyes, having no desire to watch the descent of the blow that would kill him.Then he heard the sound of impact…above him.Startled, he opened his eyes.A hatchet was embedded into his attacker‟s chest.The orc looked down at it, stunned.The club dropped harmlessly behind the orc, and it, too, fell backward, quite dead.Regis didn‟t understand.“Wulfgar?” he asked into the air.A huge form, nearly as large as Wulfgar‟s, sprang over him and pounced upon the orc, savagely tearing the hatchet free.He was human, and wearing the furs of a barbarian, but unlike the tribes of Icewind Dale, this man‟s hair was black.“Oh, no,” Regis groaned, remembering his own warnings to Bruenor about the Uthgardt barbarians.The man had saved his life, but knowing the savage reputation, Regis doubted that a friendship would grow out of the encounter.He started to sit up, wanting to express his sincere thanks and dispel any unfriendly notions the barbarian might have about him.He even considered using the ruby pendant to evoke some friendly feelings.But the big man, noting the movement, spun suddenly and kicked him in the face.And Regis fell backward into blackness.Page 396.Sky PoniesBlack-haired barbarians, screaming in the frenzy of battle, burst into the copse.Drizzt realized at once that these burly warriors were the forms he had seen moving behind the orcan ranks on the field, but he wasn‟t yet certain of their allegiance.Whatever their ties, their arrival struck terror into the remaining orcs.The two fighting Drizzt lost all heart for the battle, a sudden shift in their posture revealing their desire to break off the confrontation and flee.Drizzt obliged, assured that they wouldn‟t get far anyway, and sensing that he, too, would be wise to slip from sight.The orcs fled, but their pursuers soon caught them in another battle just beyond the trees.Less obvious in his flight, Drizzt slipped unnoticed back up the tree where he had left his bow.Wulfgar could not so easily sublimate his battle lust.With two of his friends down, his thirst for orcan blood was insatiable, and the new group of men that had joined the fight cried out to Tempus, his own god of battle, with a fervor that the young warrior could not ignore.Distracted by the sudden developments, the ring of orcs around Wulfgar let up for just a moment, and he struck hard.One orc looked away, and Aegis-fang tore its face off before its eyes returned to the fight at hand.Wulfgar bore through the gap in the ring, jostling a second orc as he passed.As it stumbled in its attempt to turn and realign its defense, the mighty barbarian chopped it down.
|
And there were still reinforcements on the field.Regis rolled onto his back to lay right beside Bruenor, and the dwarf‟s groaning told him that the fight was over for both of them.Then the orc was above him, its club raised above its head, and an evil smile spread wide upon its ugly face.Regis closed his eyes, having no desire to watch the descent of the blow that would kill him.Then he heard the sound of impact…above him.Startled, he opened his eyes.A hatchet was embedded into his attacker‟s chest.The orc looked down at it, stunned.The club dropped harmlessly behind the orc, and it, too, fell backward, quite dead.Regis didn‟t understand.“Wulfgar?” he asked into the air.A huge form, nearly as large as Wulfgar‟s, sprang over him and pounced upon the orc, savagely tearing the hatchet free.He was human, and wearing the furs of a barbarian, but unlike the tribes of Icewind Dale, this man‟s hair was black.“Oh, no,” Regis groaned, remembering his own warnings to Bruenor about the Uthgardt barbarians.The man had saved his life, but knowing the savage reputation, Regis doubted that a friendship would grow out of the encounter.He started to sit up, wanting to express his sincere thanks and dispel any unfriendly notions the barbarian might have about him.He even considered using the ruby pendant to evoke some friendly feelings.But the big man, noting the movement, spun suddenly and kicked him in the face.And Regis fell backward into blackness.Page 396.Sky PoniesBlack-haired barbarians, screaming in the frenzy of battle, burst into the copse.Drizzt realized at once that these burly warriors were the forms he had seen moving behind the orcan ranks on the field, but he wasn‟t yet certain of their allegiance.Whatever their ties, their arrival struck terror into the remaining orcs.The two fighting Drizzt lost all heart for the battle, a sudden shift in their posture revealing their desire to break off the confrontation and flee.Drizzt obliged, assured that they wouldn‟t get far anyway, and sensing that he, too, would be wise to slip from sight.The orcs fled, but their pursuers soon caught them in another battle just beyond the trees.Less obvious in his flight, Drizzt slipped unnoticed back up the tree where he had left his bow.Wulfgar could not so easily sublimate his battle lust.With two of his friends down, his thirst for orcan blood was insatiable, and the new group of men that had joined the fight cried out to Tempus, his own god of battle, with a fervor that the young warrior could not ignore.Distracted by the sudden developments, the ring of orcs around Wulfgar let up for just a moment, and he struck hard.One orc looked away, and Aegis-fang tore its face off before its eyes returned to the fight at hand.Wulfgar bore through the gap in the ring, jostling a second orc as he passed.As it stumbled in its attempt to turn and realign its defense, the mighty barbarian chopped it down.
|
[
1870,
612,
547,
991,
38578,
319,
262,
2214,
13,
8081,
271,
11686,
4291,
465,
736,
284,
3830,
826,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
7128,
7574,
1297,
683,
326,
262,
1907,
373,
625,
329,
1111,
286,
606,
13,
6423,
262,
26393,
373,
2029,
683,
11,
663,
3430,
4376,
2029,
663,
1182,
11,
290,
281,
6181,
8212,
4104,
3094,
2402,
663,
13400,
1986,
13,
8081,
271,
4838,
465,
2951,
11,
1719,
645,
6227,
284,
2342,
262,
18598,
286,
262,
6611,
326,
561,
1494,
683,
13,
6423,
339,
2982,
262,
2128,
286,
2928,
1399,
29370,
683,
13,
10434,
992,
11,
339,
4721,
465,
2951,
13,
32,
6877,
20043,
373,
14553,
656,
465,
15250,
447,
253,
82,
7721,
13,
464,
26393,
3114,
866,
379,
340,
11,
19987,
13,
464,
3430,
5710,
4419,
8613,
2157,
262,
26393,
11,
290,
340,
11,
1165,
11,
3214,
19528,
11,
2407,
2636,
13,
8081,
271,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1833,
13,
447,
250,
54,
4754,
4563,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
656,
262,
1633,
13,
32,
3236,
1296,
11,
3016,
355,
1588,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
11,
43908,
625,
683,
290,
279,
8918,
2402,
262,
26393,
11,
27303,
306,
24447,
262,
6877,
20043,
1479,
13,
1544,
373,
1692,
11,
290,
5762,
262,
277,
1834,
286,
257,
42577,
3699,
11,
475,
5023,
262,
15663,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
428,
582,
447,
253,
82,
4190,
373,
2042,
13,
447,
250,
5812,
11,
645,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
7128,
22739,
11,
24865,
465,
898,
14601,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
546,
262,
471,
400,
19977,
83,
24837,
1547,
13,
464,
582,
550,
7448,
465,
1204,
11,
475,
6970,
262,
27303,
8507,
11,
3310,
271,
37104,
326,
257,
14738,
561,
1663,
503,
286,
262,
8791,
13,
1544,
2067,
284,
1650,
510,
11,
10291,
284,
4911,
465,
17082,
5176,
290,
45629,
597,
3684,
1289,
306,
26226,
262,
42577,
3699,
1244,
423,
546,
683,
13,
1544,
772,
3177,
1262,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
284,
44672,
617,
8030,
7666,
13,
1537,
262,
1263,
582,
11,
10820,
262,
3356,
11,
26843,
6451,
290,
12165,
683,
287,
262,
1986,
13,
1870,
3310,
271,
3214,
19528,
656,
2042,
1108,
13,
9876,
48758,
13,
22308,
350,
17300,
9915,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
11,
14788,
287,
262,
31934,
286,
3344,
11,
11173,
656,
262,
2243,
325,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
6939,
379,
1752,
326,
777,
4356,
306,
17119,
547,
262,
5107,
339,
550,
1775,
3867,
2157,
262,
393,
5171,
9803,
319,
262,
2214,
11,
475,
339,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
1728,
286,
511,
25696,
13,
21875,
511,
8470,
11,
511,
10325,
7425,
3246,
656,
262,
5637,
46448,
13,
464,
734,
4330,
5809,
3019,
83,
2626,
477,
2612,
329,
262,
3344,
11,
257,
4802,
6482,
287,
511,
24521,
13477,
511,
6227,
284,
2270,
572,
262,
19207,
290,
11562,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
23278,
11,
13933,
326,
484,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
651,
1290,
6949,
11,
290,
34244,
326,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
561,
307,
10787,
284,
13819,
422,
6504,
13,
464,
46448,
11468,
11,
475,
511,
8238,
364,
2582,
4978,
606,
287,
1194
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1870,
612,
547,
991,
38578,
319,
262,
2214,
13,
8081,
271,
11686,
4291,
465,
736,
284,
3830,
826,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
290,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
7128,
7574,
1297,
683,
326,
262,
1907,
373,
625,
329,
1111,
286,
606,
13,
6423,
262,
26393,
373,
2029,
683,
11,
663,
3430,
4376,
2029,
663,
1182,
11,
290,
281,
6181,
8212,
4104,
3094,
2402,
663,
13400,
1986,
13,
8081,
271,
4838,
465,
2951,
11,
1719,
645,
6227,
284,
2342,
262,
18598,
286,
262,
6611,
326,
561,
1494,
683,
13,
6423,
339,
2982,
262,
2128,
286,
2928,
1399,
29370,
683,
13,
10434,
992,
11,
339,
4721,
465,
2951,
13,
32,
6877,
20043,
373,
14553,
656,
465,
15250,
447,
253,
82,
7721,
13,
464,
26393,
3114,
866,
379,
340,
11,
19987,
13,
464,
3430,
5710,
4419,
8613,
2157,
262,
26393,
11,
290,
340,
11,
1165,
11,
3214,
19528,
11,
2407,
2636,
13,
8081,
271,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1833,
13,
447,
250,
54,
4754,
4563,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
656,
262,
1633,
13,
32,
3236,
1296,
11,
3016,
355,
1588,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
11,
43908,
625,
683,
290,
279,
8918,
2402,
262,
26393,
11,
27303,
306,
24447,
262,
6877,
20043,
1479,
13,
1544,
373,
1692,
11,
290,
5762,
262,
277,
1834,
286,
257,
42577,
3699,
11,
475,
5023,
262,
15663,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
428,
582,
447,
253,
82,
4190,
373,
2042,
13,
447,
250,
5812,
11,
645,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
7128,
22739,
11,
24865,
465,
898,
14601,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
546,
262,
471,
400,
19977,
83,
24837,
1547,
13,
464,
582,
550,
7448,
465,
1204,
11,
475,
6970,
262,
27303,
8507,
11,
3310,
271,
37104,
326,
257,
14738,
561,
1663,
503,
286,
262,
8791,
13,
1544,
2067,
284,
1650,
510,
11,
10291,
284,
4911,
465,
17082,
5176,
290,
45629,
597,
3684,
1289,
306,
26226,
262,
42577,
3699,
1244,
423,
546,
683,
13,
1544,
772,
3177,
1262,
262,
43506,
279,
23048,
284,
44672,
617,
8030,
7666,
13,
1537,
262,
1263,
582,
11,
10820,
262,
3356,
11,
26843,
6451,
290,
12165,
683,
287,
262,
1986,
13,
1870,
3310,
271,
3214,
19528,
656,
2042,
1108,
13,
9876,
48758,
13,
22308,
350,
17300,
9915,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
11,
14788,
287,
262,
31934,
286,
3344,
11,
11173,
656,
262,
2243,
325,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
6939,
379,
1752,
326,
777,
4356,
306,
17119,
547,
262,
5107,
339,
550,
1775,
3867,
2157,
262,
393,
5171,
9803,
319,
262,
2214,
11,
475,
339,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
1728,
286,
511,
25696,
13,
21875,
511,
8470,
11,
511,
10325,
7425,
3246,
656,
262,
5637,
46448,
13,
464,
734,
4330,
5809,
3019,
83,
2626,
477,
2612,
329,
262,
3344,
11,
257,
4802,
6482,
287,
511,
24521,
13477,
511,
6227,
284,
2270,
572,
262,
19207,
290,
11562,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
23278,
11,
13933,
326,
484,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
651,
1290,
6949,
11,
290,
34244,
326,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
561,
307,
10787,
284,
13819,
422,
6504,
13,
464,
46448,
11468,
11,
475,
511,
8238,
364,
2582,
4978,
606,
287,
1194
] |
dnd553
|
The two remaining turned and fled, but Wulfgar was right behind.He launched his hammer, blasting one from life, and sprang upon the other, bearing it to the ground beneath him and then crushing the life from it with his bare hands.When he was finished, when he had heard the final crack of neckbone, Wulfgar remembered his predicament and his friends.He sprang up and backed away, his back against the trees.The black-haired barbarians kept their distance, respectful of his prowess, and Wulfgar could not be sure of their intentions.He scanned around for his friends.Regis and Bruenor lay side by side near where the horses had been tethered; he could not tell if they were alive or dead.There was no sign of Drizzt, but a fight continued beyond the other edge of the trees.The warriors fanned out in a wide semi-circle around him, cutting off any routes of escape.But they stopped their positioning suddenly, for Aegis-fang had magically returned to Wulfgar‟s grasp.He could not win against so many, but the thought did not dismay him.He would die fighting, as a true warrior, and his death would be remembered.If the black-haired barbarians came at him, many, he knew, would not return to their families.He dug his heels in and clasped the warhammer tightly.“Let us be done with it,” he growled into the night.“Hold!” came a soft, but imperative whisper from above.Wulfgar recognized Drizzt‟s voice at once and relaxed his grip.“Keep to your honor, but know that more lives are at stake than your own!”Wulfgar understood then that Regis and Bruenor were probably still alive.He dropped Aegis-fang to the ground and called out to the warriors, “Well met.”They did not reply, but one of them, nearly as tall and heavily muscled as Wulfgar, broke rank and closed in to stand before him.The stranger wore a single braid in his long hair, running down the side of his face and over his shoulder.His cheeks were painted white in the image of wings.The hardness of his frame and disciplined set of his face reflected a life in the harsh wilderness, and were it not for the raven color of his hair, Wulfgar would have thought him to be of one of the tribes of Icewind Dale.The dark-haired man similarly recognized Wulfgar, but better versed in the overall structures of the societies in the northland, was not so perplexed by their similarities.“You are of the dale,” he said in a broken form of the common tongue.“Beyond the mountains, where the cold wind blows.”Wulfgar nodded.“I am Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, of the Tribe of the Elk.We share gods, for I, too, call to Tempus for strength and courage.”The dark-haired man looked around at the fallen orcs.Page 40“The god answers your call, warrior of the dale.”Wulfgar‟s jaw lifted in pride.
|
The two remaining turned and fled, but Wulfgar was right behind.He launched his hammer, blasting one from life, and sprang upon the other, bearing it to the ground beneath him and then crushing the life from it with his bare hands.When he was finished, when he had heard the final crack of neckbone, Wulfgar remembered his predicament and his friends.He sprang up and backed away, his back against the trees.The black-haired barbarians kept their distance, respectful of his prowess, and Wulfgar could not be sure of their intentions.He scanned around for his friends.Regis and Bruenor lay side by side near where the horses had been tethered; he could not tell if they were alive or dead.There was no sign of Drizzt, but a fight continued beyond the other edge of the trees.The warriors fanned out in a wide semi-circle around him, cutting off any routes of escape.But they stopped their positioning suddenly, for Aegis-fang had magically returned to Wulfgar‟s grasp.He could not win against so many, but the thought did not dismay him.He would die fighting, as a true warrior, and his death would be remembered.If the black-haired barbarians came at him, many, he knew, would not return to their families.He dug his heels in and clasped the warhammer tightly.“Let us be done with it,” he growled into the night.“Hold!” came a soft, but imperative whisper from above.Wulfgar recognized Drizzt‟s voice at once and relaxed his grip.“Keep to your honor, but know that more lives are at stake than your own!”Wulfgar understood then that Regis and Bruenor were probably still alive.He dropped Aegis-fang to the ground and called out to the warriors, “Well met.”They did not reply, but one of them, nearly as tall and heavily muscled as Wulfgar, broke rank and closed in to stand before him.The stranger wore a single braid in his long hair, running down the side of his face and over his shoulder.His cheeks were painted white in the image of wings.The hardness of his frame and disciplined set of his face reflected a life in the harsh wilderness, and were it not for the raven color of his hair, Wulfgar would have thought him to be of one of the tribes of Icewind Dale.The dark-haired man similarly recognized Wulfgar, but better versed in the overall structures of the societies in the northland, was not so perplexed by their similarities.“You are of the dale,” he said in a broken form of the common tongue.“Beyond the mountains, where the cold wind blows.”Wulfgar nodded.“I am Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, of the Tribe of the Elk.We share gods, for I, too, call to Tempus for strength and courage.”The dark-haired man looked around at the fallen orcs.Page 40“The god answers your call, warrior of the dale.”Wulfgar‟s jaw lifted in pride.
|
[
464,
734,
5637,
2900,
290,
11468,
11,
475,
370,
4754,
4563,
373,
826,
2157,
13,
1544,
5611,
465,
15554,
11,
36998,
530,
422,
1204,
11,
290,
43908,
2402,
262,
584,
11,
14121,
340,
284,
262,
2323,
11061,
683,
290,
788,
24949,
262,
1204,
422,
340,
351,
465,
6247,
2832,
13,
2215,
339,
373,
5201,
11,
618,
339,
550,
2982,
262,
2457,
8469,
286,
7393,
15992,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
12086,
465,
44472,
290,
465,
2460,
13,
1544,
43908,
510,
290,
9763,
1497,
11,
465,
736,
1028,
262,
7150,
13,
464,
2042,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
4030,
511,
5253,
11,
25923,
286,
465,
30721,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
714,
407,
307,
1654,
286,
511,
14953,
13,
1544,
28660,
1088,
329,
465,
2460,
13,
8081,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
3830,
1735,
416,
1735,
1474,
810,
262,
14260,
550,
587,
28408,
6083,
26,
339,
714,
407,
1560,
611,
484,
547,
6776,
393,
2636,
13,
1858,
373,
645,
1051,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
475,
257,
1907,
3767,
3675,
262,
584,
5743,
286,
262,
7150,
13,
464,
17119,
277,
3577,
503,
287,
257,
3094,
10663,
12,
45597,
1088,
683,
11,
7720,
572,
597,
11926,
286,
6654,
13,
1537,
484,
5025,
511,
22097,
6451,
11,
329,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
550,
34850,
4504,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
13180,
13,
1544,
714,
407,
1592,
1028,
523,
867,
11,
475,
262,
1807,
750,
407,
29793,
683,
13,
1544,
561,
4656,
4330,
11,
355,
257,
2081,
16491,
11,
290,
465,
1918,
561,
307,
12086,
13,
1532,
262,
2042,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
1625,
379,
683,
11,
867,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
561,
407,
1441,
284,
511,
4172,
13,
1544,
18735,
465,
18728,
287,
290,
47425,
276,
262,
1175,
17980,
17707,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
307,
1760,
351,
340,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
250,
26807,
0,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
2705,
11,
475,
23602,
31992,
422,
2029,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
8018,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
3809,
379,
1752,
290,
18397,
465,
11762,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
284,
534,
7522,
11,
475,
760,
326,
517,
3160,
389,
379,
10171,
621,
534,
898,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
7247,
788,
326,
3310,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
547,
2192,
991,
6776,
13,
1544,
5710,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
284,
262,
2323,
290,
1444,
503,
284,
262,
17119,
11,
564,
250,
5779,
1138,
13,
447,
251,
2990,
750,
407,
10971,
11,
475,
530,
286,
606,
11,
3016,
355,
7331,
290,
7272,
1928,
20095,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
6265,
4279,
290,
4838,
287,
284,
1302,
878,
683,
13,
464,
16195,
12408,
257,
2060,
275,
7086,
287,
465,
890,
4190,
11,
2491,
866,
262,
1735,
286,
465,
1986,
290,
625,
465,
8163,
13,
6653,
25839,
547,
13055,
2330,
287,
262,
2939,
286,
12098,
13,
464,
49604,
286,
465,
5739,
290,
30654,
900,
286,
465,
1986,
12548,
257,
1204,
287,
262,
11859,
22775,
11,
290,
547,
340,
407,
329,
262,
37735,
3124,
286,
465,
4190,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
423,
1807,
683,
284,
307,
286,
530
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
734,
5637,
2900,
290,
11468,
11,
475,
370,
4754,
4563,
373,
826,
2157,
13,
1544,
5611,
465,
15554,
11,
36998,
530,
422,
1204,
11,
290,
43908,
2402,
262,
584,
11,
14121,
340,
284,
262,
2323,
11061,
683,
290,
788,
24949,
262,
1204,
422,
340,
351,
465,
6247,
2832,
13,
2215,
339,
373,
5201,
11,
618,
339,
550,
2982,
262,
2457,
8469,
286,
7393,
15992,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
12086,
465,
44472,
290,
465,
2460,
13,
1544,
43908,
510,
290,
9763,
1497,
11,
465,
736,
1028,
262,
7150,
13,
464,
2042,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
4030,
511,
5253,
11,
25923,
286,
465,
30721,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
714,
407,
307,
1654,
286,
511,
14953,
13,
1544,
28660,
1088,
329,
465,
2460,
13,
8081,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
3830,
1735,
416,
1735,
1474,
810,
262,
14260,
550,
587,
28408,
6083,
26,
339,
714,
407,
1560,
611,
484,
547,
6776,
393,
2636,
13,
1858,
373,
645,
1051,
286,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
475,
257,
1907,
3767,
3675,
262,
584,
5743,
286,
262,
7150,
13,
464,
17119,
277,
3577,
503,
287,
257,
3094,
10663,
12,
45597,
1088,
683,
11,
7720,
572,
597,
11926,
286,
6654,
13,
1537,
484,
5025,
511,
22097,
6451,
11,
329,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
550,
34850,
4504,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
13180,
13,
1544,
714,
407,
1592,
1028,
523,
867,
11,
475,
262,
1807,
750,
407,
29793,
683,
13,
1544,
561,
4656,
4330,
11,
355,
257,
2081,
16491,
11,
290,
465,
1918,
561,
307,
12086,
13,
1532,
262,
2042,
12,
29972,
24837,
1547,
1625,
379,
683,
11,
867,
11,
339,
2993,
11,
561,
407,
1441,
284,
511,
4172,
13,
1544,
18735,
465,
18728,
287,
290,
47425,
276,
262,
1175,
17980,
17707,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
307,
1760,
351,
340,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
250,
26807,
0,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
2705,
11,
475,
23602,
31992,
422,
2029,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
8018,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
3809,
379,
1752,
290,
18397,
465,
11762,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
284,
534,
7522,
11,
475,
760,
326,
517,
3160,
389,
379,
10171,
621,
534,
898,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
7247,
788,
326,
3310,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
547,
2192,
991,
6776,
13,
1544,
5710,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
284,
262,
2323,
290,
1444,
503,
284,
262,
17119,
11,
564,
250,
5779,
1138,
13,
447,
251,
2990,
750,
407,
10971,
11,
475,
530,
286,
606,
11,
3016,
355,
7331,
290,
7272,
1928,
20095,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
6265,
4279,
290,
4838,
287,
284,
1302,
878,
683,
13,
464,
16195,
12408,
257,
2060,
275,
7086,
287,
465,
890,
4190,
11,
2491,
866,
262,
1735,
286,
465,
1986,
290,
625,
465,
8163,
13,
6653,
25839,
547,
13055,
2330,
287,
262,
2939,
286,
12098,
13,
464,
49604,
286,
465,
5739,
290,
30654,
900,
286,
465,
1986,
12548,
257,
1204,
287,
262,
11859,
22775,
11,
290,
547,
340,
407,
329,
262,
37735,
3124,
286,
465,
4190,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
423,
1807,
683,
284,
307,
286,
530
] |
dnd554
|
“We share hatred for the orcs, as well,” he continued, “but I know nothing of you or your people.”“You shall learn,” the dark-haired man replied.He held out his hand and indicated the warhammer.Wulfgar straightened firmly, having no intentions of surrendering, no matter the odds.The dark-haired man looked to the side, drawing Wulfgar‟s eyes with his own.Two warriors had picked up Bruenor and Regis and slung them over their backs, while others had recaptured the horses and were leading them in.“The weapon,” the dark-haired man demanded.“You are in our land without our say, Wulfgar, son of Beornegar.The price of that crime is death.Shall you watch our judgement over your small friends?”The younger Wulfgar would have struck then, damning them all in a blaze of glorious fury.But Wulfgar had learned much from his new friends, Drizzt in particular.He knew that Aegis-fang would return to his call, and he knew, too, that Drizzt would not abandon them.This was not the time to fight.He even let them bind his hands, an act of dishonor that no warrior of the Tribe of the Elk would ever allow.But Wulfgar had faith in Drizzt.His hands would be freed again.Then he would have the last word.By the time they reached the barbarian camp, both Regis and Bruenor had regained consciousness and were bound and walking beside their barbarian friend.Dried blood crusted Bruenor‟s hair and he had lost his helm, but his dwarven toughness had carried him through another encounter that should have finished him.They crested a rise and came upon the perimeter of a ring of tents and blazing campfires.Whooping their war cries to Tempus, the returning war party roused the camp, tossing severed orc heads into the ring to announce their glorious arrival.The fervor inside the camp soon matched the level of the entering war party, and the three prisoners were pushed in first, to be greeted by a score of howling barbarians.“What do they eat?” Bruenor asked, more in sarcasm than concern.“Whatever it is, feed them quickly,” Regis replied, drawing a clap on the back of his head and a warning to be silent from the guard behind him.The prisoners and horses were herded into the center of the camp and the tribe encircled them in a victory dance, kicking orc heads around in the dust and singing out, in a language unknown to the companions, their praise to Tempus and to Uthgar, their ancestral hero, for the success this night.It went on for nearly an hour, and then, all at once, it ended and every face in the ring turned to the closed flap of a large and decorated tent.The silence held for a long moment before the flap swung open.Out jumped an ancient man, as slender as a tent pole, but showing more energy than his obvious years would indicate.His face painted in the same markings as the warriors, though more elaborately, he wore a patch with a huge green gemstone sewn upon it over one eye.His robe was the purest white, its sleeves showing as feathered wings whenever he flapped his arms out to the side.He danced and twirled through the ranks of the warriors, and each held his breath, recoiling until he had passed.“Chief?” Bruenor whispered.“Shaman,” corrected Wulfgar, more knowledgeable in the ways of tribal life.The respect the warriors showed this man came from a fear beyond what a mortal enemy, even a chieftain, could impart.The shaman spun and leaped, landing right before the three prisoners.He looked at Bruenor and Regis for just a moment, then turned his full attention upon Wulfgar.“I am Valric High Eye,” he screeched suddenly.
|
“We share hatred for the orcs, as well,” he continued, “but I know nothing of you or your people.”“You shall learn,” the dark-haired man replied.He held out his hand and indicated the warhammer.Wulfgar straightened firmly, having no intentions of surrendering, no matter the odds.The dark-haired man looked to the side, drawing Wulfgar‟s eyes with his own.Two warriors had picked up Bruenor and Regis and slung them over their backs, while others had recaptured the horses and were leading them in.“The weapon,” the dark-haired man demanded.“You are in our land without our say, Wulfgar, son of Beornegar.The price of that crime is death.Shall you watch our judgement over your small friends?”The younger Wulfgar would have struck then, damning them all in a blaze of glorious fury.But Wulfgar had learned much from his new friends, Drizzt in particular.He knew that Aegis-fang would return to his call, and he knew, too, that Drizzt would not abandon them.This was not the time to fight.He even let them bind his hands, an act of dishonor that no warrior of the Tribe of the Elk would ever allow.But Wulfgar had faith in Drizzt.His hands would be freed again.Then he would have the last word.By the time they reached the barbarian camp, both Regis and Bruenor had regained consciousness and were bound and walking beside their barbarian friend.Dried blood crusted Bruenor‟s hair and he had lost his helm, but his dwarven toughness had carried him through another encounter that should have finished him.They crested a rise and came upon the perimeter of a ring of tents and blazing campfires.Whooping their war cries to Tempus, the returning war party roused the camp, tossing severed orc heads into the ring to announce their glorious arrival.The fervor inside the camp soon matched the level of the entering war party, and the three prisoners were pushed in first, to be greeted by a score of howling barbarians.“What do they eat?” Bruenor asked, more in sarcasm than concern.“Whatever it is, feed them quickly,” Regis replied, drawing a clap on the back of his head and a warning to be silent from the guard behind him.The prisoners and horses were herded into the center of the camp and the tribe encircled them in a victory dance, kicking orc heads around in the dust and singing out, in a language unknown to the companions, their praise to Tempus and to Uthgar, their ancestral hero, for the success this night.It went on for nearly an hour, and then, all at once, it ended and every face in the ring turned to the closed flap of a large and decorated tent.The silence held for a long moment before the flap swung open.Out jumped an ancient man, as slender as a tent pole, but showing more energy than his obvious years would indicate.His face painted in the same markings as the warriors, though more elaborately, he wore a patch with a huge green gemstone sewn upon it over one eye.His robe was the purest white, its sleeves showing as feathered wings whenever he flapped his arms out to the side.He danced and twirled through the ranks of the warriors, and each held his breath, recoiling until he had passed.“Chief?” Bruenor whispered.“Shaman,” corrected Wulfgar, more knowledgeable in the ways of tribal life.The respect the warriors showed this man came from a fear beyond what a mortal enemy, even a chieftain, could impart.The shaman spun and leaped, landing right before the three prisoners.He looked at Bruenor and Regis for just a moment, then turned his full attention upon Wulfgar.“I am Valric High Eye,” he screeched suddenly.
|
[
447,
250,
1135,
2648,
13763,
329,
262,
46448,
11,
355,
880,
11,
447,
251,
339,
3767,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
314,
760,
2147,
286,
345,
393,
534,
661,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
2193,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
8712,
13,
1544,
2714,
503,
465,
1021,
290,
8203,
262,
1175,
17980,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3892,
2945,
14245,
11,
1719,
645,
14953,
286,
16908,
278,
11,
645,
2300,
262,
10402,
13,
464,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
3114,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
8263,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
351,
465,
898,
13,
7571,
17119,
550,
6497,
510,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
290,
1017,
2150,
606,
625,
511,
12983,
11,
981,
1854,
550,
36791,
1522,
262,
14260,
290,
547,
3756,
606,
287,
13,
447,
250,
464,
4282,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
287,
674,
1956,
1231,
674,
910,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
3367,
286,
1355,
8553,
4563,
13,
464,
2756,
286,
326,
4065,
318,
1918,
13,
2484,
439,
345,
2342,
674,
23071,
625,
534,
1402,
2460,
30,
447,
251,
464,
7099,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
423,
7425,
788,
11,
36706,
606,
477,
287,
257,
31259,
286,
21140,
26206,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
4499,
881,
422,
465,
649,
2460,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
1948,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
561,
1441,
284,
465,
869,
11,
290,
339,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
561,
407,
6871,
606,
13,
1212,
373,
407,
262,
640,
284,
1907,
13,
1544,
772,
1309,
606,
11007,
465,
2832,
11,
281,
719,
286,
32045,
273,
326,
645,
16491,
286,
262,
27804,
286,
262,
40151,
561,
1683,
1249,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
4562,
287,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
6653,
2832,
561,
307,
13459,
757,
13,
6423,
339,
561,
423,
262,
938,
1573,
13,
3886,
262,
640,
484,
4251,
262,
42577,
3699,
1413,
11,
1111,
3310,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
35049,
10510,
290,
547,
5421,
290,
6155,
13970,
511,
42577,
3699,
1545,
13,
35,
2228,
2910,
1067,
8459,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
4190,
290,
339,
550,
2626,
465,
18030,
11,
475,
465,
15594,
574,
35879,
550,
5281,
683,
832,
1194,
8791,
326,
815,
423,
5201,
683,
13,
2990,
1126,
30679,
257,
4485,
290,
1625,
2402,
262,
25317,
286,
257,
5858,
286,
29804,
290,
37019,
1413,
27312,
13,
8241,
15816,
511,
1175,
24691,
284,
24189,
385,
11,
262,
8024,
1175,
2151,
374,
29997,
262,
1413,
11,
37432,
32160,
26393,
6665,
656,
262,
5858,
284,
5453,
511,
21140,
10325,
13,
464,
28866,
273,
2641,
262,
1413,
2582,
14451,
262,
1241,
286,
262,
8218,
1175,
2151,
11,
290,
262,
1115,
10577,
547,
7121,
287,
717,
11,
284,
307,
21272,
416,
257,
4776,
286,
703,
1359,
24837,
1547,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
484,
4483,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
11,
517,
287,
40638,
8597,
621,
2328,
13,
447,
250,
21875,
340,
318,
11,
3745,
606,
2952,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
11,
8263,
257,
537,
499,
319,
262,
736
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1135,
2648,
13763,
329,
262,
46448,
11,
355,
880,
11,
447,
251,
339,
3767,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
314,
760,
2147,
286,
345,
393,
534,
661,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
2193,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
8712,
13,
1544,
2714,
503,
465,
1021,
290,
8203,
262,
1175,
17980,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3892,
2945,
14245,
11,
1719,
645,
14953,
286,
16908,
278,
11,
645,
2300,
262,
10402,
13,
464,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
3114,
284,
262,
1735,
11,
8263,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
351,
465,
898,
13,
7571,
17119,
550,
6497,
510,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
290,
1017,
2150,
606,
625,
511,
12983,
11,
981,
1854,
550,
36791,
1522,
262,
14260,
290,
547,
3756,
606,
287,
13,
447,
250,
464,
4282,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
287,
674,
1956,
1231,
674,
910,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
3367,
286,
1355,
8553,
4563,
13,
464,
2756,
286,
326,
4065,
318,
1918,
13,
2484,
439,
345,
2342,
674,
23071,
625,
534,
1402,
2460,
30,
447,
251,
464,
7099,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
423,
7425,
788,
11,
36706,
606,
477,
287,
257,
31259,
286,
21140,
26206,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
4499,
881,
422,
465,
649,
2460,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
287,
1948,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
561,
1441,
284,
465,
869,
11,
290,
339,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
561,
407,
6871,
606,
13,
1212,
373,
407,
262,
640,
284,
1907,
13,
1544,
772,
1309,
606,
11007,
465,
2832,
11,
281,
719,
286,
32045,
273,
326,
645,
16491,
286,
262,
27804,
286,
262,
40151,
561,
1683,
1249,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
4562,
287,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
6653,
2832,
561,
307,
13459,
757,
13,
6423,
339,
561,
423,
262,
938,
1573,
13,
3886,
262,
640,
484,
4251,
262,
42577,
3699,
1413,
11,
1111,
3310,
271,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
35049,
10510,
290,
547,
5421,
290,
6155,
13970,
511,
42577,
3699,
1545,
13,
35,
2228,
2910,
1067,
8459,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
4190,
290,
339,
550,
2626,
465,
18030,
11,
475,
465,
15594,
574,
35879,
550,
5281,
683,
832,
1194,
8791,
326,
815,
423,
5201,
683,
13,
2990,
1126,
30679,
257,
4485,
290,
1625,
2402,
262,
25317,
286,
257,
5858,
286,
29804,
290,
37019,
1413,
27312,
13,
8241,
15816,
511,
1175,
24691,
284,
24189,
385,
11,
262,
8024,
1175,
2151,
374,
29997,
262,
1413,
11,
37432,
32160,
26393,
6665,
656,
262,
5858,
284,
5453,
511,
21140,
10325,
13,
464,
28866,
273,
2641,
262,
1413,
2582,
14451,
262,
1241,
286,
262,
8218,
1175,
2151,
11,
290,
262,
1115,
10577,
547,
7121,
287,
717,
11,
284,
307,
21272,
416,
257,
4776,
286,
703,
1359,
24837,
1547,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
484,
4483,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
11,
517,
287,
40638,
8597,
621,
2328,
13,
447,
250,
21875,
340,
318,
11,
3745,
606,
2952,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
11,
8263,
257,
537,
499,
319,
262,
736
] |
dnd555
|
“Priest of the followers of the Sky Ponies!The children of Uthgar!”“Uthgar!” echoed the warriors, clapping their hatchets against their wooden shields.Wulfgar waited for the commotion to die away, then presented himself.“I am Wulfgar, son of Page 41Beornegar, of the Tribe of the Elk.”“And I‟m Bruenor–” began the dwarf.“Silence!” Valric shouted at him, trembling with rage.“I care nothing for you!”Bruenor closed his mouth and entertained dreams concerning his axe and Valric‟s head.“We meant no harm, nor trespass,” Wulfgar began, but Valric put his hand up, cutting him short.“Your purpose does not interest me,” he explained calmly, but his excitement resurged at once.“Tempus has delivered you unto us, that is all!A worthy warrior?” He looked around at his own men and their response showed eagerness for the coming challenge.“How many did you claim?” he asked Wulfgar.“Seven fell before me,” the young barbarian replied proudly.Valric nodded in approval.“Tall and strong,” he commented.“Let us discover if Tempus is with you.Let us judge if you are worthy to run with the Sky Ponies!”Shouts started at once and two warriors rushed over to unbind Wulfgar.A third, the leader of the war party who had spoken to Wulfgar at the copse of trees, tossed down his hatchet and shield and stormed into the ring.Drizzt waited in his tree until the last of the war party had given up the search for the rider of the fourth horse and departed.Then the drow moved quickly, gathering together some of the dropped items: the dwarf‟s axe and Regis‟s mace.He had to pause and steady himself when he found Bruenor‟s helm, though, blood-stained and newly dented, and with one of its horns broken away.Had his friend survived?He shoved the broken helm into his sack and slipped out after the troupe, keeping a cautious distance.Relief flooded through him when he came upon the camp and spotted his three friends, Bruenor standing calmly between Wulfgar and Regis.Satisfied, Drizzt put aside his emotions and all thoughts of the previous encounter, narrowing his vision to the situation before him, formulating a plan of attack that would free his friends.* * *The dark-haired man held his open hands out to Wulfgar, inviting his blond counterpart to clasp them.Wulfgar had never seen this particular challenge before, but it was not so different from the tests of strength that his own people practised.“Your feet do not move!” instructed Valric.“This is the challenge of strength!Let Tempus show us your worth!”Wulfgar‟s firm visage didn‟t reveal a hint of his confidence that he could defeat any man at such a test.He brought his hands up level with those of his opponent.The man grabbed at them angrily, snarling at the large foreigner.Almost immediately, before Wulfgar had even straightened his grip or set his feet, the shaman screamed out to begin, and the dark-haired man drove his hands forward, bending Wulfgar‟s back over his wrists.Shouting erupted from every corner of the encampment; the dark-haired man roared and pushed with all his strength, but as soon as the moment of surprise had passed, Wulfgar fought back.The iron-corded muscles in Wulfgar‟s neck and shoulders snapped taut and his huge arms reddened with the forced surge of blood into their veins.
|
“Priest of the followers of the Sky Ponies!The children of Uthgar!”“Uthgar!” echoed the warriors, clapping their hatchets against their wooden shields.Wulfgar waited for the commotion to die away, then presented himself.“I am Wulfgar, son of Page 41Beornegar, of the Tribe of the Elk.”“And I‟m Bruenor–” began the dwarf.“Silence!” Valric shouted at him, trembling with rage.“I care nothing for you!”Bruenor closed his mouth and entertained dreams concerning his axe and Valric‟s head.“We meant no harm, nor trespass,” Wulfgar began, but Valric put his hand up, cutting him short.“Your purpose does not interest me,” he explained calmly, but his excitement resurged at once.“Tempus has delivered you unto us, that is all!A worthy warrior?” He looked around at his own men and their response showed eagerness for the coming challenge.“How many did you claim?” he asked Wulfgar.“Seven fell before me,” the young barbarian replied proudly.Valric nodded in approval.“Tall and strong,” he commented.“Let us discover if Tempus is with you.Let us judge if you are worthy to run with the Sky Ponies!”Shouts started at once and two warriors rushed over to unbind Wulfgar.A third, the leader of the war party who had spoken to Wulfgar at the copse of trees, tossed down his hatchet and shield and stormed into the ring.Drizzt waited in his tree until the last of the war party had given up the search for the rider of the fourth horse and departed.Then the drow moved quickly, gathering together some of the dropped items: the dwarf‟s axe and Regis‟s mace.He had to pause and steady himself when he found Bruenor‟s helm, though, blood-stained and newly dented, and with one of its horns broken away.Had his friend survived?He shoved the broken helm into his sack and slipped out after the troupe, keeping a cautious distance.Relief flooded through him when he came upon the camp and spotted his three friends, Bruenor standing calmly between Wulfgar and Regis.Satisfied, Drizzt put aside his emotions and all thoughts of the previous encounter, narrowing his vision to the situation before him, formulating a plan of attack that would free his friends.* * *The dark-haired man held his open hands out to Wulfgar, inviting his blond counterpart to clasp them.Wulfgar had never seen this particular challenge before, but it was not so different from the tests of strength that his own people practised.“Your feet do not move!” instructed Valric.“This is the challenge of strength!Let Tempus show us your worth!”Wulfgar‟s firm visage didn‟t reveal a hint of his confidence that he could defeat any man at such a test.He brought his hands up level with those of his opponent.The man grabbed at them angrily, snarling at the large foreigner.Almost immediately, before Wulfgar had even straightened his grip or set his feet, the shaman screamed out to begin, and the dark-haired man drove his hands forward, bending Wulfgar‟s back over his wrists.Shouting erupted from every corner of the encampment; the dark-haired man roared and pushed with all his strength, but as soon as the moment of surprise had passed, Wulfgar fought back.The iron-corded muscles in Wulfgar‟s neck and shoulders snapped taut and his huge arms reddened with the forced surge of blood into their veins.
|
[
447,
250,
34487,
395,
286,
262,
10569,
286,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
0,
464,
1751,
286,
471,
400,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
52,
400,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
22211,
262,
17119,
11,
537,
5912,
511,
6877,
2395,
912,
1028,
511,
13510,
21132,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
13488,
329,
262,
725,
9650,
284,
4656,
1497,
11,
788,
5545,
2241,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
3367,
286,
7873,
6073,
3856,
8553,
4563,
11,
286,
262,
27804,
286,
262,
40151,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
447,
253,
76,
8274,
268,
273,
1906,
447,
251,
2540,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
15086,
594,
0,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
17293,
379,
683,
11,
39228,
351,
14404,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1337,
2147,
329,
345,
0,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
4838,
465,
5422,
290,
34988,
10625,
9305,
465,
23272,
290,
3254,
1173,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
4001,
645,
4419,
11,
4249,
49192,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
2540,
11,
475,
3254,
1173,
1234,
465,
1021,
510,
11,
7720,
683,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
4007,
857,
407,
1393,
502,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
30180,
11,
475,
465,
14067,
15328,
2004,
379,
1752,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
468,
6793,
345,
12722,
514,
11,
326,
318,
477,
0,
32,
12733,
16491,
30,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
1088,
379,
465,
898,
1450,
290,
511,
2882,
3751,
11069,
1108,
329,
262,
2406,
4427,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
750,
345,
1624,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
31334,
3214,
878,
502,
11,
447,
251,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
8712,
23017,
13,
7762,
1173,
14464,
287,
7546,
13,
447,
250,
51,
439,
290,
1913,
11,
447,
251,
339,
16476,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
7073,
611,
24189,
385,
318,
351,
345,
13,
5756,
514,
5052,
611,
345,
389,
12733,
284,
1057,
351,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
0,
447,
251,
2484,
5269,
2067,
379,
1752,
290,
734,
17119,
13999,
625,
284,
555,
21653,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
32,
2368,
11,
262,
3554,
286,
262,
1175,
2151,
508,
550,
9635,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
379,
262,
2243,
325,
286,
7150,
11,
22591,
866,
465,
6877,
20043,
290,
7614,
290,
33997,
656,
262,
5858,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13488,
287,
465,
5509,
1566,
262,
938,
286,
262,
1175,
2151,
550,
1813,
510,
262,
2989,
329,
262,
17876,
286,
262,
5544,
8223,
290,
24057,
13,
6423,
262,
288,
808,
3888,
2952,
11,
11228,
1978,
617,
286,
262,
5710,
3709,
25,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
290,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
285,
558,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
14985,
290,
11831,
2241,
618,
339,
1043,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
18030,
11,
996,
11,
2910,
12,
44279,
290,
8308,
288,
4714,
11,
290,
351,
530,
286,
663,
26771,
5445,
1497,
13,
25383,
465,
1545,
11803,
30,
1544,
35137,
262,
5445,
18030,
656,
465,
23704,
290,
18859,
503,
706,
262,
4057,
431,
11,
5291,
257,
21205,
5253,
13,
6892,
2086,
21050,
832,
683,
618,
339,
1625,
2402,
262,
1413,
290,
13489,
465,
1115,
2460,
11
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
34487,
395,
286,
262,
10569,
286,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
0,
464,
1751,
286,
471,
400,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
52,
400,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
22211,
262,
17119,
11,
537,
5912,
511,
6877,
2395,
912,
1028,
511,
13510,
21132,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
13488,
329,
262,
725,
9650,
284,
4656,
1497,
11,
788,
5545,
2241,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
3367,
286,
7873,
6073,
3856,
8553,
4563,
11,
286,
262,
27804,
286,
262,
40151,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
447,
253,
76,
8274,
268,
273,
1906,
447,
251,
2540,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
15086,
594,
0,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
17293,
379,
683,
11,
39228,
351,
14404,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1337,
2147,
329,
345,
0,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
4838,
465,
5422,
290,
34988,
10625,
9305,
465,
23272,
290,
3254,
1173,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
4001,
645,
4419,
11,
4249,
49192,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
2540,
11,
475,
3254,
1173,
1234,
465,
1021,
510,
11,
7720,
683,
1790,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
4007,
857,
407,
1393,
502,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
30180,
11,
475,
465,
14067,
15328,
2004,
379,
1752,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
468,
6793,
345,
12722,
514,
11,
326,
318,
477,
0,
32,
12733,
16491,
30,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
1088,
379,
465,
898,
1450,
290,
511,
2882,
3751,
11069,
1108,
329,
262,
2406,
4427,
13,
447,
250,
2437,
867,
750,
345,
1624,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
31334,
3214,
878,
502,
11,
447,
251,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
8712,
23017,
13,
7762,
1173,
14464,
287,
7546,
13,
447,
250,
51,
439,
290,
1913,
11,
447,
251,
339,
16476,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
7073,
611,
24189,
385,
318,
351,
345,
13,
5756,
514,
5052,
611,
345,
389,
12733,
284,
1057,
351,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
0,
447,
251,
2484,
5269,
2067,
379,
1752,
290,
734,
17119,
13999,
625,
284,
555,
21653,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
32,
2368,
11,
262,
3554,
286,
262,
1175,
2151,
508,
550,
9635,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
379,
262,
2243,
325,
286,
7150,
11,
22591,
866,
465,
6877,
20043,
290,
7614,
290,
33997,
656,
262,
5858,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13488,
287,
465,
5509,
1566,
262,
938,
286,
262,
1175,
2151,
550,
1813,
510,
262,
2989,
329,
262,
17876,
286,
262,
5544,
8223,
290,
24057,
13,
6423,
262,
288,
808,
3888,
2952,
11,
11228,
1978,
617,
286,
262,
5710,
3709,
25,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
290,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
285,
558,
13,
1544,
550,
284,
14985,
290,
11831,
2241,
618,
339,
1043,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
18030,
11,
996,
11,
2910,
12,
44279,
290,
8308,
288,
4714,
11,
290,
351,
530,
286,
663,
26771,
5445,
1497,
13,
25383,
465,
1545,
11803,
30,
1544,
35137,
262,
5445,
18030,
656,
465,
23704,
290,
18859,
503,
706,
262,
4057,
431,
11,
5291,
257,
21205,
5253,
13,
6892,
2086,
21050,
832,
683,
618,
339,
1625,
2402,
262,
1413,
290,
13489,
465,
1115,
2460,
11
] |
dnd556
|
Tempus had blessed him truly; even his mighty opponent could only gape in amazement at the spectacle of his power.Wulfgar looked him straight in the eye and matched the snarl with a determined glare that foretold the inevitable victory.Then the son of Beornegar drove forward, stopping the dark-haired man‟s initial momentum and forcing his own hands back into a more normal angle with his wrists.Once he had regained parity, Wulfgar realized that one sudden push would put his opponent into the same disadvantage that he had just escaped.From there, the dark-haired man would have little chance of holding on.But Wulfgar wasn‟t anxious to end this contest.He didn‟t want to humiliate his opponent–that Page 42would breed only an enemy–and even more importantly, he knew that Drizzt was about.The longer he could keep the contest going, and the eyes of every member of the tribe fixed upon him, the longer Drizzt would have to put some plan into motion.The two men held there for many seconds, and Wulfgar couldn‟t help but smile when he noticed a dark shape slip in among the horses, behind the enthralled guards at the other end of the camp.Whether it was his imagination, he could not tell, but he thought that he saw two points of lavender flame staring out at him from the darkness.A few seconds more, he decided, though he knew that he was taking a chance by not finishing the challenge.The shaman could declare a draw if they held for too long.But then it was over.The veins and sinews in Wulfgar‟s arms bulged and his shoulders lifted even higher.“Tempus!” he growled, praising the god for yet another victory, and then with a sudden, ferocious explosion of power, he drove the dark-haired man to his knees.All around, the camp went silent, even the shaman being stricken speechless by the display.Two guards moved tentatively to Wulfgar‟s side.The beaten warrior pulled himself to his feet and stood facing Wulfgar.No hints of anger marred his face, just honest admiration, for the Sky Ponies were an honorable people.“We would welcome you,” Valric said.“You have defeated Torlin, son of Jerek Wolf-slayer, Chieftain of the Sky Ponies.Never before has Torlin been bested!”“What of my friends?” Wulfgar asked.“I care nothing for them!” Valric snapped back.“The dwarf will be set free on a trail leading from our land.We have no quarrel with him or his kind, nor do we desire any dealings with them!”The shaman eyed Wulfgar slyly.“The other is a weakling,” he stated.“He shall serve as your passage to the tribe, your sacrifice to the winged horse.”Wulfgar did not immediately respond.They had tested his strength, and now were testing his loyalties.
|
Tempus had blessed him truly; even his mighty opponent could only gape in amazement at the spectacle of his power.Wulfgar looked him straight in the eye and matched the snarl with a determined glare that foretold the inevitable victory.Then the son of Beornegar drove forward, stopping the dark-haired man‟s initial momentum and forcing his own hands back into a more normal angle with his wrists.Once he had regained parity, Wulfgar realized that one sudden push would put his opponent into the same disadvantage that he had just escaped.From there, the dark-haired man would have little chance of holding on.But Wulfgar wasn‟t anxious to end this contest.He didn‟t want to humiliate his opponent–that Page 42would breed only an enemy–and even more importantly, he knew that Drizzt was about.The longer he could keep the contest going, and the eyes of every member of the tribe fixed upon him, the longer Drizzt would have to put some plan into motion.The two men held there for many seconds, and Wulfgar couldn‟t help but smile when he noticed a dark shape slip in among the horses, behind the enthralled guards at the other end of the camp.Whether it was his imagination, he could not tell, but he thought that he saw two points of lavender flame staring out at him from the darkness.A few seconds more, he decided, though he knew that he was taking a chance by not finishing the challenge.The shaman could declare a draw if they held for too long.But then it was over.The veins and sinews in Wulfgar‟s arms bulged and his shoulders lifted even higher.“Tempus!” he growled, praising the god for yet another victory, and then with a sudden, ferocious explosion of power, he drove the dark-haired man to his knees.All around, the camp went silent, even the shaman being stricken speechless by the display.Two guards moved tentatively to Wulfgar‟s side.The beaten warrior pulled himself to his feet and stood facing Wulfgar.No hints of anger marred his face, just honest admiration, for the Sky Ponies were an honorable people.“We would welcome you,” Valric said.“You have defeated Torlin, son of Jerek Wolf-slayer, Chieftain of the Sky Ponies.Never before has Torlin been bested!”“What of my friends?” Wulfgar asked.“I care nothing for them!” Valric snapped back.“The dwarf will be set free on a trail leading from our land.We have no quarrel with him or his kind, nor do we desire any dealings with them!”The shaman eyed Wulfgar slyly.“The other is a weakling,” he stated.“He shall serve as your passage to the tribe, your sacrifice to the winged horse.”Wulfgar did not immediately respond.They had tested his strength, and now were testing his loyalties.
|
[
30782,
385,
550,
18259,
683,
4988,
26,
772,
465,
18680,
6125,
714,
691,
308,
1758,
287,
40642,
972,
379,
262,
27519,
286,
465,
1176,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
683,
3892,
287,
262,
4151,
290,
14451,
262,
3013,
7063,
351,
257,
5295,
36785,
326,
1674,
44040,
262,
13203,
5373,
13,
6423,
262,
3367,
286,
1355,
8553,
4563,
10357,
2651,
11,
12225,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
447,
253,
82,
4238,
12858,
290,
10833,
465,
898,
2832,
736,
656,
257,
517,
3487,
9848,
351,
465,
38163,
13,
7454,
339,
550,
35049,
34383,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
6939,
326,
530,
4802,
4574,
561,
1234,
465,
6125,
656,
262,
976,
21407,
326,
339,
550,
655,
13537,
13,
4863,
612,
11,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
561,
423,
1310,
2863,
286,
4769,
319,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
18116,
284,
886,
428,
8414,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
22251,
378,
465,
6125,
1906,
5562,
7873,
5433,
19188,
15939,
691,
281,
4472,
1906,
392,
772,
517,
11003,
11,
339,
2993,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
546,
13,
464,
2392,
339,
714,
1394,
262,
8414,
1016,
11,
290,
262,
2951,
286,
790,
2888,
286,
262,
14893,
5969,
2402,
683,
11,
262,
2392,
5809,
3019,
83,
561,
423,
284,
1234,
617,
1410,
656,
6268,
13,
464,
734,
1450,
2714,
612,
329,
867,
4201,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
1037,
475,
8212,
618,
339,
6810,
257,
3223,
5485,
13819,
287,
1871,
262,
14260,
11,
2157,
262,
920,
11840,
4262,
10942,
379,
262,
584,
886,
286,
262,
1413,
13,
15354,
340,
373,
465,
13843,
11,
339,
714,
407,
1560,
11,
475,
339,
1807,
326,
339,
2497,
734,
2173,
286,
21606,
2194,
16506,
16143,
503,
379,
683,
422,
262,
11854,
13,
32,
1178,
4201,
517,
11,
339,
3066,
11,
996,
339,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
2263,
257,
2863,
416,
407,
12848,
262,
4427,
13,
464,
40632,
714,
13627,
257,
3197,
611,
484,
2714,
329,
1165,
890,
13,
1537,
788,
340,
373,
625,
13,
464,
32375,
290,
7813,
15515,
287,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
5101,
4807,
2004,
290,
465,
12450,
13663,
772,
2440,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
33557,
262,
5770,
329,
1865,
1194,
5373,
11,
290,
788,
351,
257,
4802,
11,
40831,
11278,
286,
1176,
11,
339,
10357,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
284,
465,
14475,
13,
3237,
1088,
11,
262,
1413,
1816,
10574,
11,
772,
262,
40632,
852,
47455,
4046,
1203,
416,
262,
3359,
13,
7571,
10942,
3888,
11105,
9404,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1735,
13,
464,
13125,
16491,
5954,
2241,
284,
465,
3625,
290,
6204,
6476,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
2949,
20269,
286,
8993,
1667,
445,
465,
1986,
11,
655,
5508,
28506,
11,
329,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
547,
281,
33655,
661,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
561,
7062,
345,
11,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
9772,
4022,
2815,
11,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
8662,
12,
6649,
2794,
11,
609,
49868,
391,
286,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
13,
12295,
878,
468,
4022,
2815
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
30782,
385,
550,
18259,
683,
4988,
26,
772,
465,
18680,
6125,
714,
691,
308,
1758,
287,
40642,
972,
379,
262,
27519,
286,
465,
1176,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
683,
3892,
287,
262,
4151,
290,
14451,
262,
3013,
7063,
351,
257,
5295,
36785,
326,
1674,
44040,
262,
13203,
5373,
13,
6423,
262,
3367,
286,
1355,
8553,
4563,
10357,
2651,
11,
12225,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
447,
253,
82,
4238,
12858,
290,
10833,
465,
898,
2832,
736,
656,
257,
517,
3487,
9848,
351,
465,
38163,
13,
7454,
339,
550,
35049,
34383,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
6939,
326,
530,
4802,
4574,
561,
1234,
465,
6125,
656,
262,
976,
21407,
326,
339,
550,
655,
13537,
13,
4863,
612,
11,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
561,
423,
1310,
2863,
286,
4769,
319,
13,
1537,
370,
4754,
4563,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
18116,
284,
886,
428,
8414,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
22251,
378,
465,
6125,
1906,
5562,
7873,
5433,
19188,
15939,
691,
281,
4472,
1906,
392,
772,
517,
11003,
11,
339,
2993,
326,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
546,
13,
464,
2392,
339,
714,
1394,
262,
8414,
1016,
11,
290,
262,
2951,
286,
790,
2888,
286,
262,
14893,
5969,
2402,
683,
11,
262,
2392,
5809,
3019,
83,
561,
423,
284,
1234,
617,
1410,
656,
6268,
13,
464,
734,
1450,
2714,
612,
329,
867,
4201,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
1037,
475,
8212,
618,
339,
6810,
257,
3223,
5485,
13819,
287,
1871,
262,
14260,
11,
2157,
262,
920,
11840,
4262,
10942,
379,
262,
584,
886,
286,
262,
1413,
13,
15354,
340,
373,
465,
13843,
11,
339,
714,
407,
1560,
11,
475,
339,
1807,
326,
339,
2497,
734,
2173,
286,
21606,
2194,
16506,
16143,
503,
379,
683,
422,
262,
11854,
13,
32,
1178,
4201,
517,
11,
339,
3066,
11,
996,
339,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
2263,
257,
2863,
416,
407,
12848,
262,
4427,
13,
464,
40632,
714,
13627,
257,
3197,
611,
484,
2714,
329,
1165,
890,
13,
1537,
788,
340,
373,
625,
13,
464,
32375,
290,
7813,
15515,
287,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
5101,
4807,
2004,
290,
465,
12450,
13663,
772,
2440,
13,
447,
250,
30782,
385,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
11,
33557,
262,
5770,
329,
1865,
1194,
5373,
11,
290,
788,
351,
257,
4802,
11,
40831,
11278,
286,
1176,
11,
339,
10357,
262,
3223,
12,
29972,
582,
284,
465,
14475,
13,
3237,
1088,
11,
262,
1413,
1816,
10574,
11,
772,
262,
40632,
852,
47455,
4046,
1203,
416,
262,
3359,
13,
7571,
10942,
3888,
11105,
9404,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1735,
13,
464,
13125,
16491,
5954,
2241,
284,
465,
3625,
290,
6204,
6476,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
2949,
20269,
286,
8993,
1667,
445,
465,
1986,
11,
655,
5508,
28506,
11,
329,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
547,
281,
33655,
661,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
561,
7062,
345,
11,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
9772,
4022,
2815,
11,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
8662,
12,
6649,
2794,
11,
609,
49868,
391,
286,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
13,
12295,
878,
468,
4022,
2815
] |
dnd557
|
The Sky Ponies had paid him their highest honor in offering him a place in their tribe, but only on condition that he show his allegiance beyond any doubt.Wulfgar thought of his own people, and the way they had lived for so many centuries on the tundra.Even in this day, many of the barbarians of Icewind Dale would have accepted the terms and killed Regis, considering the life of a halfling a small price for such an honor.This was the disillusionment of Wulfgar‟s existence with his people, the facet of their moral code that had proved unacceptable to his personal standards.“No,” he replied to Valric without blinking.“He is a weakling!” Valric reasoned.“Only the strong deserve life!”“His fate is not mine to decide,” Wulfgar replied.“Nor yours.”Valric motioned to the two guards and they immediately rebound Wulfgar‟s hands.“A loss for our people,” Torlin said to Wulfgar.“You would have received a place of honor among us.”Wulfgar didn‟t answer, holding Torlin‟s stare for a long moment, sharing respect and also the mutual understanding that their codes were too different for such a joining.In a shared fantasy that could not be, both imagined fighting beside the other, felling orcs by the score and inspiring the bards to a new legend.* * *It was time for Drizzt to strike.The drow had paused by the horses to view the outcome of the contest and also to better measure his enemies.He planned his attack for effect more than for damage, wanting to put on a grand show to cow a tribe of fearless warriors long enough for his friends to break free of the ring.No doubt, the barbarians had heard of the dark elves.And no doubt, the tales they had heard were terrifying.Silently, Drizzt tied the two ponies behind the horses, then mounted the horses, a foot in one Page 43stirrup on each.Rising between them, he stood tall and threw back the cowl of his cloak.The dangerous glow in his lavender eyes sparkling wildly, he bolted the mounts into the ring, scattering the stunned barbarians closest to him.Howls of rage rose up from the surprised tribesmen, the tone of the shouts shifting to one of terror when they viewed the black skin.Torlin and Valric turned to face the oncoming menace, though even they did not know how to deal with a legend personified.And Drizzt had a trick ready for them.With a wave of his black hand, purple flames spouted from Torlin and Valric‟s skin, not burning, but casting both the superstitious tribesmen into a horrified frenzy.Torlin dropped to his knees, clasping his arms in disbelief, while the highstrung shaman dove to the ground and began rolling in the dirt.Wulfgar took his cue.Another surge of power through his arms snapped the leather bonds at his wrists.He continued the momentum of his hands, swinging them upward, catching both of the guards beside him squarely in the face and dropping them to their backs.Bruenor also understood his part.He stomped heavily onto the instep of the lone barbarian standing between him and Regis, and when the man crouched to grasp his pained foot, Bruenor butted him in the head.
|
The Sky Ponies had paid him their highest honor in offering him a place in their tribe, but only on condition that he show his allegiance beyond any doubt.Wulfgar thought of his own people, and the way they had lived for so many centuries on the tundra.Even in this day, many of the barbarians of Icewind Dale would have accepted the terms and killed Regis, considering the life of a halfling a small price for such an honor.This was the disillusionment of Wulfgar‟s existence with his people, the facet of their moral code that had proved unacceptable to his personal standards.“No,” he replied to Valric without blinking.“He is a weakling!” Valric reasoned.“Only the strong deserve life!”“His fate is not mine to decide,” Wulfgar replied.“Nor yours.”Valric motioned to the two guards and they immediately rebound Wulfgar‟s hands.“A loss for our people,” Torlin said to Wulfgar.“You would have received a place of honor among us.”Wulfgar didn‟t answer, holding Torlin‟s stare for a long moment, sharing respect and also the mutual understanding that their codes were too different for such a joining.In a shared fantasy that could not be, both imagined fighting beside the other, felling orcs by the score and inspiring the bards to a new legend.* * *It was time for Drizzt to strike.The drow had paused by the horses to view the outcome of the contest and also to better measure his enemies.He planned his attack for effect more than for damage, wanting to put on a grand show to cow a tribe of fearless warriors long enough for his friends to break free of the ring.No doubt, the barbarians had heard of the dark elves.And no doubt, the tales they had heard were terrifying.Silently, Drizzt tied the two ponies behind the horses, then mounted the horses, a foot in one Page 43stirrup on each.Rising between them, he stood tall and threw back the cowl of his cloak.The dangerous glow in his lavender eyes sparkling wildly, he bolted the mounts into the ring, scattering the stunned barbarians closest to him.Howls of rage rose up from the surprised tribesmen, the tone of the shouts shifting to one of terror when they viewed the black skin.Torlin and Valric turned to face the oncoming menace, though even they did not know how to deal with a legend personified.And Drizzt had a trick ready for them.With a wave of his black hand, purple flames spouted from Torlin and Valric‟s skin, not burning, but casting both the superstitious tribesmen into a horrified frenzy.Torlin dropped to his knees, clasping his arms in disbelief, while the highstrung shaman dove to the ground and began rolling in the dirt.Wulfgar took his cue.Another surge of power through his arms snapped the leather bonds at his wrists.He continued the momentum of his hands, swinging them upward, catching both of the guards beside him squarely in the face and dropping them to their backs.Bruenor also understood his part.He stomped heavily onto the instep of the lone barbarian standing between him and Regis, and when the man crouched to grasp his pained foot, Bruenor butted him in the head.
|
[
464,
5274,
350,
17300,
550,
3432,
683,
511,
4511,
7522,
287,
6011,
683,
257,
1295,
287,
511,
14893,
11,
475,
691,
319,
4006,
326,
339,
905,
465,
25696,
3675,
597,
4719,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1807,
286,
465,
898,
661,
11,
290,
262,
835,
484,
550,
5615,
329,
523,
867,
10675,
319,
262,
256,
917,
430,
13,
6104,
287,
428,
1110,
11,
867,
286,
262,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
561,
423,
6292,
262,
2846,
290,
2923,
3310,
271,
11,
6402,
262,
1204,
286,
257,
2063,
1359,
257,
1402,
2756,
329,
884,
281,
7522,
13,
1212,
373,
262,
39977,
434,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
6224,
351,
465,
661,
11,
262,
39144,
286,
511,
6573,
2438,
326,
550,
8302,
18010,
284,
465,
2614,
5423,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
284,
3254,
1173,
1231,
43196,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
257,
4939,
1359,
0,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
37857,
13,
447,
250,
10049,
262,
1913,
10925,
1204,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6653,
10030,
318,
407,
6164,
284,
5409,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
12431,
13,
447,
251,
7762,
1173,
6268,
276,
284,
262,
734,
10942,
290,
484,
3393,
23623,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
13,
447,
250,
32,
2994,
329,
674,
661,
11,
447,
251,
4022,
2815,
531,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
561,
423,
2722,
257,
1295,
286,
7522,
1871,
514,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3280,
11,
4769,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
24170,
329,
257,
890,
2589,
11,
7373,
2461,
290,
635,
262,
13584,
4547,
326,
511,
12416,
547,
1165,
1180,
329,
884,
257,
9679,
13,
818,
257,
4888,
8842,
326,
714,
407,
307,
11,
1111,
15758,
4330,
13970,
262,
584,
11,
3214,
278,
46448,
416,
262,
4776,
290,
20886,
262,
275,
1371,
284,
257,
649,
8177,
15885,
1635,
1635,
1026,
373,
640,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
284,
5587,
13,
464,
288,
808,
550,
24487,
416,
262,
14260,
284,
1570,
262,
8055,
286,
262,
8414,
290,
635,
284,
1365,
3953,
465,
5775,
13,
1544,
6027,
465,
1368,
329,
1245,
517,
621,
329,
2465,
11,
10291,
284,
1234,
319,
257,
4490,
905,
284,
9875,
257,
14893,
286,
43157,
17119,
890,
1576,
329,
465,
2460,
284,
2270,
1479,
286,
262,
5858,
13,
2949,
4719,
11,
262,
24837,
1547,
550,
2982,
286,
262,
3223,
31959,
13,
1870,
645,
4719,
11,
262,
19490,
484,
550,
2982,
547,
17623,
13,
15086,
1473,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
8165,
262,
734,
46370,
2157,
262,
14260,
11,
788,
12623,
262,
14260,
11,
257,
2366,
287,
530,
7873,
5946,
301,
343,
12618,
319,
1123,
13,
49,
1710,
1022,
606,
11,
339,
6204,
7331,
290,
9617,
736,
262,
269,
4883,
286,
465,
24117,
13,
464,
4923,
19634,
287,
465,
21606,
2194,
2951,
39072,
20278,
11,
339,
49647,
262,
30790,
656,
262,
5858,
11,
45765,
262,
19987,
24837,
1547,
11706,
284,
683,
13,
2437,
7278,
286,
14404,
8278,
510,
422,
262,
6655,
15663,
3653,
11,
262,
8216,
286,
262,
34757,
15852,
284,
530,
286,
3246,
618,
484
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
5274,
350,
17300,
550,
3432,
683,
511,
4511,
7522,
287,
6011,
683,
257,
1295,
287,
511,
14893,
11,
475,
691,
319,
4006,
326,
339,
905,
465,
25696,
3675,
597,
4719,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1807,
286,
465,
898,
661,
11,
290,
262,
835,
484,
550,
5615,
329,
523,
867,
10675,
319,
262,
256,
917,
430,
13,
6104,
287,
428,
1110,
11,
867,
286,
262,
24837,
1547,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
561,
423,
6292,
262,
2846,
290,
2923,
3310,
271,
11,
6402,
262,
1204,
286,
257,
2063,
1359,
257,
1402,
2756,
329,
884,
281,
7522,
13,
1212,
373,
262,
39977,
434,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
6224,
351,
465,
661,
11,
262,
39144,
286,
511,
6573,
2438,
326,
550,
8302,
18010,
284,
465,
2614,
5423,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
284,
3254,
1173,
1231,
43196,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
318,
257,
4939,
1359,
0,
447,
251,
3254,
1173,
37857,
13,
447,
250,
10049,
262,
1913,
10925,
1204,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6653,
10030,
318,
407,
6164,
284,
5409,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
12431,
13,
447,
251,
7762,
1173,
6268,
276,
284,
262,
734,
10942,
290,
484,
3393,
23623,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2832,
13,
447,
250,
32,
2994,
329,
674,
661,
11,
447,
251,
4022,
2815,
531,
284,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
561,
423,
2722,
257,
1295,
286,
7522,
1871,
514,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3280,
11,
4769,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
24170,
329,
257,
890,
2589,
11,
7373,
2461,
290,
635,
262,
13584,
4547,
326,
511,
12416,
547,
1165,
1180,
329,
884,
257,
9679,
13,
818,
257,
4888,
8842,
326,
714,
407,
307,
11,
1111,
15758,
4330,
13970,
262,
584,
11,
3214,
278,
46448,
416,
262,
4776,
290,
20886,
262,
275,
1371,
284,
257,
649,
8177,
15885,
1635,
1635,
1026,
373,
640,
329,
5809,
3019,
83,
284,
5587,
13,
464,
288,
808,
550,
24487,
416,
262,
14260,
284,
1570,
262,
8055,
286,
262,
8414,
290,
635,
284,
1365,
3953,
465,
5775,
13,
1544,
6027,
465,
1368,
329,
1245,
517,
621,
329,
2465,
11,
10291,
284,
1234,
319,
257,
4490,
905,
284,
9875,
257,
14893,
286,
43157,
17119,
890,
1576,
329,
465,
2460,
284,
2270,
1479,
286,
262,
5858,
13,
2949,
4719,
11,
262,
24837,
1547,
550,
2982,
286,
262,
3223,
31959,
13,
1870,
645,
4719,
11,
262,
19490,
484,
550,
2982,
547,
17623,
13,
15086,
1473,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
8165,
262,
734,
46370,
2157,
262,
14260,
11,
788,
12623,
262,
14260,
11,
257,
2366,
287,
530,
7873,
5946,
301,
343,
12618,
319,
1123,
13,
49,
1710,
1022,
606,
11,
339,
6204,
7331,
290,
9617,
736,
262,
269,
4883,
286,
465,
24117,
13,
464,
4923,
19634,
287,
465,
21606,
2194,
2951,
39072,
20278,
11,
339,
49647,
262,
30790,
656,
262,
5858,
11,
45765,
262,
19987,
24837,
1547,
11706,
284,
683,
13,
2437,
7278,
286,
14404,
8278,
510,
422,
262,
6655,
15663,
3653,
11,
262,
8216,
286,
262,
34757,
15852,
284,
530,
286,
3246,
618,
484
] |
dnd558
|
The man tumbled as easily as Whisper had back in Rat Alley in Luskan.“Huh, works as well without the helmet!” Bruenor marveled.“Only for a dwarf‟s head!” Regis remarked as Wulfgar grabbed both of them by the back of their collars and hoisted them easily onto the ponies.He was up then, too, beside Drizzt, and they charged through the other side of the camp.It had all happened too quickly for any of the barbarians to ready a weapon or form any kind of defense.Drizzt wheeled his horse behind the ponies to protect the rear.“Ride!” he yelled to his friends, slapping their mounts on the rump with the flat of his scimitars.The other three shouted in victory as though their escape was complete, but Drizzt knew that this had been the easy part.The dawn was fast approaching, and in this up-and-down, unfamiliar terrain, the native barbarians could easily catch them.The companions charged into the silence of pre-dawn, picking the straightest and easiest path to gain as much ground as possible.Drizzt still kept an eye behind them, expecting the tribesmen to be fast on their trail.But the commotion in the camp had died away almost immediately after the escape, and the drow saw no signs of pursuit.Now only a single call could be heard, the rhythmic singing of Valric in a tongue that none of the travelers understood.The look of dread on Wulfgar‟s face made all of them pause.“The powers of a shaman,” the barbarian explained.Back in the camp, Valric stood alone with Torlin inside the ring of his people, chanting and dancing through the ultimate ritual of his station, summoning the power of his tribe‟s Spiritual Beast.The appearance of the drow elf had completely unnerved the shaman.He stopped any pursuit before it had even begun and ran to his tent for the sacred leather satchel needed for the ritual, deciding that the spirit of the winged horse, the Pegasus, should deal with these intruders.Valric targeted Torlin as the recipient of the spirit‟s form, and the son of Jerek awaited the possession with stoic dignity, hating the act, for it stripped him of his identity, but resigned to absolute obedience to his shaman.From the moment it began, however, Valric knew that in his excitement, he had overstepped the urgency of the summoning.Torlin shrieked and dropped to the ground, writhing in agony.A gray cloud surrounded him, its swirling vapors molding with his form, reshaping his features.His face puffed and twisted, and suddenly spurted outward into the semblance of a horse‟s head.His torso, as well, transmuted into something not human.Valric had meant only to impart some of the strengths of the spirit of the Pegasus in Torlin, but the entity itself had come, possessing the man wholly and bending his body into its own likeness.Torlin was consumed.In his place loomed the ghostly form of the winged horse.All in the tribe fell to their knees Page 44before it, even Valric, who could not face the image of the Spiritual Beast.But the Pegasus knew the shaman‟s thoughts and understood its children‟s needs.Smoke fumed from the spirit‟s nostrils and it rose into the air in pursuit of the escaping intruders.The friends had settled their mounts into a more comfortable, though still swift, pace.Free of their bonds, with the dawn breaking before them and no apparent pursuit behind them, they had eased up a bit.Bruenor fiddled with his helmet, trying to push the latest dent out far enough for him to get the thing back on his head.
|
The man tumbled as easily as Whisper had back in Rat Alley in Luskan.“Huh, works as well without the helmet!” Bruenor marveled.“Only for a dwarf‟s head!” Regis remarked as Wulfgar grabbed both of them by the back of their collars and hoisted them easily onto the ponies.He was up then, too, beside Drizzt, and they charged through the other side of the camp.It had all happened too quickly for any of the barbarians to ready a weapon or form any kind of defense.Drizzt wheeled his horse behind the ponies to protect the rear.“Ride!” he yelled to his friends, slapping their mounts on the rump with the flat of his scimitars.The other three shouted in victory as though their escape was complete, but Drizzt knew that this had been the easy part.The dawn was fast approaching, and in this up-and-down, unfamiliar terrain, the native barbarians could easily catch them.The companions charged into the silence of pre-dawn, picking the straightest and easiest path to gain as much ground as possible.Drizzt still kept an eye behind them, expecting the tribesmen to be fast on their trail.But the commotion in the camp had died away almost immediately after the escape, and the drow saw no signs of pursuit.Now only a single call could be heard, the rhythmic singing of Valric in a tongue that none of the travelers understood.The look of dread on Wulfgar‟s face made all of them pause.“The powers of a shaman,” the barbarian explained.Back in the camp, Valric stood alone with Torlin inside the ring of his people, chanting and dancing through the ultimate ritual of his station, summoning the power of his tribe‟s Spiritual Beast.The appearance of the drow elf had completely unnerved the shaman.He stopped any pursuit before it had even begun and ran to his tent for the sacred leather satchel needed for the ritual, deciding that the spirit of the winged horse, the Pegasus, should deal with these intruders.Valric targeted Torlin as the recipient of the spirit‟s form, and the son of Jerek awaited the possession with stoic dignity, hating the act, for it stripped him of his identity, but resigned to absolute obedience to his shaman.From the moment it began, however, Valric knew that in his excitement, he had overstepped the urgency of the summoning.Torlin shrieked and dropped to the ground, writhing in agony.A gray cloud surrounded him, its swirling vapors molding with his form, reshaping his features.His face puffed and twisted, and suddenly spurted outward into the semblance of a horse‟s head.His torso, as well, transmuted into something not human.Valric had meant only to impart some of the strengths of the spirit of the Pegasus in Torlin, but the entity itself had come, possessing the man wholly and bending his body into its own likeness.Torlin was consumed.In his place loomed the ghostly form of the winged horse.All in the tribe fell to their knees Page 44before it, even Valric, who could not face the image of the Spiritual Beast.But the Pegasus knew the shaman‟s thoughts and understood its children‟s needs.Smoke fumed from the spirit‟s nostrils and it rose into the air in pursuit of the escaping intruders.The friends had settled their mounts into a more comfortable, though still swift, pace.Free of their bonds, with the dawn breaking before them and no apparent pursuit behind them, they had eased up a bit.Bruenor fiddled with his helmet, trying to push the latest dent out far enough for him to get the thing back on his head.
|
[
464,
582,
256,
11137,
355,
3538,
355,
28424,
525,
550,
736,
287,
11738,
40960,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447,
250,
46010,
11,
2499,
355,
880,
1231,
262,
14335,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
22672,
276,
13,
447,
250,
10049,
329,
257,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
24998,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
13176,
1111,
286,
606,
416,
262,
736,
286,
511,
2927,
945,
290,
8169,
6347,
606,
3538,
4291,
262,
46370,
13,
1544,
373,
510,
788,
11,
1165,
11,
13970,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
484,
5047,
832,
262,
584,
1735,
286,
262,
1413,
13,
1026,
550,
477,
3022,
1165,
2952,
329,
597,
286,
262,
24837,
1547,
284,
3492,
257,
4282,
393,
1296,
597,
1611,
286,
3761,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7825,
276,
465,
8223,
2157,
262,
46370,
284,
1805,
262,
8286,
13,
447,
250,
49,
485,
0,
447,
251,
339,
22760,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
48966,
511,
30790,
319,
262,
374,
931,
351,
262,
6228,
286,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
13,
464,
584,
1115,
17293,
287,
5373,
355,
996,
511,
6654,
373,
1844,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
2993,
326,
428,
550,
587,
262,
2562,
636,
13,
464,
17577,
373,
3049,
13885,
11,
290,
287,
428,
510,
12,
392,
12,
2902,
11,
22594,
15510,
11,
262,
6868,
24837,
1547,
714,
3538,
4929,
606,
13,
464,
19429,
5047,
656,
262,
9550,
286,
662,
12,
67,
3832,
11,
10868,
262,
3892,
395,
290,
16638,
3108,
284,
4461,
355,
881,
2323,
355,
1744,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
991,
4030,
281,
4151,
2157,
606,
11,
12451,
262,
15663,
3653,
284,
307,
3049,
319,
511,
8025,
13,
1537,
262,
725,
9650,
287,
262,
1413,
550,
3724,
1497,
2048,
3393,
706,
262,
6654,
11,
290,
262,
288,
808,
2497,
645,
5895,
286,
14748,
13,
3844,
691,
257,
2060,
869,
714,
307,
2982,
11,
262,
14405,
9383,
13777,
286,
3254,
1173,
287,
257,
11880,
326,
4844,
286,
262,
23325,
7247,
13,
464,
804,
286,
15157,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
925,
477,
286,
606,
14985,
13,
447,
250,
464,
5635,
286,
257,
40632,
11,
447,
251,
262,
42577,
3699,
4893,
13,
7282,
287,
262,
1413,
11,
3254,
1173,
6204,
3436,
351,
4022,
2815,
2641,
262,
5858,
286,
465,
661,
11,
31138,
290,
15360,
832,
262,
8713,
12146,
286,
465,
4429,
11,
40292,
262,
1176,
286,
465,
14893,
447,
253,
82,
33944,
10984,
13,
464,
5585,
286,
262,
288,
808,
23878,
550,
3190,
41231,
8520,
262,
40632,
13,
1544,
5025,
597,
14748,
878,
340,
550,
772,
9258,
290,
4966,
284,
465,
11105,
329,
262,
13626,
11620,
3332,
29232,
2622,
329,
262,
12146,
11,
14615,
326,
262,
4437,
286,
262,
8539,
276,
8223,
11,
262,
48188,
11,
815,
1730,
351,
777,
9913,
48739,
13,
7762,
1173,
7977,
4022,
2815,
355,
262,
17800,
286,
262,
4437,
447,
253,
82,
1296,
11,
290,
262,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
39576,
262,
7797,
351,
3995,
291,
16247,
11,
45701,
262,
719,
11,
329,
340,
18818,
683,
286,
465,
5369,
11,
475,
16542,
284,
4112,
28777,
284,
465,
40632,
13,
4863,
262,
2589,
340,
2540,
11
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
582,
256,
11137,
355,
3538,
355,
28424,
525,
550,
736,
287,
11738,
40960,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447,
250,
46010,
11,
2499,
355,
880,
1231,
262,
14335,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
22672,
276,
13,
447,
250,
10049,
329,
257,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
24998,
355,
370,
4754,
4563,
13176,
1111,
286,
606,
416,
262,
736,
286,
511,
2927,
945,
290,
8169,
6347,
606,
3538,
4291,
262,
46370,
13,
1544,
373,
510,
788,
11,
1165,
11,
13970,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
290,
484,
5047,
832,
262,
584,
1735,
286,
262,
1413,
13,
1026,
550,
477,
3022,
1165,
2952,
329,
597,
286,
262,
24837,
1547,
284,
3492,
257,
4282,
393,
1296,
597,
1611,
286,
3761,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7825,
276,
465,
8223,
2157,
262,
46370,
284,
1805,
262,
8286,
13,
447,
250,
49,
485,
0,
447,
251,
339,
22760,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
48966,
511,
30790,
319,
262,
374,
931,
351,
262,
6228,
286,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
13,
464,
584,
1115,
17293,
287,
5373,
355,
996,
511,
6654,
373,
1844,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
2993,
326,
428,
550,
587,
262,
2562,
636,
13,
464,
17577,
373,
3049,
13885,
11,
290,
287,
428,
510,
12,
392,
12,
2902,
11,
22594,
15510,
11,
262,
6868,
24837,
1547,
714,
3538,
4929,
606,
13,
464,
19429,
5047,
656,
262,
9550,
286,
662,
12,
67,
3832,
11,
10868,
262,
3892,
395,
290,
16638,
3108,
284,
4461,
355,
881,
2323,
355,
1744,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
991,
4030,
281,
4151,
2157,
606,
11,
12451,
262,
15663,
3653,
284,
307,
3049,
319,
511,
8025,
13,
1537,
262,
725,
9650,
287,
262,
1413,
550,
3724,
1497,
2048,
3393,
706,
262,
6654,
11,
290,
262,
288,
808,
2497,
645,
5895,
286,
14748,
13,
3844,
691,
257,
2060,
869,
714,
307,
2982,
11,
262,
14405,
9383,
13777,
286,
3254,
1173,
287,
257,
11880,
326,
4844,
286,
262,
23325,
7247,
13,
464,
804,
286,
15157,
319,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
925,
477,
286,
606,
14985,
13,
447,
250,
464,
5635,
286,
257,
40632,
11,
447,
251,
262,
42577,
3699,
4893,
13,
7282,
287,
262,
1413,
11,
3254,
1173,
6204,
3436,
351,
4022,
2815,
2641,
262,
5858,
286,
465,
661,
11,
31138,
290,
15360,
832,
262,
8713,
12146,
286,
465,
4429,
11,
40292,
262,
1176,
286,
465,
14893,
447,
253,
82,
33944,
10984,
13,
464,
5585,
286,
262,
288,
808,
23878,
550,
3190,
41231,
8520,
262,
40632,
13,
1544,
5025,
597,
14748,
878,
340,
550,
772,
9258,
290,
4966,
284,
465,
11105,
329,
262,
13626,
11620,
3332,
29232,
2622,
329,
262,
12146,
11,
14615,
326,
262,
4437,
286,
262,
8539,
276,
8223,
11,
262,
48188,
11,
815,
1730,
351,
777,
9913,
48739,
13,
7762,
1173,
7977,
4022,
2815,
355,
262,
17800,
286,
262,
4437,
447,
253,
82,
1296,
11,
290,
262,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
39576,
262,
7797,
351,
3995,
291,
16247,
11,
45701,
262,
719,
11,
329,
340,
18818,
683,
286,
465,
5369,
11,
475,
16542,
284,
4112,
28777,
284,
465,
40632,
13,
4863,
262,
2589,
340,
2540,
11
] |
dnd559
|
Even Wulfgar, so shaken a short time before when he had heard the chanting of the shaman, began to relax.Only Drizzt, ever wary, was not so easily convinced of their escape.And it was the drow who first sensed the approach of danger.In the dark cities, the black elves often dealt with otherworldly beings, and over the many centuries they had bred into their race a sensitivity for the magical emanations of such creatures.Drizzt stopped his horse suddenly and wheeled about.“What do ye hear?” Bruenor asked him.“I hear nothing,” Drizzt answered, his eyes darting about for some sign.“But something is there.”Before they could respond, the gray cloud rushed down from the sky and was upon them.Their horses bucked and reared in uncontrollable terror and in the confusion none of the friends could sort out what was happening.The Pegasus then formed right in front of Regis and the halfling felt a deathly chill penetrate his bones.He screamed and dropped from his mount.Bruenor, riding beside Regis, charged the ghostly form fearlessly.But his descending axe found only a cloud of smoke where the apparition had been.Then, just as suddenly, the ghost was back, and Bruenor, too, felt the icy cold of its touch.Tougher than the halfling, he managed to hold to his pony.“What?” he cried out vainly to Drizzt and Wulfgar.Aegis-fang whistled past him and continued on at the target.But the Pegasus was only smoke again and the magical warhammer passed unhindered through the swirling cloud.In an instant, the spirit was back, swooping down upon Bruenor.The dwarf‟s pony spun down to the ground in a frantic effort to scramble away from the thing.“You cannot hit it!” Drizzt called after Wulfgar, who went rushing to the dwarf‟s aid.“It does not exist fully on this plane!”Wulfgar‟s mighty legs locked his terrified horse straight and he struck as soon as Aegis-fang returned to his hands.But again he found only smoke, before his blow.“Then how?” he yelled to Drizzt, his eyes darting around to spot the first signs of the reforming spirit.Drizzt searched his mind for answers.Regis was still down, lying pale and unmoving on the field, and Bruenor, though he had not been too badly injured in his pony‟s fall, appeared dazed and shivering from the chill of unearthly cold.Drizzt grasped at a desperate plan.He pulled the onyx statue of the panther from his pouch and called for Guenhwyvar.The ghost returned, attacking with renewed fury.It descended upon Bruenor first, mantling the dwarf with its cold wings.“Damn ye back to the Abyss!” Bruenor roared in brave defiance.Rushing in, Wulfgar lost all sight of the dwarf, except for the head of his axe bursting harmlessly through the smoke.Then the barbarian‟s mount halted in its tracks, refusing, against all efforts, to move any closer to the unnatural beast.Wulfgar leaped from his saddle and charged in, crashing right through the cloud before the ghost could reform, his momentum carrying both him and Bruenor out the other side of the smoky mantle.They rolled away and looked back, only to find that the ghost had disappeared altogether again.Bruenor‟s eyelids drooped heavily and his skin held a ghastly hue of blue, and for the first time in his life, his indomitable spirit had no gumption for the fight.Wulfgar, too, had suffered the icy touch in his pass through the ghost, but he was still more than ready for another round with the Page 45thing.“We can‟t fight it!” Bruenor gasped through his chattering teeth.“Here for a strike, it is, but gone when we hit back!”Wulfgar shook his head defiantly.
|
Even Wulfgar, so shaken a short time before when he had heard the chanting of the shaman, began to relax.Only Drizzt, ever wary, was not so easily convinced of their escape.And it was the drow who first sensed the approach of danger.In the dark cities, the black elves often dealt with otherworldly beings, and over the many centuries they had bred into their race a sensitivity for the magical emanations of such creatures.Drizzt stopped his horse suddenly and wheeled about.“What do ye hear?” Bruenor asked him.“I hear nothing,” Drizzt answered, his eyes darting about for some sign.“But something is there.”Before they could respond, the gray cloud rushed down from the sky and was upon them.Their horses bucked and reared in uncontrollable terror and in the confusion none of the friends could sort out what was happening.The Pegasus then formed right in front of Regis and the halfling felt a deathly chill penetrate his bones.He screamed and dropped from his mount.Bruenor, riding beside Regis, charged the ghostly form fearlessly.But his descending axe found only a cloud of smoke where the apparition had been.Then, just as suddenly, the ghost was back, and Bruenor, too, felt the icy cold of its touch.Tougher than the halfling, he managed to hold to his pony.“What?” he cried out vainly to Drizzt and Wulfgar.Aegis-fang whistled past him and continued on at the target.But the Pegasus was only smoke again and the magical warhammer passed unhindered through the swirling cloud.In an instant, the spirit was back, swooping down upon Bruenor.The dwarf‟s pony spun down to the ground in a frantic effort to scramble away from the thing.“You cannot hit it!” Drizzt called after Wulfgar, who went rushing to the dwarf‟s aid.“It does not exist fully on this plane!”Wulfgar‟s mighty legs locked his terrified horse straight and he struck as soon as Aegis-fang returned to his hands.But again he found only smoke, before his blow.“Then how?” he yelled to Drizzt, his eyes darting around to spot the first signs of the reforming spirit.Drizzt searched his mind for answers.Regis was still down, lying pale and unmoving on the field, and Bruenor, though he had not been too badly injured in his pony‟s fall, appeared dazed and shivering from the chill of unearthly cold.Drizzt grasped at a desperate plan.He pulled the onyx statue of the panther from his pouch and called for Guenhwyvar.The ghost returned, attacking with renewed fury.It descended upon Bruenor first, mantling the dwarf with its cold wings.“Damn ye back to the Abyss!” Bruenor roared in brave defiance.Rushing in, Wulfgar lost all sight of the dwarf, except for the head of his axe bursting harmlessly through the smoke.Then the barbarian‟s mount halted in its tracks, refusing, against all efforts, to move any closer to the unnatural beast.Wulfgar leaped from his saddle and charged in, crashing right through the cloud before the ghost could reform, his momentum carrying both him and Bruenor out the other side of the smoky mantle.They rolled away and looked back, only to find that the ghost had disappeared altogether again.Bruenor‟s eyelids drooped heavily and his skin held a ghastly hue of blue, and for the first time in his life, his indomitable spirit had no gumption for the fight.Wulfgar, too, had suffered the icy touch in his pass through the ghost, but he was still more than ready for another round with the Page 45thing.“We can‟t fight it!” Bruenor gasped through his chattering teeth.“Here for a strike, it is, but gone when we hit back!”Wulfgar shook his head defiantly.
|
[
6104,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
523,
27821,
257,
1790,
640,
878,
618,
339,
550,
2982,
262,
31138,
286,
262,
40632,
11,
2540,
284,
8960,
13,
10049,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
1683,
23300,
11,
373,
407,
523,
3538,
9431,
286,
511,
6654,
13,
1870,
340,
373,
262,
288,
808,
508,
717,
39243,
262,
3164,
286,
3514,
13,
818,
262,
3223,
4736,
11,
262,
2042,
31959,
1690,
11829,
351,
584,
49366,
9791,
11,
290,
625,
262,
867,
10675,
484,
550,
33592,
656,
511,
3234,
257,
14233,
329,
262,
10883,
31184,
602,
286,
884,
8109,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
5025,
465,
8223,
6451,
290,
7825,
276,
546,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
9838,
3285,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3285,
2147,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
9373,
11,
465,
2951,
35970,
278,
546,
329,
617,
1051,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
1223,
318,
612,
13,
447,
251,
8421,
484,
714,
3031,
11,
262,
12768,
6279,
13999,
866,
422,
262,
6766,
290,
373,
2402,
606,
13,
14574,
14260,
10230,
276,
290,
302,
1144,
287,
39483,
540,
3246,
290,
287,
262,
10802,
4844,
286,
262,
2460,
714,
3297,
503,
644,
373,
5836,
13,
464,
48188,
788,
7042,
826,
287,
2166,
286,
3310,
271,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
2936,
257,
1918,
306,
20493,
28302,
465,
11945,
13,
1544,
25421,
290,
5710,
422,
465,
3817,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
11,
10311,
13970,
3310,
271,
11,
5047,
262,
10905,
306,
1296,
3252,
8613,
13,
1537,
465,
31491,
23272,
1043,
691,
257,
6279,
286,
7523,
810,
262,
17956,
653,
550,
587,
13,
6423,
11,
655,
355,
6451,
11,
262,
10905,
373,
736,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
1165,
11,
2936,
262,
30284,
4692,
286,
663,
3638,
13,
51,
20805,
372,
621,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
339,
5257,
284,
1745,
284,
465,
26902,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
339,
16896,
503,
23469,
306,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
32,
1533,
271,
12,
69,
648,
32262,
992,
1613,
683,
290,
3767,
319,
379,
262,
2496,
13,
1537,
262,
48188,
373,
691,
7523,
757,
290,
262,
10883,
1175,
17980,
3804,
14274,
521,
1068,
832,
262,
40431,
6279,
13,
818,
281,
9113,
11,
262,
4437,
373,
736,
11,
38527,
278,
866,
2402,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
464,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
26843,
866,
284,
262,
2323,
287,
257,
37644,
3626,
284,
36755,
1497,
422,
262,
1517,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
2277,
340,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1444,
706,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
508,
1816,
15795,
284,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
6133,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
857,
407,
2152,
3938,
319,
428,
6614,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
18680,
7405,
8970,
465,
22144,
8223,
3892,
290,
339,
7425,
355,
2582,
355,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
4504,
284,
465,
2832,
13,
1537,
757,
339,
1043,
691,
7523,
11,
878,
465,
6611,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
703,
30,
447,
251,
339,
22760,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
465,
2951,
35970,
278,
1088,
284,
4136,
262,
717,
5895,
286,
262,
40446,
4437,
13,
20564
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
6104,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
523,
27821,
257,
1790,
640,
878,
618,
339,
550,
2982,
262,
31138,
286,
262,
40632,
11,
2540,
284,
8960,
13,
10049,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
1683,
23300,
11,
373,
407,
523,
3538,
9431,
286,
511,
6654,
13,
1870,
340,
373,
262,
288,
808,
508,
717,
39243,
262,
3164,
286,
3514,
13,
818,
262,
3223,
4736,
11,
262,
2042,
31959,
1690,
11829,
351,
584,
49366,
9791,
11,
290,
625,
262,
867,
10675,
484,
550,
33592,
656,
511,
3234,
257,
14233,
329,
262,
10883,
31184,
602,
286,
884,
8109,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
5025,
465,
8223,
6451,
290,
7825,
276,
546,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
9838,
3285,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3285,
2147,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
9373,
11,
465,
2951,
35970,
278,
546,
329,
617,
1051,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
1223,
318,
612,
13,
447,
251,
8421,
484,
714,
3031,
11,
262,
12768,
6279,
13999,
866,
422,
262,
6766,
290,
373,
2402,
606,
13,
14574,
14260,
10230,
276,
290,
302,
1144,
287,
39483,
540,
3246,
290,
287,
262,
10802,
4844,
286,
262,
2460,
714,
3297,
503,
644,
373,
5836,
13,
464,
48188,
788,
7042,
826,
287,
2166,
286,
3310,
271,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
2936,
257,
1918,
306,
20493,
28302,
465,
11945,
13,
1544,
25421,
290,
5710,
422,
465,
3817,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
11,
10311,
13970,
3310,
271,
11,
5047,
262,
10905,
306,
1296,
3252,
8613,
13,
1537,
465,
31491,
23272,
1043,
691,
257,
6279,
286,
7523,
810,
262,
17956,
653,
550,
587,
13,
6423,
11,
655,
355,
6451,
11,
262,
10905,
373,
736,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
1165,
11,
2936,
262,
30284,
4692,
286,
663,
3638,
13,
51,
20805,
372,
621,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
339,
5257,
284,
1745,
284,
465,
26902,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
339,
16896,
503,
23469,
306,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
32,
1533,
271,
12,
69,
648,
32262,
992,
1613,
683,
290,
3767,
319,
379,
262,
2496,
13,
1537,
262,
48188,
373,
691,
7523,
757,
290,
262,
10883,
1175,
17980,
3804,
14274,
521,
1068,
832,
262,
40431,
6279,
13,
818,
281,
9113,
11,
262,
4437,
373,
736,
11,
38527,
278,
866,
2402,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
464,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
26843,
866,
284,
262,
2323,
287,
257,
37644,
3626,
284,
36755,
1497,
422,
262,
1517,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
2277,
340,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1444,
706,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
508,
1816,
15795,
284,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
6133,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
857,
407,
2152,
3938,
319,
428,
6614,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
18680,
7405,
8970,
465,
22144,
8223,
3892,
290,
339,
7425,
355,
2582,
355,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
4504,
284,
465,
2832,
13,
1537,
757,
339,
1043,
691,
7523,
11,
878,
465,
6611,
13,
447,
250,
6423,
703,
30,
447,
251,
339,
22760,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
465,
2951,
35970,
278,
1088,
284,
4136,
262,
717,
5895,
286,
262,
40446,
4437,
13,
20564
] |
dnd560
|
“There is a way!” he demanded, though he had to concede the dwarf‟s point.“But my hammer cannot destroy clouds!”Guenhwyvar appeared beside its master and crouched low, seeking the nemesis that threatened the drow.Drizzt understood the cat‟s intentions.“No!” he commanded.“Not here.” The drow had recalled something that Guenhwyvar had done several months earlier.To save Regis from the falling stone of a crumbling tower, Guenhwyvar had taken the halfling on a journey through the planes of existence.Drizzt grabbed onto the panther‟s thick coat.“Take me to the land of the ghost,” he instructed.“To its own plane, where my weapons will bite deeply into its substantial being.”The ghost appeared again as Drizzt and the cat faded into their own cloud.“Keep swinging!” Bruenor told his companion.“Keep it as smoke so‟s it can‟t get at ye!”“Drizzt and the cat have gone!” Wulfgar cried.“To the land of the ghost,” Bruenor explained.* * *It took Drizzt a long moment to set his bearings.He had come into a place of different realities, a dimension where everything, even his own skin, assumed the same hue of gray, objects being distinguishable only by a thin waver of black that outlined them.His depth perception was useless, for there were no shadings, and no discernible light sources to use as a guide.And he found no footing, nothing tangible beneath him, nor could he even know which way was up or down.Such concepts didn‟t seem to fit here.He did make out the shifting outlines of the Pegasus as it jumped between planes, never fully in one place or the other.He tried to approach it and found propulsion to be an act of the mind, his body automatically following the instructions of his will.He stopped before the shifting lines, his magical scimitar poised to strike when the target fully appeared.Then the outline of the Pegasus was complete and Drizzt plunged his blade into the black waver that marked its form.The line shifted and bent, and the outline of the scimitar shivered as well, for here even the properties of the steel blade took on a different composition.But the steel proved the stronger and the scimitar resumed its curved edge and punctured the line of the ghost.There came a sudden tingling in the grayness, as though Drizzt‟s cut had disturbed the equilibrium of the plane, and the ghost‟s line trembled in a shiver of agony.Wulfgar saw the smoke cloud puff suddenly, almost reforming into the ghost shape.“Drizzt!”he called out to Bruenor.“He has met the ghost on even terms!”“Get ye ready, then!” Bruenor replied anxiously, though he knew that his own part in the fight had ended.“The drow might bring it back to ye long enough for a hit!” Bruenor clutched at his sides, trying to hug the deathly cold out of his bones, and stumbled over to the halfling‟s unmoving form.The ghost turned on Drizzt, but the scimitar struck again.
|
“There is a way!” he demanded, though he had to concede the dwarf‟s point.“But my hammer cannot destroy clouds!”Guenhwyvar appeared beside its master and crouched low, seeking the nemesis that threatened the drow.Drizzt understood the cat‟s intentions.“No!” he commanded.“Not here.” The drow had recalled something that Guenhwyvar had done several months earlier.To save Regis from the falling stone of a crumbling tower, Guenhwyvar had taken the halfling on a journey through the planes of existence.Drizzt grabbed onto the panther‟s thick coat.“Take me to the land of the ghost,” he instructed.“To its own plane, where my weapons will bite deeply into its substantial being.”The ghost appeared again as Drizzt and the cat faded into their own cloud.“Keep swinging!” Bruenor told his companion.“Keep it as smoke so‟s it can‟t get at ye!”“Drizzt and the cat have gone!” Wulfgar cried.“To the land of the ghost,” Bruenor explained.* * *It took Drizzt a long moment to set his bearings.He had come into a place of different realities, a dimension where everything, even his own skin, assumed the same hue of gray, objects being distinguishable only by a thin waver of black that outlined them.His depth perception was useless, for there were no shadings, and no discernible light sources to use as a guide.And he found no footing, nothing tangible beneath him, nor could he even know which way was up or down.Such concepts didn‟t seem to fit here.He did make out the shifting outlines of the Pegasus as it jumped between planes, never fully in one place or the other.He tried to approach it and found propulsion to be an act of the mind, his body automatically following the instructions of his will.He stopped before the shifting lines, his magical scimitar poised to strike when the target fully appeared.Then the outline of the Pegasus was complete and Drizzt plunged his blade into the black waver that marked its form.The line shifted and bent, and the outline of the scimitar shivered as well, for here even the properties of the steel blade took on a different composition.But the steel proved the stronger and the scimitar resumed its curved edge and punctured the line of the ghost.There came a sudden tingling in the grayness, as though Drizzt‟s cut had disturbed the equilibrium of the plane, and the ghost‟s line trembled in a shiver of agony.Wulfgar saw the smoke cloud puff suddenly, almost reforming into the ghost shape.“Drizzt!”he called out to Bruenor.“He has met the ghost on even terms!”“Get ye ready, then!” Bruenor replied anxiously, though he knew that his own part in the fight had ended.“The drow might bring it back to ye long enough for a hit!” Bruenor clutched at his sides, trying to hug the deathly cold out of his bones, and stumbled over to the halfling‟s unmoving form.The ghost turned on Drizzt, but the scimitar struck again.
|
[
447,
250,
1858,
318,
257,
835,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
11,
996,
339,
550,
284,
33760,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
966,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
616,
15554,
2314,
4117,
15114,
0,
447,
251,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
4120,
13970,
663,
4958,
290,
33838,
1740,
1877,
11,
6095,
262,
36945,
9339,
326,
8556,
262,
288,
808,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7247,
262,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
339,
22419,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
994,
13,
447,
251,
383,
288,
808,
550,
12433,
1223,
326,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
550,
1760,
1811,
1933,
2961,
13,
2514,
3613,
3310,
271,
422,
262,
7463,
7815,
286,
257,
37550,
10580,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
550,
2077,
262,
2063,
1359,
319,
257,
7002,
832,
262,
13016,
286,
6224,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13176,
4291,
262,
15857,
372,
447,
253,
82,
6546,
13209,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
284,
262,
1956,
286,
262,
10905,
11,
447,
251,
339,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
663,
898,
6614,
11,
810,
616,
3777,
481,
13197,
7744,
656,
663,
8904,
852,
13,
447,
251,
464,
10905,
4120,
757,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
262,
3797,
24887,
656,
511,
898,
6279,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
25635,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1297,
465,
15185,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
340,
355,
7523,
523,
447,
253,
82,
340,
460,
447,
253,
83,
651,
379,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
262,
3797,
423,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
16896,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
1956,
286,
262,
10905,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
15885,
1635,
1635,
1026,
1718,
5809,
3019,
83,
257,
890,
2589,
284,
900,
465,
39872,
13,
1544,
550,
1282,
656,
257,
1295,
286,
1180,
22072,
11,
257,
15793,
810,
2279,
11,
772,
465,
898,
4168,
11,
9672,
262,
976,
37409,
286,
12768,
11,
5563,
852,
15714,
540,
691,
416,
257,
7888,
2082,
332,
286,
2042,
326,
16493,
606,
13,
6653,
6795,
11202,
373,
13894,
11,
329,
612,
547,
645,
427,
324,
654,
11,
290,
645,
22024,
856,
1657,
4237,
284,
779,
355,
257,
5698,
13,
1870,
339,
1043,
645,
32687,
11,
2147,
24607,
11061,
683,
11,
4249,
714,
339,
772,
760,
543,
835,
373,
510,
393,
866,
13,
16678,
10838,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1283,
284,
4197,
994,
13,
1544,
750,
787,
503,
262,
15852,
27430,
286,
262,
48188,
355,
340,
11687,
1022,
13016,
11,
1239,
3938,
287,
530,
1295,
393,
262,
584,
13,
1544,
3088,
284,
3164,
340,
290,
1043,
38873,
284,
307,
281,
719,
286,
262,
2000,
11,
465,
1767,
6338,
1708,
262,
7729,
286,
465,
481,
13,
1544,
5025,
878,
262,
15852,
3951,
11,
465,
10883,
629,
320,
7940,
24357,
284,
5587,
618,
262,
2496,
3938,
4120,
13,
6423,
262,
19001,
286,
262,
48188,
373,
1844,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
31460,
465,
11865,
656,
262,
2042,
2082,
332,
326,
7498,
663,
1296,
13,
464,
1627,
14869,
290,
17157,
11,
290,
262,
19001,
286,
262,
629,
320,
7940,
427,
6396,
355,
880,
11,
329,
994,
772,
262,
6608,
286,
262,
7771,
11865
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1858,
318,
257,
835,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
11,
996,
339,
550,
284,
33760,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
966,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
616,
15554,
2314,
4117,
15114,
0,
447,
251,
8205,
16550,
21768,
7785,
4120,
13970,
663,
4958,
290,
33838,
1740,
1877,
11,
6095,
262,
36945,
9339,
326,
8556,
262,
288,
808,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
7247,
262,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
0,
447,
251,
339,
22419,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
994,
13,
447,
251,
383,
288,
808,
550,
12433,
1223,
326,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
550,
1760,
1811,
1933,
2961,
13,
2514,
3613,
3310,
271,
422,
262,
7463,
7815,
286,
257,
37550,
10580,
11,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
550,
2077,
262,
2063,
1359,
319,
257,
7002,
832,
262,
13016,
286,
6224,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
13176,
4291,
262,
15857,
372,
447,
253,
82,
6546,
13209,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
284,
262,
1956,
286,
262,
10905,
11,
447,
251,
339,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
663,
898,
6614,
11,
810,
616,
3777,
481,
13197,
7744,
656,
663,
8904,
852,
13,
447,
251,
464,
10905,
4120,
757,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
262,
3797,
24887,
656,
511,
898,
6279,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
25635,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1297,
465,
15185,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
340,
355,
7523,
523,
447,
253,
82,
340,
460,
447,
253,
83,
651,
379,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
262,
3797,
423,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
16896,
13,
447,
250,
2514,
262,
1956,
286,
262,
10905,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
15885,
1635,
1635,
1026,
1718,
5809,
3019,
83,
257,
890,
2589,
284,
900,
465,
39872,
13,
1544,
550,
1282,
656,
257,
1295,
286,
1180,
22072,
11,
257,
15793,
810,
2279,
11,
772,
465,
898,
4168,
11,
9672,
262,
976,
37409,
286,
12768,
11,
5563,
852,
15714,
540,
691,
416,
257,
7888,
2082,
332,
286,
2042,
326,
16493,
606,
13,
6653,
6795,
11202,
373,
13894,
11,
329,
612,
547,
645,
427,
324,
654,
11,
290,
645,
22024,
856,
1657,
4237,
284,
779,
355,
257,
5698,
13,
1870,
339,
1043,
645,
32687,
11,
2147,
24607,
11061,
683,
11,
4249,
714,
339,
772,
760,
543,
835,
373,
510,
393,
866,
13,
16678,
10838,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1283,
284,
4197,
994,
13,
1544,
750,
787,
503,
262,
15852,
27430,
286,
262,
48188,
355,
340,
11687,
1022,
13016,
11,
1239,
3938,
287,
530,
1295,
393,
262,
584,
13,
1544,
3088,
284,
3164,
340,
290,
1043,
38873,
284,
307,
281,
719,
286,
262,
2000,
11,
465,
1767,
6338,
1708,
262,
7729,
286,
465,
481,
13,
1544,
5025,
878,
262,
15852,
3951,
11,
465,
10883,
629,
320,
7940,
24357,
284,
5587,
618,
262,
2496,
3938,
4120,
13,
6423,
262,
19001,
286,
262,
48188,
373,
1844,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
31460,
465,
11865,
656,
262,
2042,
2082,
332,
326,
7498,
663,
1296,
13,
464,
1627,
14869,
290,
17157,
11,
290,
262,
19001,
286,
262,
629,
320,
7940,
427,
6396,
355,
880,
11,
329,
994,
772,
262,
6608,
286,
262,
7771,
11865
] |
dnd561
|
And Guenhwyvar jumped into the fray, the cat‟s great claws tearing into the black outline of its enemy.The Pegasus reeled away from them, understanding that it held no advantage against foes on its own plane.Its only recourse was a retreat back to the material plane.Where Wulfgar waited.As soon as the cloud resumed its shape, Aegis-fang hammered into it.Wulfgar felt a solid strike for just a moment, and knew that he had hit his mark.Then the smoke blew away before him.The ghost was back with Drizzt and Guenhwyvar, again facing their relentless stabs and rakes.It shifted back again, and Wulfgar struck quickly.Trapped with no retreat, the ghost took hits Page 46from both planes.Every time it materialized before Drizzt, the drow noted that its outline came thinner and less resistant to his thrusts.And every time the cloud reformed before Wulfgar, its density had diminished.The friends had won, and Drizzt watched in satisfaction as the essence of the Pegasus slipped free of the material form and floated away through the grayness.“Take me home,” the weary drow instructed Guenhwyvar.A moment later, he was back on the field beside Bruenor and Regis.“He‟ll live,” Bruenor stated flatly at Drizzt‟s inquiring look.“More to faintin‟ than to dying‟d be me guess.”A short distance away, Wulfgar, too, was hunched over a form, broken and twisted and caught in a transformation somewhere between man and beast.“Torlin, son of Jerek,” Wulfgar explained.He lifted his gaze back toward the barbarian camp.“Valric is has done this.The blood of Torlin soils his hands!”“Torlin‟s own choice, perhaps?” Drizzt offered.“Never!” Wulfgar insisted.“When we met in challenge, my eyes looked upon honor.He was a warrior.He would never have allowed this!” He stepped away from the corpse, letting its mutilated remains emphasize the horror of the possession.In the frozen pose of death, Torlin‟s face had retained half the features of a man, and half of the equine ghost.“He was the son of their chieftain,” Wulfgar explained.“He could not refuse the demands of the shaman.”“He was brave to accept such a fate,” Drizzt remarked.“Son of their chieftain?” snorted Bruenor.
|
And Guenhwyvar jumped into the fray, the cat‟s great claws tearing into the black outline of its enemy.The Pegasus reeled away from them, understanding that it held no advantage against foes on its own plane.Its only recourse was a retreat back to the material plane.Where Wulfgar waited.As soon as the cloud resumed its shape, Aegis-fang hammered into it.Wulfgar felt a solid strike for just a moment, and knew that he had hit his mark.Then the smoke blew away before him.The ghost was back with Drizzt and Guenhwyvar, again facing their relentless stabs and rakes.It shifted back again, and Wulfgar struck quickly.Trapped with no retreat, the ghost took hits Page 46from both planes.Every time it materialized before Drizzt, the drow noted that its outline came thinner and less resistant to his thrusts.And every time the cloud reformed before Wulfgar, its density had diminished.The friends had won, and Drizzt watched in satisfaction as the essence of the Pegasus slipped free of the material form and floated away through the grayness.“Take me home,” the weary drow instructed Guenhwyvar.A moment later, he was back on the field beside Bruenor and Regis.“He‟ll live,” Bruenor stated flatly at Drizzt‟s inquiring look.“More to faintin‟ than to dying‟d be me guess.”A short distance away, Wulfgar, too, was hunched over a form, broken and twisted and caught in a transformation somewhere between man and beast.“Torlin, son of Jerek,” Wulfgar explained.He lifted his gaze back toward the barbarian camp.“Valric is has done this.The blood of Torlin soils his hands!”“Torlin‟s own choice, perhaps?” Drizzt offered.“Never!” Wulfgar insisted.“When we met in challenge, my eyes looked upon honor.He was a warrior.He would never have allowed this!” He stepped away from the corpse, letting its mutilated remains emphasize the horror of the possession.In the frozen pose of death, Torlin‟s face had retained half the features of a man, and half of the equine ghost.“He was the son of their chieftain,” Wulfgar explained.“He could not refuse the demands of the shaman.”“He was brave to accept such a fate,” Drizzt remarked.“Son of their chieftain?” snorted Bruenor.
|
[
1870,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11687,
656,
262,
40606,
11,
262,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
1049,
28421,
24447,
656,
262,
2042,
19001,
286,
663,
4472,
13,
464,
48188,
302,
18449,
1497,
422,
606,
11,
4547,
326,
340,
2714,
645,
4621,
1028,
20822,
319,
663,
898,
6614,
13,
20459,
691,
38424,
373,
257,
13703,
736,
284,
262,
2587,
6614,
13,
8496,
370,
4754,
4563,
13488,
13,
1722,
2582,
355,
262,
6279,
28291,
663,
5485,
11,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
41223,
656,
340,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
2936,
257,
4735,
5587,
329,
655,
257,
2589,
11,
290,
2993,
326,
339,
550,
2277,
465,
1317,
13,
6423,
262,
7523,
17948,
1497,
878,
683,
13,
464,
10905,
373,
736,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11,
757,
6476,
511,
25488,
8303,
82,
290,
374,
1124,
13,
1026,
14869,
736,
757,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
7425,
2952,
13,
15721,
1496,
351,
645,
13703,
11,
262,
10905,
1718,
7127,
7873,
6337,
6738,
1111,
13016,
13,
6109,
640,
340,
2587,
1143,
878,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
262,
288,
808,
4367,
326,
663,
19001,
1625,
30125,
290,
1342,
18290,
284,
465,
14613,
82,
13,
1870,
790,
640,
262,
6279,
42878,
878,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
663,
12109,
550,
23476,
13,
464,
2460,
550,
1839,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
7342,
287,
14676,
355,
262,
12799,
286,
262,
48188,
18859,
1479,
286,
262,
2587,
1296,
290,
29742,
1497,
832,
262,
12768,
1108,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
1363,
11,
447,
251,
262,
34730,
288,
808,
17767,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
13,
32,
2589,
1568,
11,
339,
373,
736,
319,
262,
2214,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
297,
2107,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5081,
6228,
306,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
7949,
3428,
804,
13,
447,
250,
5167,
284,
18107,
259,
447,
253,
621,
284,
9950,
447,
253,
67,
307,
502,
4724,
13,
447,
251,
32,
1790,
5253,
1497,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
5494,
1740,
625,
257,
1296,
11,
5445,
290,
19074,
290,
4978,
287,
257,
13389,
7382,
1022,
582,
290,
13824,
13,
447,
250,
15884,
2815,
11,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
4893,
13,
1544,
13663,
465,
17841,
736,
3812,
262,
42577,
3699,
1413,
13,
447,
250,
7762,
1173,
318,
468,
1760,
428,
13,
464,
2910,
286,
4022,
2815,
38750,
465,
2832,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
15884,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
898,
3572,
11,
3737,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
12295,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
11189,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1138,
287,
4427,
11,
616,
2951,
3114,
2402,
7522,
13,
1544,
373,
257,
16491,
13,
1544,
561,
1239,
423,
3142,
428,
0,
447,
251,
679,
10764,
1497,
422,
262,
21304,
11,
9616,
663,
4517,
40080,
3793,
21322,
262,
9961,
286,
262,
7797,
13,
818,
262,
12912,
12705,
286,
1918,
11,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
550,
17383,
2063,
262,
3033,
286,
257,
582,
11,
290,
2063,
286,
262,
1602,
500,
10905,
13,
447,
250,
1544
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1870,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11687,
656,
262,
40606,
11,
262,
3797,
447,
253,
82,
1049,
28421,
24447,
656,
262,
2042,
19001,
286,
663,
4472,
13,
464,
48188,
302,
18449,
1497,
422,
606,
11,
4547,
326,
340,
2714,
645,
4621,
1028,
20822,
319,
663,
898,
6614,
13,
20459,
691,
38424,
373,
257,
13703,
736,
284,
262,
2587,
6614,
13,
8496,
370,
4754,
4563,
13488,
13,
1722,
2582,
355,
262,
6279,
28291,
663,
5485,
11,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
41223,
656,
340,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
2936,
257,
4735,
5587,
329,
655,
257,
2589,
11,
290,
2993,
326,
339,
550,
2277,
465,
1317,
13,
6423,
262,
7523,
17948,
1497,
878,
683,
13,
464,
10905,
373,
736,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
11,
757,
6476,
511,
25488,
8303,
82,
290,
374,
1124,
13,
1026,
14869,
736,
757,
11,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
7425,
2952,
13,
15721,
1496,
351,
645,
13703,
11,
262,
10905,
1718,
7127,
7873,
6337,
6738,
1111,
13016,
13,
6109,
640,
340,
2587,
1143,
878,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
262,
288,
808,
4367,
326,
663,
19001,
1625,
30125,
290,
1342,
18290,
284,
465,
14613,
82,
13,
1870,
790,
640,
262,
6279,
42878,
878,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
663,
12109,
550,
23476,
13,
464,
2460,
550,
1839,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
7342,
287,
14676,
355,
262,
12799,
286,
262,
48188,
18859,
1479,
286,
262,
2587,
1296,
290,
29742,
1497,
832,
262,
12768,
1108,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
1363,
11,
447,
251,
262,
34730,
288,
808,
17767,
1962,
16550,
21768,
7785,
13,
32,
2589,
1568,
11,
339,
373,
736,
319,
262,
2214,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
297,
2107,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5081,
6228,
306,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
7949,
3428,
804,
13,
447,
250,
5167,
284,
18107,
259,
447,
253,
621,
284,
9950,
447,
253,
67,
307,
502,
4724,
13,
447,
251,
32,
1790,
5253,
1497,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
5494,
1740,
625,
257,
1296,
11,
5445,
290,
19074,
290,
4978,
287,
257,
13389,
7382,
1022,
582,
290,
13824,
13,
447,
250,
15884,
2815,
11,
3367,
286,
10272,
74,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
4893,
13,
1544,
13663,
465,
17841,
736,
3812,
262,
42577,
3699,
1413,
13,
447,
250,
7762,
1173,
318,
468,
1760,
428,
13,
464,
2910,
286,
4022,
2815,
38750,
465,
2832,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
15884,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
898,
3572,
11,
3737,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4438,
13,
447,
250,
12295,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
11189,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1138,
287,
4427,
11,
616,
2951,
3114,
2402,
7522,
13,
1544,
373,
257,
16491,
13,
1544,
561,
1239,
423,
3142,
428,
0,
447,
251,
679,
10764,
1497,
422,
262,
21304,
11,
9616,
663,
4517,
40080,
3793,
21322,
262,
9961,
286,
262,
7797,
13,
818,
262,
12912,
12705,
286,
1918,
11,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
550,
17383,
2063,
262,
3033,
286,
257,
582,
11,
290,
2063,
286,
262,
1602,
500,
10905,
13,
447,
250,
1544
] |
dnd562
|
“Seems we‟ve put even more enemies on the road behind us!They‟ll be looking to settle this score.”“As will I!” Wulfgar proclaimed.“His blood is yours to carry, Valric High Eye!” he shouted into the distance, his calls echoing around the mounds of the crags.Wulfgar looked back to his friends, rage seething in his features, as he declared grimly, “I shall avenge Torlin‟s dishonor.”Bruenor nodded his approval at the barbarian‟s dedication to his principles.“An honorable task,” Drizzt agreed, holding his blade out to the east, toward Longsaddle, the next stop along their journey.“But one for another day.”Page 477.Dagger and StaffEntreri stood on a hill a few miles outside the City of Sails, his campfire burning low behind him.Regis and friends had used this same spot for their last stop before they entered Luskan and, in fact, the assassin‟s fire burned in the very same pit.This was no coincidence, though.Entreri had mimicked every move the halfling‟s party had made since he had picked up their trail just south of the Spine of the World.He would move as they moved, shadowing their marches in an effort to better understand their actions.Now, unlike the party before him, Entreri‟s eyes were not on the city wall, nor toward Luskan at all.Several campfires had sprung up in the night to the north, on the road back to Ten-Towns.It wasn‟t the first time those lights had appeared behind him, and the assassin sensed he, too, was being followed.He had slowed his frantic pace, figuring that he could easily make up the ground while the companions went about their business in Luskan.He wanted to secure his own back from any danger before concentrating on snaring the halfling.Entreri had even left telltale signs of his passing, baiting his pursuers in closer.He kicked the embers of the fire low and climbed back into the saddle, deciding it better to meet a sword face to face than to take a dagger in the back.Into the night he rode, confident in the darkness.This was his time, where every shadow added to the advantage of one who lived in shadows.He tethered his mount before midnight, close enough to the campfires to finish the trek on foot.He realized now that this was a merchant caravan; not an uncommon thing on the road to Luskan at this time of year.But his sense of danger nagged at him.Many years of experience had honed his instinct for survival and he knew better than to ignore it.He crept in, seeking the easiest way into the circle of wagons.Merchants always lined many sentries around the perimeter of their camps, and even the pull-horses presented a problem, for the merchants kept them tied close beside their harnesses.Still, the assassin would not waste his ride.
|
“Seems we‟ve put even more enemies on the road behind us!They‟ll be looking to settle this score.”“As will I!” Wulfgar proclaimed.“His blood is yours to carry, Valric High Eye!” he shouted into the distance, his calls echoing around the mounds of the crags.Wulfgar looked back to his friends, rage seething in his features, as he declared grimly, “I shall avenge Torlin‟s dishonor.”Bruenor nodded his approval at the barbarian‟s dedication to his principles.“An honorable task,” Drizzt agreed, holding his blade out to the east, toward Longsaddle, the next stop along their journey.“But one for another day.”Page 477.Dagger and StaffEntreri stood on a hill a few miles outside the City of Sails, his campfire burning low behind him.Regis and friends had used this same spot for their last stop before they entered Luskan and, in fact, the assassin‟s fire burned in the very same pit.This was no coincidence, though.Entreri had mimicked every move the halfling‟s party had made since he had picked up their trail just south of the Spine of the World.He would move as they moved, shadowing their marches in an effort to better understand their actions.Now, unlike the party before him, Entreri‟s eyes were not on the city wall, nor toward Luskan at all.Several campfires had sprung up in the night to the north, on the road back to Ten-Towns.It wasn‟t the first time those lights had appeared behind him, and the assassin sensed he, too, was being followed.He had slowed his frantic pace, figuring that he could easily make up the ground while the companions went about their business in Luskan.He wanted to secure his own back from any danger before concentrating on snaring the halfling.Entreri had even left telltale signs of his passing, baiting his pursuers in closer.He kicked the embers of the fire low and climbed back into the saddle, deciding it better to meet a sword face to face than to take a dagger in the back.Into the night he rode, confident in the darkness.This was his time, where every shadow added to the advantage of one who lived in shadows.He tethered his mount before midnight, close enough to the campfires to finish the trek on foot.He realized now that this was a merchant caravan; not an uncommon thing on the road to Luskan at this time of year.But his sense of danger nagged at him.Many years of experience had honed his instinct for survival and he knew better than to ignore it.He crept in, seeking the easiest way into the circle of wagons.Merchants always lined many sentries around the perimeter of their camps, and even the pull-horses presented a problem, for the merchants kept them tied close beside their harnesses.Still, the assassin would not waste his ride.
|
[
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1234,
772,
517,
5775,
319,
262,
2975,
2157,
514,
0,
2990,
447,
253,
297,
307,
2045,
284,
12259,
428,
4776,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1722,
481,
314,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
25546,
13,
447,
250,
6653,
2910,
318,
12431,
284,
3283,
11,
3254,
1173,
3334,
14144,
0,
447,
251,
339,
17293,
656,
262,
5253,
11,
465,
3848,
39915,
1088,
262,
285,
3733,
286,
262,
1067,
3775,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
736,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
14404,
384,
316,
722,
287,
465,
3033,
11,
355,
339,
6875,
18288,
306,
11,
564,
250,
40,
2236,
257,
18674,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
32045,
273,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
14464,
465,
7546,
379,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
22445,
284,
465,
7811,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
33655,
4876,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4987,
11,
4769,
465,
11865,
503,
284,
262,
7627,
11,
3812,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
262,
1306,
2245,
1863,
511,
7002,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
530,
329,
1194,
1110,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
604,
3324,
13,
35,
7928,
290,
9983,
14539,
260,
380,
6204,
319,
257,
12788,
257,
1178,
4608,
2354,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
465,
1413,
6495,
9482,
1877,
2157,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
290,
2460,
550,
973,
428,
976,
4136,
329,
511,
938,
2245,
878,
484,
5982,
406,
17990,
272,
290,
11,
287,
1109,
11,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
2046,
11544,
287,
262,
845,
976,
6028,
13,
1212,
373,
645,
21083,
11,
996,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
17007,
9484,
790,
1445,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
550,
925,
1201,
339,
550,
6497,
510,
511,
8025,
655,
5366,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
13,
1544,
561,
1445,
355,
484,
3888,
11,
9082,
278,
511,
36963,
287,
281,
3626,
284,
1365,
1833,
511,
4028,
13,
3844,
11,
5023,
262,
2151,
878,
683,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
547,
407,
319,
262,
1748,
3355,
11,
4249,
3812,
406,
17990,
272,
379,
477,
13,
14945,
1413,
27312,
550,
39388,
510,
287,
262,
1755,
284,
262,
5093,
11,
319,
262,
2975,
736,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1026,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
262,
717,
640,
883,
7588,
550,
4120,
2157,
683,
11,
290,
262,
31120,
39243,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
852,
3940,
13,
1544,
550,
20955,
465,
37644,
8761,
11,
22714,
326,
339,
714,
3538,
787,
510,
262,
2323,
981,
262,
19429,
1816,
546,
511,
1597,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1544,
2227,
284,
5713,
465,
898,
736,
422,
597,
3514,
878,
37367,
319,
3013,
1723,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
772,
1364,
1560,
29429,
5895,
286,
465,
6427,
11,
26605,
1780,
465,
8238,
364,
287,
5699,
13,
1544,
12165,
262,
795,
1213,
286,
262,
2046,
1877,
290,
19952,
736,
656,
262,
33083,
11,
14615,
340,
1365,
284,
1826,
257,
8429,
1986,
284,
1986,
621,
284,
1011,
257,
31322,
287,
262,
736,
13,
5317,
78,
262,
1755,
339,
22075,
11,
6563,
287,
262,
11854,
13,
1212,
373,
465,
640,
11,
810,
790
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
4653,
5232,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1234,
772,
517,
5775,
319,
262,
2975,
2157,
514,
0,
2990,
447,
253,
297,
307,
2045,
284,
12259,
428,
4776,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1722,
481,
314,
0,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
25546,
13,
447,
250,
6653,
2910,
318,
12431,
284,
3283,
11,
3254,
1173,
3334,
14144,
0,
447,
251,
339,
17293,
656,
262,
5253,
11,
465,
3848,
39915,
1088,
262,
285,
3733,
286,
262,
1067,
3775,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
736,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
14404,
384,
316,
722,
287,
465,
3033,
11,
355,
339,
6875,
18288,
306,
11,
564,
250,
40,
2236,
257,
18674,
4022,
2815,
447,
253,
82,
32045,
273,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
14464,
465,
7546,
379,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
22445,
284,
465,
7811,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
33655,
4876,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
4987,
11,
4769,
465,
11865,
503,
284,
262,
7627,
11,
3812,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
262,
1306,
2245,
1863,
511,
7002,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
530,
329,
1194,
1110,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
604,
3324,
13,
35,
7928,
290,
9983,
14539,
260,
380,
6204,
319,
257,
12788,
257,
1178,
4608,
2354,
262,
2254,
286,
311,
1768,
11,
465,
1413,
6495,
9482,
1877,
2157,
683,
13,
8081,
271,
290,
2460,
550,
973,
428,
976,
4136,
329,
511,
938,
2245,
878,
484,
5982,
406,
17990,
272,
290,
11,
287,
1109,
11,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
2046,
11544,
287,
262,
845,
976,
6028,
13,
1212,
373,
645,
21083,
11,
996,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
17007,
9484,
790,
1445,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
550,
925,
1201,
339,
550,
6497,
510,
511,
8025,
655,
5366,
286,
262,
1338,
500,
286,
262,
2159,
13,
1544,
561,
1445,
355,
484,
3888,
11,
9082,
278,
511,
36963,
287,
281,
3626,
284,
1365,
1833,
511,
4028,
13,
3844,
11,
5023,
262,
2151,
878,
683,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
547,
407,
319,
262,
1748,
3355,
11,
4249,
3812,
406,
17990,
272,
379,
477,
13,
14945,
1413,
27312,
550,
39388,
510,
287,
262,
1755,
284,
262,
5093,
11,
319,
262,
2975,
736,
284,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
1026,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
262,
717,
640,
883,
7588,
550,
4120,
2157,
683,
11,
290,
262,
31120,
39243,
339,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
852,
3940,
13,
1544,
550,
20955,
465,
37644,
8761,
11,
22714,
326,
339,
714,
3538,
787,
510,
262,
2323,
981,
262,
19429,
1816,
546,
511,
1597,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
1544,
2227,
284,
5713,
465,
898,
736,
422,
597,
3514,
878,
37367,
319,
3013,
1723,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
772,
1364,
1560,
29429,
5895,
286,
465,
6427,
11,
26605,
1780,
465,
8238,
364,
287,
5699,
13,
1544,
12165,
262,
795,
1213,
286,
262,
2046,
1877,
290,
19952,
736,
656,
262,
33083,
11,
14615,
340,
1365,
284,
1826,
257,
8429,
1986,
284,
1986,
621,
284,
1011,
257,
31322,
287,
262,
736,
13,
5317,
78,
262,
1755,
339,
22075,
11,
6563,
287,
262,
11854,
13,
1212,
373,
465,
640,
11,
810,
790
] |
dnd563
|
He had come this far and meant to find out the purpose of those who followed him.Slithering on his belly, he made his way to the perimeter and began circling the camp underneath the defensive ring.Too silently for even wary ears to hear, he passed two guards playing at bones.Then he went under and between the horses, the beasts lowering their ears in fear, but remaining quiet.Halfway around the circle, he was nearly convinced that this was an ordinary merchant caravan, and was just about to slip back into the night when he heard a familiar female voice.“Ye said ye saw a spot o‟ light in the distance.”Entreri stopped, for he knew the speaker.“Yeah, over there,” a man replied.Entreri slipped up between the next two wagons and peeked over the side.The speakers stood a short distance from him, behind the next wagon, peering into the night in the direction of his camp.Both were dressed for battle, the woman wearing her sword comfortably.“I have underestimated you,” Entreri whispered to himself as he viewed Catti-brie.His jeweled dagger was already in his hand.“A mistake I shan‟t repeat,” he added, then crouched low and searched for a path to his target.“Ye been good to me, for bringing me so fast,” Catti-brie said.“I‟m owing to ye, as Regis and the others‟ll be.”“Then tell me,” the man urged.“What causes such urgency?”Catti-brie struggled with the memories of the assassin.She hadn‟t yet come to terms with her terror that day in the halfling‟s house, and knew that she wouldn‟t until she had avenged the deaths of the two dwarven friends and resolved her own humiliation.Her lips tightened and she did not reply.“As you wish,” the man conceded.“Your reasons justify the run, we do not doubt.If we seem to pry, it only shows our desire to help you however we may.”Catti-brie turned to him, a smile of sincere appreciation on her face.Enough had been said, Page 48and the two stood and stared at the empty horizon in silence.Silent, too, was the approach of death.Entreri slipped out from under the wagon and rose suddenly between them, one hand outstretched to each.He grasped Catti-brie‟s neck tightly enough to prevent her scream, and he silenced the man forever with his blade.Looking across the breadth of Entreri‟s shoulders, Catti-brie saw the horrific expression locked onto her companion‟s face, but she couldn‟t understand why he hadn‟t cried out, for his mouth was not covered.Entreri shifted back a bit and she knew.Only the jeweled dagger‟s hilt was visible, its crosspiece flat against the underside of the man‟s chin.The slender blade had found the man‟s brain before he ever realized the danger.Entreri used the weapon‟s handle to guide his victim quietly to the ground, then jerked it free.Again the woman found herself paralyzed before the horror of Entreri.She felt that she should wrench away and shout out to the camp, even though he would surely kill her.Or draw her sword and at least try to fight back.
|
He had come this far and meant to find out the purpose of those who followed him.Slithering on his belly, he made his way to the perimeter and began circling the camp underneath the defensive ring.Too silently for even wary ears to hear, he passed two guards playing at bones.Then he went under and between the horses, the beasts lowering their ears in fear, but remaining quiet.Halfway around the circle, he was nearly convinced that this was an ordinary merchant caravan, and was just about to slip back into the night when he heard a familiar female voice.“Ye said ye saw a spot o‟ light in the distance.”Entreri stopped, for he knew the speaker.“Yeah, over there,” a man replied.Entreri slipped up between the next two wagons and peeked over the side.The speakers stood a short distance from him, behind the next wagon, peering into the night in the direction of his camp.Both were dressed for battle, the woman wearing her sword comfortably.“I have underestimated you,” Entreri whispered to himself as he viewed Catti-brie.His jeweled dagger was already in his hand.“A mistake I shan‟t repeat,” he added, then crouched low and searched for a path to his target.“Ye been good to me, for bringing me so fast,” Catti-brie said.“I‟m owing to ye, as Regis and the others‟ll be.”“Then tell me,” the man urged.“What causes such urgency?”Catti-brie struggled with the memories of the assassin.She hadn‟t yet come to terms with her terror that day in the halfling‟s house, and knew that she wouldn‟t until she had avenged the deaths of the two dwarven friends and resolved her own humiliation.Her lips tightened and she did not reply.“As you wish,” the man conceded.“Your reasons justify the run, we do not doubt.If we seem to pry, it only shows our desire to help you however we may.”Catti-brie turned to him, a smile of sincere appreciation on her face.Enough had been said, Page 48and the two stood and stared at the empty horizon in silence.Silent, too, was the approach of death.Entreri slipped out from under the wagon and rose suddenly between them, one hand outstretched to each.He grasped Catti-brie‟s neck tightly enough to prevent her scream, and he silenced the man forever with his blade.Looking across the breadth of Entreri‟s shoulders, Catti-brie saw the horrific expression locked onto her companion‟s face, but she couldn‟t understand why he hadn‟t cried out, for his mouth was not covered.Entreri shifted back a bit and she knew.Only the jeweled dagger‟s hilt was visible, its crosspiece flat against the underside of the man‟s chin.The slender blade had found the man‟s brain before he ever realized the danger.Entreri used the weapon‟s handle to guide his victim quietly to the ground, then jerked it free.Again the woman found herself paralyzed before the horror of Entreri.She felt that she should wrench away and shout out to the camp, even though he would surely kill her.Or draw her sword and at least try to fight back.
|
[
1544,
550,
1282,
428,
1290,
290,
4001,
284,
1064,
503,
262,
4007,
286,
883,
508,
3940,
683,
13,
11122,
40861,
319,
465,
19921,
11,
339,
925,
465,
835,
284,
262,
25317,
290,
2540,
43080,
262,
1413,
14638,
262,
6110,
5858,
13,
23307,
24595,
329,
772,
23300,
11368,
284,
3285,
11,
339,
3804,
734,
10942,
2712,
379,
11945,
13,
6423,
339,
1816,
739,
290,
1022,
262,
14260,
11,
262,
21930,
21683,
511,
11368,
287,
3252,
11,
475,
5637,
5897,
13,
31305,
1014,
1088,
262,
9197,
11,
339,
373,
3016,
9431,
326,
428,
373,
281,
8850,
20729,
44321,
11,
290,
373,
655,
546,
284,
13819,
736,
656,
262,
1755,
618,
339,
2982,
257,
5385,
4048,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
531,
9838,
2497,
257,
4136,
267,
447,
253,
1657,
287,
262,
5253,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
5025,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
262,
10834,
13,
447,
250,
10995,
11,
625,
612,
11,
447,
251,
257,
582,
8712,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
18859,
510,
1022,
262,
1306,
734,
266,
34765,
290,
27185,
276,
625,
262,
1735,
13,
464,
11636,
6204,
257,
1790,
5253,
422,
683,
11,
2157,
262,
1306,
31860,
11,
613,
1586,
656,
262,
1755,
287,
262,
4571,
286,
465,
1413,
13,
10265,
547,
12049,
329,
3344,
11,
262,
2415,
5762,
607,
8429,
24341,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
36190,
345,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
25029,
284,
2241,
355,
339,
9569,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
13,
6653,
16927,
276,
31322,
373,
1541,
287,
465,
1021,
13,
447,
250,
32,
7457,
314,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
9585,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
11,
788,
33838,
1740,
1877,
290,
16499,
329,
257,
3108,
284,
465,
2496,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
587,
922,
284,
502,
11,
329,
6079,
502,
523,
3049,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
531,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
76,
27120,
284,
9838,
11,
355,
3310,
271,
290,
262,
1854,
447,
253,
297,
307,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
1560,
502,
11,
447,
251,
262,
582,
11643,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
5640,
884,
25615,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11615,
351,
262,
9846,
286,
262,
31120,
13,
3347,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
1282,
284,
2846,
351,
607,
3246,
326,
1110,
287,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2156,
11,
290,
2993,
326,
673,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1566,
673,
550,
27968,
2004,
262,
7040,
286,
262,
734,
15594,
574,
2460,
290,
12939,
607,
898,
32415,
13,
9360,
11914,
37257,
290,
673,
750,
407,
10971,
13,
447,
250,
1722,
345,
4601,
11,
447,
251,
262,
582,
24684,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
3840,
12051,
262,
1057,
11,
356,
466,
407,
4719,
13,
1532,
356,
1283,
284,
279,
563,
11,
340,
691,
2523,
674,
6227,
284,
1037,
345,
2158,
356,
743,
13,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
2900,
284,
683,
11,
257,
8212,
286,
17082,
19163,
319,
607,
1986,
13,
47323,
550,
587,
531,
11,
7873,
4764,
392,
262,
734,
6204,
290,
18484,
379,
262,
6565,
17810,
287,
9550,
13,
15086,
298,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
262,
3164,
286,
1918,
13
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
550,
1282,
428,
1290,
290,
4001,
284,
1064,
503,
262,
4007,
286,
883,
508,
3940,
683,
13,
11122,
40861,
319,
465,
19921,
11,
339,
925,
465,
835,
284,
262,
25317,
290,
2540,
43080,
262,
1413,
14638,
262,
6110,
5858,
13,
23307,
24595,
329,
772,
23300,
11368,
284,
3285,
11,
339,
3804,
734,
10942,
2712,
379,
11945,
13,
6423,
339,
1816,
739,
290,
1022,
262,
14260,
11,
262,
21930,
21683,
511,
11368,
287,
3252,
11,
475,
5637,
5897,
13,
31305,
1014,
1088,
262,
9197,
11,
339,
373,
3016,
9431,
326,
428,
373,
281,
8850,
20729,
44321,
11,
290,
373,
655,
546,
284,
13819,
736,
656,
262,
1755,
618,
339,
2982,
257,
5385,
4048,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
531,
9838,
2497,
257,
4136,
267,
447,
253,
1657,
287,
262,
5253,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
5025,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
262,
10834,
13,
447,
250,
10995,
11,
625,
612,
11,
447,
251,
257,
582,
8712,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
18859,
510,
1022,
262,
1306,
734,
266,
34765,
290,
27185,
276,
625,
262,
1735,
13,
464,
11636,
6204,
257,
1790,
5253,
422,
683,
11,
2157,
262,
1306,
31860,
11,
613,
1586,
656,
262,
1755,
287,
262,
4571,
286,
465,
1413,
13,
10265,
547,
12049,
329,
3344,
11,
262,
2415,
5762,
607,
8429,
24341,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
36190,
345,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
25029,
284,
2241,
355,
339,
9569,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
13,
6653,
16927,
276,
31322,
373,
1541,
287,
465,
1021,
13,
447,
250,
32,
7457,
314,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
9585,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
11,
788,
33838,
1740,
1877,
290,
16499,
329,
257,
3108,
284,
465,
2496,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
587,
922,
284,
502,
11,
329,
6079,
502,
523,
3049,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
531,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
76,
27120,
284,
9838,
11,
355,
3310,
271,
290,
262,
1854,
447,
253,
297,
307,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
1560,
502,
11,
447,
251,
262,
582,
11643,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
5640,
884,
25615,
30,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11615,
351,
262,
9846,
286,
262,
31120,
13,
3347,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
1865,
1282,
284,
2846,
351,
607,
3246,
326,
1110,
287,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2156,
11,
290,
2993,
326,
673,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1566,
673,
550,
27968,
2004,
262,
7040,
286,
262,
734,
15594,
574,
2460,
290,
12939,
607,
898,
32415,
13,
9360,
11914,
37257,
290,
673,
750,
407,
10971,
13,
447,
250,
1722,
345,
4601,
11,
447,
251,
262,
582,
24684,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
3840,
12051,
262,
1057,
11,
356,
466,
407,
4719,
13,
1532,
356,
1283,
284,
279,
563,
11,
340,
691,
2523,
674,
6227,
284,
1037,
345,
2158,
356,
743,
13,
447,
251,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
2900,
284,
683,
11,
257,
8212,
286,
17082,
19163,
319,
607,
1986,
13,
47323,
550,
587,
531,
11,
7873,
4764,
392,
262,
734,
6204,
290,
18484,
379,
262,
6565,
17810,
287,
9550,
13,
15086,
298,
11,
1165,
11,
373,
262,
3164,
286,
1918,
13
] |
dnd564
|
But she watched helplessly as Entreri slipped her own dagger from her belt and, pulling her low with him, replaced it in the man‟s fatal wound.Then he took her sword and pushed her down under the wagon and out beyond the camp‟s perimeter.Why can‟t I call out?she asked herself again and again, for the assassin, confident of the level of terror, didn‟t even hold her as they slipped deeper into the night.He knew, and she had to admit to herself, that she would not give up her life so easily.Finally, when they were a safe distance from the camp, he spun her around to face him–and the dagger.“Follow me?” he asked, laughing at her.“What could you hope to gain?”She did not answer, but found some of her strength returning.Entreri sensed it, too.“If you call out, I shall kill you,” he declared flatly.“And then, by my word, I shall return to the merchants and kill them all as well!”She believed him.“I often travel with the merchants,” she lied, holding the quiver in her voice.“It is one of the duties of my rank as a soldier of Ten-Towns.”Entreri laughed at her again.Then he looked into the distance, his features assuming an introspective tilt.“Perhaps this will play to my advantage,” he said rhetorically, the beginnings of a plan formulating in his mind.Catti-brie studied him, worried that he had found some way to turn her excursion into harm for her friends.“I‟ll not kill you–not yet,” he said to her.“When we find the halfling, his friends will not defend him.Because of you.”“I‟ll do nothing to aid ye!” Catti-brie spat.”Nothing!”“Precisely,” Entreri hissed.“You shall do nothing.Not with a blade at your neck–” he brought the weapon up to her throat in a morbid tease–”scratching at your smooth skin.When I am done with my business, brave girl, I shall move on, and you shall be left with your shame and your guilt.And your answers to the merchants who believe you murdered their companion!” In truth, Entreri didn‟t believe for a moment that his simple trick with Catti-brie‟s dagger would fool the merchants.It was merely a psychological weapon aimed at the young woman, designed to instill yet another doubt and worry into her jumble of emotions.Catti-brie did not reply to the assassin‟s statements with any sign of emotion.No, she told herself, it won‟t be like that!But deep inside, she wondered if her determination only masked her fear, her own belief that she would be held again by the horror of Entreri‟s presence, and that the scene would unfold exactly as he had predicted.Jierdan found the campsite with little difficulty.Dendybar had used his magic to track the mysterious rider all the way from the mountains and had pointed the soldier in the right direction.Tensed and his sword drawn, Jierdan moved in.The place was deserted, but it had not been Page 49that way for long.Even from a few feet away, the soldier from Luskan could feel the dying warmth of the campfire.Crouching low to mask his silhouette against the line of the horizon, he crept toward a pack and blanket off to the side of the fire.
|
But she watched helplessly as Entreri slipped her own dagger from her belt and, pulling her low with him, replaced it in the man‟s fatal wound.Then he took her sword and pushed her down under the wagon and out beyond the camp‟s perimeter.Why can‟t I call out?she asked herself again and again, for the assassin, confident of the level of terror, didn‟t even hold her as they slipped deeper into the night.He knew, and she had to admit to herself, that she would not give up her life so easily.Finally, when they were a safe distance from the camp, he spun her around to face him–and the dagger.“Follow me?” he asked, laughing at her.“What could you hope to gain?”She did not answer, but found some of her strength returning.Entreri sensed it, too.“If you call out, I shall kill you,” he declared flatly.“And then, by my word, I shall return to the merchants and kill them all as well!”She believed him.“I often travel with the merchants,” she lied, holding the quiver in her voice.“It is one of the duties of my rank as a soldier of Ten-Towns.”Entreri laughed at her again.Then he looked into the distance, his features assuming an introspective tilt.“Perhaps this will play to my advantage,” he said rhetorically, the beginnings of a plan formulating in his mind.Catti-brie studied him, worried that he had found some way to turn her excursion into harm for her friends.“I‟ll not kill you–not yet,” he said to her.“When we find the halfling, his friends will not defend him.Because of you.”“I‟ll do nothing to aid ye!” Catti-brie spat.”Nothing!”“Precisely,” Entreri hissed.“You shall do nothing.Not with a blade at your neck–” he brought the weapon up to her throat in a morbid tease–”scratching at your smooth skin.When I am done with my business, brave girl, I shall move on, and you shall be left with your shame and your guilt.And your answers to the merchants who believe you murdered their companion!” In truth, Entreri didn‟t believe for a moment that his simple trick with Catti-brie‟s dagger would fool the merchants.It was merely a psychological weapon aimed at the young woman, designed to instill yet another doubt and worry into her jumble of emotions.Catti-brie did not reply to the assassin‟s statements with any sign of emotion.No, she told herself, it won‟t be like that!But deep inside, she wondered if her determination only masked her fear, her own belief that she would be held again by the horror of Entreri‟s presence, and that the scene would unfold exactly as he had predicted.Jierdan found the campsite with little difficulty.Dendybar had used his magic to track the mysterious rider all the way from the mountains and had pointed the soldier in the right direction.Tensed and his sword drawn, Jierdan moved in.The place was deserted, but it had not been Page 49that way for long.Even from a few feet away, the soldier from Luskan could feel the dying warmth of the campfire.Crouching low to mask his silhouette against the line of the horizon, he crept toward a pack and blanket off to the side of the fire.
|
[
1537,
673,
7342,
21144,
306,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
18859,
607,
898,
31322,
422,
607,
10999,
290,
11,
10427,
607,
1877,
351,
683,
11,
6928,
340,
287,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
10800,
11699,
13,
6423,
339,
1718,
607,
8429,
290,
7121,
607,
866,
739,
262,
31860,
290,
503,
3675,
262,
1413,
447,
253,
82,
25317,
13,
5195,
460,
447,
253,
83,
314,
869,
503,
30,
7091,
1965,
5223,
757,
290,
757,
11,
329,
262,
31120,
11,
6563,
286,
262,
1241,
286,
3246,
11,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
1745,
607,
355,
484,
18859,
9211,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
1544,
2993,
11,
290,
673,
550,
284,
9159,
284,
5223,
11,
326,
673,
561,
407,
1577,
510,
607,
1204,
523,
3538,
13,
11158,
11,
618,
484,
547,
257,
3338,
5253,
422,
262,
1413,
11,
339,
26843,
607,
1088,
284,
1986,
683,
1906,
392,
262,
31322,
13,
447,
250,
7155,
502,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11,
14376,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
345,
2911,
284,
4461,
30,
447,
251,
3347,
750,
407,
3280,
11,
475,
1043,
617,
286,
607,
4202,
8024,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
39243,
340,
11,
1165,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
869,
503,
11,
314,
2236,
1494,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
6875,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
788,
11,
416,
616,
1573,
11,
314,
2236,
1441,
284,
262,
21779,
290,
1494,
606,
477,
355,
880,
0,
447,
251,
3347,
4762,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1690,
3067,
351,
262,
21779,
11,
447,
251,
673,
19837,
11,
4769,
262,
627,
1428,
287,
607,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
530,
286,
262,
10741,
286,
616,
4279,
355,
257,
10686,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
13818,
379,
607,
757,
13,
6423,
339,
3114,
656,
262,
5253,
11,
465,
3033,
13148,
281,
18951,
49540,
26500,
13,
447,
250,
13710,
428,
481,
711,
284,
616,
4621,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11388,
26847,
11,
262,
33875,
286,
257,
1410,
1296,
8306,
287,
465,
2000,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
9713,
683,
11,
7960,
326,
339,
550,
1043,
617,
835,
284,
1210,
607,
2859,
24197,
656,
4419,
329,
607,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
407,
1494,
345,
1906,
1662,
1865,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
607,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1064,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
465,
2460,
481,
407,
4404,
683,
13,
8128,
286,
345,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
466,
2147,
284,
6133,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
15246,
13,
447,
251,
18465,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6719,
37561,
306,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
466,
2147,
13,
3673,
351,
257,
11865,
379,
534,
7393,
1906,
447,
251,
339,
3181,
262,
4282,
510,
284,
607,
13589,
287,
257,
34813,
34691,
1906,
447,
251,
1416,
81,
19775,
379,
534,
7209,
4168,
13,
2215,
314,
716,
1760,
351,
616,
1597,
11,
14802,
2576,
11,
314,
2236,
1445,
319,
11,
290,
345,
2236,
307,
1364,
351,
534,
10195,
290,
534,
14934,
13,
1870,
534
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
673,
7342,
21144,
306,
355,
7232,
260,
380,
18859,
607,
898,
31322,
422,
607,
10999,
290,
11,
10427,
607,
1877,
351,
683,
11,
6928,
340,
287,
262,
582,
447,
253,
82,
10800,
11699,
13,
6423,
339,
1718,
607,
8429,
290,
7121,
607,
866,
739,
262,
31860,
290,
503,
3675,
262,
1413,
447,
253,
82,
25317,
13,
5195,
460,
447,
253,
83,
314,
869,
503,
30,
7091,
1965,
5223,
757,
290,
757,
11,
329,
262,
31120,
11,
6563,
286,
262,
1241,
286,
3246,
11,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
1745,
607,
355,
484,
18859,
9211,
656,
262,
1755,
13,
1544,
2993,
11,
290,
673,
550,
284,
9159,
284,
5223,
11,
326,
673,
561,
407,
1577,
510,
607,
1204,
523,
3538,
13,
11158,
11,
618,
484,
547,
257,
3338,
5253,
422,
262,
1413,
11,
339,
26843,
607,
1088,
284,
1986,
683,
1906,
392,
262,
31322,
13,
447,
250,
7155,
502,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11,
14376,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
345,
2911,
284,
4461,
30,
447,
251,
3347,
750,
407,
3280,
11,
475,
1043,
617,
286,
607,
4202,
8024,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
39243,
340,
11,
1165,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
869,
503,
11,
314,
2236,
1494,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
6875,
6228,
306,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
788,
11,
416,
616,
1573,
11,
314,
2236,
1441,
284,
262,
21779,
290,
1494,
606,
477,
355,
880,
0,
447,
251,
3347,
4762,
683,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1690,
3067,
351,
262,
21779,
11,
447,
251,
673,
19837,
11,
4769,
262,
627,
1428,
287,
607,
3809,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
530,
286,
262,
10741,
286,
616,
4279,
355,
257,
10686,
286,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
13818,
379,
607,
757,
13,
6423,
339,
3114,
656,
262,
5253,
11,
465,
3033,
13148,
281,
18951,
49540,
26500,
13,
447,
250,
13710,
428,
481,
711,
284,
616,
4621,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11388,
26847,
11,
262,
33875,
286,
257,
1410,
1296,
8306,
287,
465,
2000,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
9713,
683,
11,
7960,
326,
339,
550,
1043,
617,
835,
284,
1210,
607,
2859,
24197,
656,
4419,
329,
607,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
407,
1494,
345,
1906,
1662,
1865,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
607,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1064,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
465,
2460,
481,
407,
4404,
683,
13,
8128,
286,
345,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
466,
2147,
284,
6133,
9838,
0,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
15246,
13,
447,
251,
18465,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6719,
37561,
306,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
466,
2147,
13,
3673,
351,
257,
11865,
379,
534,
7393,
1906,
447,
251,
339,
3181,
262,
4282,
510,
284,
607,
13589,
287,
257,
34813,
34691,
1906,
447,
251,
1416,
81,
19775,
379,
534,
7209,
4168,
13,
2215,
314,
716,
1760,
351,
616,
1597,
11,
14802,
2576,
11,
314,
2236,
1445,
319,
11,
290,
345,
2236,
307,
1364,
351,
534,
10195,
290,
534,
14934,
13,
1870,
534
] |
dnd565
|
* * *Entreri rode his mount back into camp slowly, expecting that what he had left might have drawn some visitors.Catti-brie sat in front of him, securely bound and gagged, though she fully believed, to her own disgust, that her own terror made the bonds unnecessary.The wary assassin realized that someone had entered the camp, before he had ever gotten near the place.He slid from his saddle, taking his prisoner with him.“A nervous steed,” he explained to Catti-brie, taking obvious pleasure in the grim warning as he tied her to the horse‟s rear legs.“If you struggle, he will kick the life from you.”Then Entreri was gone, blending into the night as though he were an extension of its darkness.* * *Jierdan dropped the pack back to the ground, frustrated, for its contents were merely standard traveling gear and revealed nothing about the owner.The soldier was a veteran of many campaigns and had bested man and orc alike a hundred times, but he was nervous now, sensing something unusual, and deadly, about the rider.A man with the courage to ride alone on the brutal course from Icewind Dale to Luskan was no novice to the ways of battle.Jierdan was startled, then, but not too surprised, when the tip of a blade came to rest suddenly in the vulnerable hollow on the back of his neck, just below the base of his skull.He neither moved nor spoke, hoping that the rider would ask for some explanation before driving the weapon home.Entreri could see that his pack had been searched, but he recognised the furred uniform and knew that this man was no thief.“We are beyond the borders of your city,” he said, holding his knife steady.“What business have you in my camp, soldier of Luskan?”“I am Jierdan of the north gate,” he replied.“I have come to meet a rider from Icewind Dale.”“What rider?”“You.”Entreri was perplexed and uncomfortable with the soldier‟s response.Who had sent this man, and how had he known where to look?The assassin‟s first thoughts centered on Regis‟s party.Perhaps the halfling had arranged for some help from the city guard.Entreri slipped his knife back info its sheath, certain that he could retrieve it in time to foil any attack.Jierdan understood the calm confidence of the act as well, and any thoughts that he might have had for striking at this man flew from him.“My master, desires your audience,” he said, thinking it wise to explain himself more completely.“A meeting to your mutual benefit.”“Your master?” asked Entreri.“A citizen of high standing,” Jierdan explained.“He has heard of your coming and believes that he may help with your quest.”“What does he know of my business?” Entreri snapped, angered that someone had dared to spy on him.But he was relieved, too, for the involvement of some other power structure within the city explained much, and possibly eliminated the logical assumption that the halfling was behind this meeting.Jierdan shrugged.“I am merely his courier.
|
* * *Entreri rode his mount back into camp slowly, expecting that what he had left might have drawn some visitors.Catti-brie sat in front of him, securely bound and gagged, though she fully believed, to her own disgust, that her own terror made the bonds unnecessary.The wary assassin realized that someone had entered the camp, before he had ever gotten near the place.He slid from his saddle, taking his prisoner with him.“A nervous steed,” he explained to Catti-brie, taking obvious pleasure in the grim warning as he tied her to the horse‟s rear legs.“If you struggle, he will kick the life from you.”Then Entreri was gone, blending into the night as though he were an extension of its darkness.* * *Jierdan dropped the pack back to the ground, frustrated, for its contents were merely standard traveling gear and revealed nothing about the owner.The soldier was a veteran of many campaigns and had bested man and orc alike a hundred times, but he was nervous now, sensing something unusual, and deadly, about the rider.A man with the courage to ride alone on the brutal course from Icewind Dale to Luskan was no novice to the ways of battle.Jierdan was startled, then, but not too surprised, when the tip of a blade came to rest suddenly in the vulnerable hollow on the back of his neck, just below the base of his skull.He neither moved nor spoke, hoping that the rider would ask for some explanation before driving the weapon home.Entreri could see that his pack had been searched, but he recognised the furred uniform and knew that this man was no thief.“We are beyond the borders of your city,” he said, holding his knife steady.“What business have you in my camp, soldier of Luskan?”“I am Jierdan of the north gate,” he replied.“I have come to meet a rider from Icewind Dale.”“What rider?”“You.”Entreri was perplexed and uncomfortable with the soldier‟s response.Who had sent this man, and how had he known where to look?The assassin‟s first thoughts centered on Regis‟s party.Perhaps the halfling had arranged for some help from the city guard.Entreri slipped his knife back info its sheath, certain that he could retrieve it in time to foil any attack.Jierdan understood the calm confidence of the act as well, and any thoughts that he might have had for striking at this man flew from him.“My master, desires your audience,” he said, thinking it wise to explain himself more completely.“A meeting to your mutual benefit.”“Your master?” asked Entreri.“A citizen of high standing,” Jierdan explained.“He has heard of your coming and believes that he may help with your quest.”“What does he know of my business?” Entreri snapped, angered that someone had dared to spy on him.But he was relieved, too, for the involvement of some other power structure within the city explained much, and possibly eliminated the logical assumption that the halfling was behind this meeting.Jierdan shrugged.“I am merely his courier.
|
[
9,
1635,
1635,
14539,
260,
380,
22075,
465,
3817,
736,
656,
1413,
6364,
11,
12451,
326,
644,
339,
550,
1364,
1244,
423,
7428,
617,
9692,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
3332,
287,
2166,
286,
683,
11,
30835,
5421,
290,
308,
14655,
11,
996,
673,
3938,
4762,
11,
284,
607,
898,
16234,
11,
326,
607,
898,
3246,
925,
262,
13100,
13114,
13,
464,
23300,
31120,
6939,
326,
2130,
550,
5982,
262,
1413,
11,
878,
339,
550,
1683,
7891,
1474,
262,
1295,
13,
1544,
27803,
422,
465,
33083,
11,
2263,
465,
17234,
351,
683,
13,
447,
250,
32,
10927,
336,
2308,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
2263,
3489,
9476,
287,
262,
18288,
6509,
355,
339,
8165,
607,
284,
262,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
8286,
7405,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
6531,
11,
339,
481,
4829,
262,
1204,
422,
345,
13,
447,
251,
6423,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
3750,
11,
34863,
656,
262,
1755,
355,
996,
339,
547,
281,
7552,
286,
663,
11854,
15885,
1635,
1635,
41,
959,
25604,
5710,
262,
2353,
736,
284,
262,
2323,
11,
14718,
11,
329,
663,
10154,
547,
6974,
3210,
11300,
7733,
290,
4602,
2147,
546,
262,
4870,
13,
464,
10686,
373,
257,
9298,
286,
867,
9964,
290,
550,
1266,
276,
582,
290,
26393,
12936,
257,
3470,
1661,
11,
475,
339,
373,
10927,
783,
11,
34244,
1223,
8468,
11,
290,
10309,
11,
546,
262,
17876,
13,
32,
582,
351,
262,
11917,
284,
6594,
3436,
319,
262,
12399,
1781,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
373,
645,
38751,
284,
262,
2842,
286,
3344,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
373,
36249,
11,
788,
11,
475,
407,
1165,
6655,
11,
618,
262,
8171,
286,
257,
11865,
1625,
284,
1334,
6451,
287,
262,
8826,
20596,
319,
262,
736,
286,
465,
7393,
11,
655,
2174,
262,
2779,
286,
465,
14511,
13,
1544,
6159,
3888,
4249,
5158,
11,
7725,
326,
262,
17876,
561,
1265,
329,
617,
7468,
878,
5059,
262,
4282,
1363,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
714,
766,
326,
465,
2353,
550,
587,
16499,
11,
475,
339,
20915,
262,
9230,
445,
8187,
290,
2993,
326,
428,
582,
373,
645,
25906,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
3675,
262,
11637,
286,
534,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
4769,
465,
9845,
11831,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
1597,
423,
345,
287,
616,
1413,
11,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
716,
449,
959,
25604,
286,
262,
5093,
8946,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1282,
284,
1826,
257,
17876,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2061,
17876,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
373,
35682,
276,
290,
12916,
351,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
2882,
13,
8241,
550,
1908,
428,
582,
11,
290,
703,
550,
339,
1900,
810,
284,
804,
30,
464,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
717,
6066,
19254,
319,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
13,
13710,
262,
2063,
1359,
550,
14921,
329,
617,
1037,
422,
262,
1748,
4860,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
18859,
465,
9845,
736,
7508,
663,
673
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
9,
1635,
1635,
14539,
260,
380,
22075,
465,
3817,
736,
656,
1413,
6364,
11,
12451,
326,
644,
339,
550,
1364,
1244,
423,
7428,
617,
9692,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
3332,
287,
2166,
286,
683,
11,
30835,
5421,
290,
308,
14655,
11,
996,
673,
3938,
4762,
11,
284,
607,
898,
16234,
11,
326,
607,
898,
3246,
925,
262,
13100,
13114,
13,
464,
23300,
31120,
6939,
326,
2130,
550,
5982,
262,
1413,
11,
878,
339,
550,
1683,
7891,
1474,
262,
1295,
13,
1544,
27803,
422,
465,
33083,
11,
2263,
465,
17234,
351,
683,
13,
447,
250,
32,
10927,
336,
2308,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
2263,
3489,
9476,
287,
262,
18288,
6509,
355,
339,
8165,
607,
284,
262,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
8286,
7405,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
6531,
11,
339,
481,
4829,
262,
1204,
422,
345,
13,
447,
251,
6423,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
3750,
11,
34863,
656,
262,
1755,
355,
996,
339,
547,
281,
7552,
286,
663,
11854,
15885,
1635,
1635,
41,
959,
25604,
5710,
262,
2353,
736,
284,
262,
2323,
11,
14718,
11,
329,
663,
10154,
547,
6974,
3210,
11300,
7733,
290,
4602,
2147,
546,
262,
4870,
13,
464,
10686,
373,
257,
9298,
286,
867,
9964,
290,
550,
1266,
276,
582,
290,
26393,
12936,
257,
3470,
1661,
11,
475,
339,
373,
10927,
783,
11,
34244,
1223,
8468,
11,
290,
10309,
11,
546,
262,
17876,
13,
32,
582,
351,
262,
11917,
284,
6594,
3436,
319,
262,
12399,
1781,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
373,
645,
38751,
284,
262,
2842,
286,
3344,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
373,
36249,
11,
788,
11,
475,
407,
1165,
6655,
11,
618,
262,
8171,
286,
257,
11865,
1625,
284,
1334,
6451,
287,
262,
8826,
20596,
319,
262,
736,
286,
465,
7393,
11,
655,
2174,
262,
2779,
286,
465,
14511,
13,
1544,
6159,
3888,
4249,
5158,
11,
7725,
326,
262,
17876,
561,
1265,
329,
617,
7468,
878,
5059,
262,
4282,
1363,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
714,
766,
326,
465,
2353,
550,
587,
16499,
11,
475,
339,
20915,
262,
9230,
445,
8187,
290,
2993,
326,
428,
582,
373,
645,
25906,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
3675,
262,
11637,
286,
534,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
4769,
465,
9845,
11831,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
1597,
423,
345,
287,
616,
1413,
11,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
716,
449,
959,
25604,
286,
262,
5093,
8946,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1282,
284,
1826,
257,
17876,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2061,
17876,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
373,
35682,
276,
290,
12916,
351,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
2882,
13,
8241,
550,
1908,
428,
582,
11,
290,
703,
550,
339,
1900,
810,
284,
804,
30,
464,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
717,
6066,
19254,
319,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
13,
13710,
262,
2063,
1359,
550,
14921,
329,
617,
1037,
422,
262,
1748,
4860,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
18859,
465,
9845,
736,
7508,
663,
673
] |
dnd566
|
But I, too, can be of assistance to you.At the gate.”“Damn the gate,” Entreri snarled.“I‟ll take the wall easily enough.It is a more direct route to the places I seek.”“Even so, I know of those places, and of the people who control them.”Page 50The knife leaped back out, cutting in and stopping just before Jierdan‟s throat.“You know much, but you explain little.You play dangerous games, soldier of Luskan.”Jierdan didn‟t blink.“Four heroes from Ten-Towns came into Luskan five days ago: a dwarf, a halfling, a barbarian, and a black elf.” Even Artemis Entreri couldn‟t hide a hint of excitement at the confirmation of his suspicions, and Jierdan noted the signs.“Their exact location escapes me, but I know the area where they are hiding.Are you interested?”The knife returned again to its sheath.“Wait here,” Entreri instructed.“I have a companion who shall travel with us.”“My master said that you rode alone,” Jierdan queried.Entreri‟s vile grin sent a shiver through the soldier‟s spine.“I acquired her,” he explained.“She is mine and that is all that you ever need to know.”Jierdan didn‟t press the point.His sigh of relief was audible when Entreri had disappeared from sight.Catti-brie rode to Luskan untied and ungagged, but Entreri‟s hold upon her was no less binding.His warning to her when he had retrieved her in the field had been succinct and undeniable.“A foolish move,” he had said, “and you die.And you die with the knowledge that the dwarf, Bruenor, shall suffer for your insolence.”The assassin had told Jierdan no more about her, and the soldier didn‟t ask, though the woman intrigued him more than a little.Dendybar would get the answers, Jierdan knew.They moved into the city later that morning, under the suspicious eye of the Daykeeper of the North Gate.It had cost Jierdan a week‟s pay to bribe them through, and the soldier knew he would owe even more when he returned that night, for the original deal with the Daykeeper allowed the passage of one outsider; nothing had been said about the woman.But if Jierdan‟s actions brought him Dendybar‟s favor, then they would be well worth the price.According to the city code, the three gave up their horses at the stable just inside the wall, and Jierdan led Entreri and Catti-brie through the streets of the City of Sails, past the sleepy-eyed merchants and vendors who had been out since before dawn and into the very heart of the city.The assassin was not surprised an hour later when they came upon a long grove of thick pine trees.He had suspected that Jierdan was somehow connected to this place.
|
But I, too, can be of assistance to you.At the gate.”“Damn the gate,” Entreri snarled.“I‟ll take the wall easily enough.It is a more direct route to the places I seek.”“Even so, I know of those places, and of the people who control them.”Page 50The knife leaped back out, cutting in and stopping just before Jierdan‟s throat.“You know much, but you explain little.You play dangerous games, soldier of Luskan.”Jierdan didn‟t blink.“Four heroes from Ten-Towns came into Luskan five days ago: a dwarf, a halfling, a barbarian, and a black elf.” Even Artemis Entreri couldn‟t hide a hint of excitement at the confirmation of his suspicions, and Jierdan noted the signs.“Their exact location escapes me, but I know the area where they are hiding.Are you interested?”The knife returned again to its sheath.“Wait here,” Entreri instructed.“I have a companion who shall travel with us.”“My master said that you rode alone,” Jierdan queried.Entreri‟s vile grin sent a shiver through the soldier‟s spine.“I acquired her,” he explained.“She is mine and that is all that you ever need to know.”Jierdan didn‟t press the point.His sigh of relief was audible when Entreri had disappeared from sight.Catti-brie rode to Luskan untied and ungagged, but Entreri‟s hold upon her was no less binding.His warning to her when he had retrieved her in the field had been succinct and undeniable.“A foolish move,” he had said, “and you die.And you die with the knowledge that the dwarf, Bruenor, shall suffer for your insolence.”The assassin had told Jierdan no more about her, and the soldier didn‟t ask, though the woman intrigued him more than a little.Dendybar would get the answers, Jierdan knew.They moved into the city later that morning, under the suspicious eye of the Daykeeper of the North Gate.It had cost Jierdan a week‟s pay to bribe them through, and the soldier knew he would owe even more when he returned that night, for the original deal with the Daykeeper allowed the passage of one outsider; nothing had been said about the woman.But if Jierdan‟s actions brought him Dendybar‟s favor, then they would be well worth the price.According to the city code, the three gave up their horses at the stable just inside the wall, and Jierdan led Entreri and Catti-brie through the streets of the City of Sails, past the sleepy-eyed merchants and vendors who had been out since before dawn and into the very heart of the city.The assassin was not surprised an hour later when they came upon a long grove of thick pine trees.He had suspected that Jierdan was somehow connected to this place.
|
[
1537,
314,
11,
1165,
11,
460,
307,
286,
6829,
284,
345,
13,
2953,
262,
8946,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
43343,
262,
8946,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
3013,
283,
992,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
1011,
262,
3355,
3538,
1576,
13,
1026,
318,
257,
517,
1277,
6339,
284,
262,
4113,
314,
5380,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6104,
523,
11,
314,
760,
286,
883,
4113,
11,
290,
286,
262,
661,
508,
1630,
606,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
2026,
464,
9845,
443,
5813,
736,
503,
11,
7720,
287,
290,
12225,
655,
878,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
760,
881,
11,
475,
345,
4727,
1310,
13,
1639,
711,
4923,
1830,
11,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
21019,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
10281,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
1625,
656,
406,
17990,
272,
1936,
1528,
2084,
25,
257,
24603,
11,
257,
2063,
1359,
11,
257,
42577,
3699,
11,
290,
257,
2042,
23878,
13,
447,
251,
3412,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
7808,
257,
9254,
286,
14067,
379,
262,
12641,
286,
465,
30508,
11,
290,
449,
959,
25604,
4367,
262,
5895,
13,
447,
250,
14574,
2748,
4067,
32695,
502,
11,
475,
314,
760,
262,
1989,
810,
484,
389,
11816,
13,
8491,
345,
4609,
30,
447,
251,
464,
9845,
4504,
757,
284,
663,
673,
776,
13,
447,
250,
21321,
994,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
257,
15185,
508,
2236,
3067,
351,
514,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3666,
4958,
531,
326,
345,
22075,
3436,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
42517,
798,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
34942,
16770,
1908,
257,
427,
1428,
832,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
19656,
13,
447,
250,
40,
9477,
607,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
3347,
318,
6164,
290,
326,
318,
477,
326,
345,
1683,
761,
284,
760,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1803,
262,
966,
13,
6653,
19680,
286,
8259,
373,
35282,
618,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
12120,
422,
6504,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
22075,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
1418,
798,
290,
555,
70,
14655,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1745,
2402,
607,
373,
645,
1342,
12765,
13,
6653,
6509,
284,
607,
618,
339,
550,
29517,
607,
287,
262,
2214,
550,
587,
46263,
290,
36332,
13,
447,
250,
32,
19538,
1445,
11,
447,
251,
339,
550,
531,
11,
564,
250,
392,
345,
4656,
13,
1870,
345,
4656,
351,
262,
3725,
326,
262,
24603,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
2236,
8659,
329,
534,
35831,
594,
13,
447,
251,
464,
31120,
550,
1297,
449,
959,
25604,
645,
517,
546,
607,
11,
290,
262,
10686,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1265,
11,
996,
262,
2415,
33720,
683,
517,
621,
257,
1310,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
561,
651,
262,
7429,
11,
449,
959,
25604,
2993,
13,
2990,
3888,
656,
262,
1748,
1568,
326,
3329,
11,
739,
262,
13678,
4151,
286,
262,
3596,
13884,
286,
262,
2258,
12816,
13,
1026
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
314,
11,
1165,
11,
460,
307,
286,
6829,
284,
345,
13,
2953,
262,
8946,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
43343,
262,
8946,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
3013,
283,
992,
13,
447,
250,
40,
447,
253,
297,
1011,
262,
3355,
3538,
1576,
13,
1026,
318,
257,
517,
1277,
6339,
284,
262,
4113,
314,
5380,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6104,
523,
11,
314,
760,
286,
883,
4113,
11,
290,
286,
262,
661,
508,
1630,
606,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
2026,
464,
9845,
443,
5813,
736,
503,
11,
7720,
287,
290,
12225,
655,
878,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
13589,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
760,
881,
11,
475,
345,
4727,
1310,
13,
1639,
711,
4923,
1830,
11,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
21019,
13,
447,
250,
15137,
10281,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
1625,
656,
406,
17990,
272,
1936,
1528,
2084,
25,
257,
24603,
11,
257,
2063,
1359,
11,
257,
42577,
3699,
11,
290,
257,
2042,
23878,
13,
447,
251,
3412,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
7808,
257,
9254,
286,
14067,
379,
262,
12641,
286,
465,
30508,
11,
290,
449,
959,
25604,
4367,
262,
5895,
13,
447,
250,
14574,
2748,
4067,
32695,
502,
11,
475,
314,
760,
262,
1989,
810,
484,
389,
11816,
13,
8491,
345,
4609,
30,
447,
251,
464,
9845,
4504,
757,
284,
663,
673,
776,
13,
447,
250,
21321,
994,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
257,
15185,
508,
2236,
3067,
351,
514,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3666,
4958,
531,
326,
345,
22075,
3436,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
42517,
798,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
34942,
16770,
1908,
257,
427,
1428,
832,
262,
10686,
447,
253,
82,
19656,
13,
447,
250,
40,
9477,
607,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
3347,
318,
6164,
290,
326,
318,
477,
326,
345,
1683,
761,
284,
760,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1803,
262,
966,
13,
6653,
19680,
286,
8259,
373,
35282,
618,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
12120,
422,
6504,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
22075,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
1418,
798,
290,
555,
70,
14655,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1745,
2402,
607,
373,
645,
1342,
12765,
13,
6653,
6509,
284,
607,
618,
339,
550,
29517,
607,
287,
262,
2214,
550,
587,
46263,
290,
36332,
13,
447,
250,
32,
19538,
1445,
11,
447,
251,
339,
550,
531,
11,
564,
250,
392,
345,
4656,
13,
1870,
345,
4656,
351,
262,
3725,
326,
262,
24603,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
2236,
8659,
329,
534,
35831,
594,
13,
447,
251,
464,
31120,
550,
1297,
449,
959,
25604,
645,
517,
546,
607,
11,
290,
262,
10686,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1265,
11,
996,
262,
2415,
33720,
683,
517,
621,
257,
1310,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
561,
651,
262,
7429,
11,
449,
959,
25604,
2993,
13,
2990,
3888,
656,
262,
1748,
1568,
326,
3329,
11,
739,
262,
13678,
4151,
286,
262,
3596,
13884,
286,
262,
2258,
12816,
13,
1026
] |
dnd567
|
They passed through a break in the line and stood before the tallest structure in the city, the Hosttower of the Arcane.“Who is your master?” Entreri asked bluntly.Jierdan chuckled, his nerve bolstered by the sight of Dendybar‟s tower.“You shall meet him soon enough.”“I shall know now,” Entreri growled.“Or our meeting is ended.I am in the city, soldier, and I do not require your assistance any longer.”“I could have the guards expel you,” Jierdan shot back.“Or worse!”But Entreri had the last word.“They would never find the remains of your body,” he promised, the cold certainty of his tone draining the blood from Jierdan‟s face.Catti-brie noted the exchange with more than a passing concern for the soldier, wondering if the time might soon come when she could exploit the untrusting nature of her captors to her own advantage.“I serve Dendybar the Mottled, Master of the North Spire,” Jierdan declared, drawing further strength from the mention of his powerful mentor‟s name.Entreri had heard the name before.The Hosttower was a common topic of the whisperings all around Luskan and the surrounding countryside, and the name of Dendybar the Mottled came up often in conversation, describing the wizard as an ambitious power seeker in the tower, and hinting at a dark and sinister side of the man that allowed him to get what he wanted.He was dangerous, but potentially a powerful ally.Entreri was pleased.“Take me to him now,” he told Jierdan.“Let us discover if we have business or no.”Sydney was waiting to escort them from the entryroom of the Hosttower.Offering no introduction, and asking for none, she led them through the twisting passages and secret doors to the audience hall of Dendybar the Mottled.The wizard waited there in grand style, wearing his finest Page 51robes and with a fabulous luncheon set before him.“Greetings, rider,” Dendybar said after the necessary, yet uncomfortable, moments of silence when each of the parties sized up the other.“I am Dendybar the Mottled, as you are already aware.Will you and your lovely companion partake of my table?”His raspy voice grated on Catti-brie‟s nerves, and though she hadn‟t eaten since the supper the day before, she had no appetite for this man‟s hospitality.Entreri shoved her forward.“Eat,” he commanded.She knew that Entreri was testing both her and the wizards.But it was time for her to test Entreri as well.“No,” she answered, looking him straight in the eye.His backhand knocked her to the floor.Jierdan and Sydney started reflexively, but seeing no help forthcoming from Dendybar, quickly stopped and settled back to watch.Catti-brie moved away from the killer and remained in a defensive crouch.Dendybar smiled at the assassin.“You have answered some of my questions about the girl,”he said with an amused smile.
|
They passed through a break in the line and stood before the tallest structure in the city, the Hosttower of the Arcane.“Who is your master?” Entreri asked bluntly.Jierdan chuckled, his nerve bolstered by the sight of Dendybar‟s tower.“You shall meet him soon enough.”“I shall know now,” Entreri growled.“Or our meeting is ended.I am in the city, soldier, and I do not require your assistance any longer.”“I could have the guards expel you,” Jierdan shot back.“Or worse!”But Entreri had the last word.“They would never find the remains of your body,” he promised, the cold certainty of his tone draining the blood from Jierdan‟s face.Catti-brie noted the exchange with more than a passing concern for the soldier, wondering if the time might soon come when she could exploit the untrusting nature of her captors to her own advantage.“I serve Dendybar the Mottled, Master of the North Spire,” Jierdan declared, drawing further strength from the mention of his powerful mentor‟s name.Entreri had heard the name before.The Hosttower was a common topic of the whisperings all around Luskan and the surrounding countryside, and the name of Dendybar the Mottled came up often in conversation, describing the wizard as an ambitious power seeker in the tower, and hinting at a dark and sinister side of the man that allowed him to get what he wanted.He was dangerous, but potentially a powerful ally.Entreri was pleased.“Take me to him now,” he told Jierdan.“Let us discover if we have business or no.”Sydney was waiting to escort them from the entryroom of the Hosttower.Offering no introduction, and asking for none, she led them through the twisting passages and secret doors to the audience hall of Dendybar the Mottled.The wizard waited there in grand style, wearing his finest Page 51robes and with a fabulous luncheon set before him.“Greetings, rider,” Dendybar said after the necessary, yet uncomfortable, moments of silence when each of the parties sized up the other.“I am Dendybar the Mottled, as you are already aware.Will you and your lovely companion partake of my table?”His raspy voice grated on Catti-brie‟s nerves, and though she hadn‟t eaten since the supper the day before, she had no appetite for this man‟s hospitality.Entreri shoved her forward.“Eat,” he commanded.She knew that Entreri was testing both her and the wizards.But it was time for her to test Entreri as well.“No,” she answered, looking him straight in the eye.His backhand knocked her to the floor.Jierdan and Sydney started reflexively, but seeing no help forthcoming from Dendybar, quickly stopped and settled back to watch.Catti-brie moved away from the killer and remained in a defensive crouch.Dendybar smiled at the assassin.“You have answered some of my questions about the girl,”he said with an amused smile.
|
[
2990,
3804,
832,
257,
2270,
287,
262,
1627,
290,
6204,
878,
262,
38760,
4645,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
318,
534,
4958,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
44514,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
39889,
11,
465,
16384,
48677,
416,
262,
6504,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
10580,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
1826,
683,
2582,
1576,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
760,
783,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
5574,
674,
3249,
318,
4444,
13,
40,
716,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
10686,
11,
290,
314,
466,
407,
2421,
534,
6829,
597,
2392,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
714,
423,
262,
10942,
46466,
345,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
5574,
4785,
0,
447,
251,
1537,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
262,
938,
1573,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
561,
1239,
1064,
262,
3793,
286,
534,
1767,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8072,
11,
262,
4692,
18979,
286,
465,
8216,
35939,
262,
2910,
422,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
4367,
262,
5163,
351,
517,
621,
257,
6427,
2328,
329,
262,
10686,
11,
11263,
611,
262,
640,
1244,
2582,
1282,
618,
673,
714,
14561,
262,
1418,
11469,
278,
3450,
286,
607,
3144,
669,
284,
607,
898,
4621,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4691,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
11,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
6875,
11,
8263,
2252,
4202,
422,
262,
3068,
286,
465,
3665,
22387,
447,
253,
82,
1438,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
2982,
262,
1438,
878,
13,
464,
14504,
36170,
373,
257,
2219,
7243,
286,
262,
31992,
654,
477,
1088,
406,
17990,
272,
290,
262,
7346,
25708,
11,
290,
262,
1438,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
1625,
510,
1690,
287,
5273,
11,
12059,
262,
18731,
355,
281,
14742,
1176,
45993,
287,
262,
10580,
11,
290,
9254,
278,
379,
257,
3223,
290,
26592,
1735,
286,
262,
582,
326,
3142,
683,
284,
651,
644,
339,
2227,
13,
1544,
373,
4923,
11,
475,
6196,
257,
3665,
12525,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
373,
10607,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
284,
683,
783,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
449,
959,
25604,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
7073,
611,
356,
423,
1597,
393,
645,
13,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
373,
4953,
284,
27675,
606,
422,
262,
5726,
3823,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
9362,
1586,
645,
9793,
11,
290,
4737,
329,
4844,
11,
673,
2957,
606,
832,
262,
36373,
22674,
290,
3200,
8215,
284,
262,
5386,
6899,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
13,
464,
18731,
13488,
612,
287,
4490,
3918,
11,
5762,
465,
18822,
7873,
6885,
305,
12636,
290,
351,
257,
28294,
14678,
40556,
900,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
17876,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
706,
262,
3306,
11,
1865,
12916,
11,
7188,
286,
9550,
618,
1123,
286,
262,
4671,
19943,
510,
262,
584,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
360,
437
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
2990,
3804,
832,
257,
2270,
287,
262,
1627,
290,
6204,
878,
262,
38760,
4645,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
318,
534,
4958,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
44514,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
39889,
11,
465,
16384,
48677,
416,
262,
6504,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
10580,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2236,
1826,
683,
2582,
1576,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
760,
783,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
5574,
674,
3249,
318,
4444,
13,
40,
716,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
10686,
11,
290,
314,
466,
407,
2421,
534,
6829,
597,
2392,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
714,
423,
262,
10942,
46466,
345,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
5574,
4785,
0,
447,
251,
1537,
7232,
260,
380,
550,
262,
938,
1573,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
561,
1239,
1064,
262,
3793,
286,
534,
1767,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8072,
11,
262,
4692,
18979,
286,
465,
8216,
35939,
262,
2910,
422,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
4367,
262,
5163,
351,
517,
621,
257,
6427,
2328,
329,
262,
10686,
11,
11263,
611,
262,
640,
1244,
2582,
1282,
618,
673,
714,
14561,
262,
1418,
11469,
278,
3450,
286,
607,
3144,
669,
284,
607,
898,
4621,
13,
447,
250,
40,
4691,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
11,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
6875,
11,
8263,
2252,
4202,
422,
262,
3068,
286,
465,
3665,
22387,
447,
253,
82,
1438,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
550,
2982,
262,
1438,
878,
13,
464,
14504,
36170,
373,
257,
2219,
7243,
286,
262,
31992,
654,
477,
1088,
406,
17990,
272,
290,
262,
7346,
25708,
11,
290,
262,
1438,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
1625,
510,
1690,
287,
5273,
11,
12059,
262,
18731,
355,
281,
14742,
1176,
45993,
287,
262,
10580,
11,
290,
9254,
278,
379,
257,
3223,
290,
26592,
1735,
286,
262,
582,
326,
3142,
683,
284,
651,
644,
339,
2227,
13,
1544,
373,
4923,
11,
475,
6196,
257,
3665,
12525,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
373,
10607,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
502,
284,
683,
783,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
449,
959,
25604,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
514,
7073,
611,
356,
423,
1597,
393,
645,
13,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
373,
4953,
284,
27675,
606,
422,
262,
5726,
3823,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
9362,
1586,
645,
9793,
11,
290,
4737,
329,
4844,
11,
673,
2957,
606,
832,
262,
36373,
22674,
290,
3200,
8215,
284,
262,
5386,
6899,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
262,
337,
1252,
992,
13,
464,
18731,
13488,
612,
287,
4490,
3918,
11,
5762,
465,
18822,
7873,
6885,
305,
12636,
290,
351,
257,
28294,
14678,
40556,
900,
878,
683,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
17876,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
706,
262,
3306,
11,
1865,
12916,
11,
7188,
286,
9550,
618,
1123,
286,
262,
4671,
19943,
510,
262,
584,
13,
447,
250,
40,
716,
360,
437
] |
dnd568
|
“What purpose does she serve?”“I have my reasons,” was all that Entreri replied.“Of course.And might I learn your name?”Entreri‟s expression did not change.“You seek the four companions from Ten-Towns, I know,” Dendybar continued, having no desire to bandy the issue.“I seek them, as well, but for different reasons, I am sure.”“You know nothing of my reasons,” Entreri replied.“Nor do I care,” laughed the wizard.“We can help each other to our separate goals.That is all that interests me.”“I ask for no help.”Dendybar laughed again.“They are a mighty force, rider.You underestimate them.”“Perhaps,” replied Entreri.“But you have asked my purpose, yet have not offered your own.What business does the Hosttower have with travelers from Ten-Towns?”“Fairly asked,” answered Dendybar.“But I should wait until we have formalized an agreement before rendering an answer.”“Then I shan‟t sleep well for worry,” Entreri spat.Again the wizard laughed.“You may change your mind before this is finished,” he said.“For now I offer a sign of good faith.The companions are in the city.Dockside.They were to stay in the Cutlass.Do you know it?”Entreri nodded, now very interested in the wizard‟s words.“But we have lost them in the alleyways of the western city,” Dendybar explained, shooting a glare at Jierdan that made the soldier shift uneasily.“And what is the price of this information?” Entreri asked.“None,” replied the wizard.“Telling you helps my own cause.You will get what you want; what I desire will remain for me.”Entreri smiled, understanding that Dendybar intended to use him as a hound to sniff out the prey.“My apprentice will show you out,” Dendybar said, motioning to Sydney.Entreri turned to leave, pausing to meet the gaze of Jierdan.“Ware my path, soldier,” the assassin warned.“Vultures eat after the cat has feasted!”“When he has shown me to the drow, I‟ll have his head,” Jierdan growled when they had gone.“You shall keep clear of that one,” Dendybar instructed.Jierdan looked at him, puzzled.“Surely you want him watched.”“Surely,” agreed Dendybar.
|
“What purpose does she serve?”“I have my reasons,” was all that Entreri replied.“Of course.And might I learn your name?”Entreri‟s expression did not change.“You seek the four companions from Ten-Towns, I know,” Dendybar continued, having no desire to bandy the issue.“I seek them, as well, but for different reasons, I am sure.”“You know nothing of my reasons,” Entreri replied.“Nor do I care,” laughed the wizard.“We can help each other to our separate goals.That is all that interests me.”“I ask for no help.”Dendybar laughed again.“They are a mighty force, rider.You underestimate them.”“Perhaps,” replied Entreri.“But you have asked my purpose, yet have not offered your own.What business does the Hosttower have with travelers from Ten-Towns?”“Fairly asked,” answered Dendybar.“But I should wait until we have formalized an agreement before rendering an answer.”“Then I shan‟t sleep well for worry,” Entreri spat.Again the wizard laughed.“You may change your mind before this is finished,” he said.“For now I offer a sign of good faith.The companions are in the city.Dockside.They were to stay in the Cutlass.Do you know it?”Entreri nodded, now very interested in the wizard‟s words.“But we have lost them in the alleyways of the western city,” Dendybar explained, shooting a glare at Jierdan that made the soldier shift uneasily.“And what is the price of this information?” Entreri asked.“None,” replied the wizard.“Telling you helps my own cause.You will get what you want; what I desire will remain for me.”Entreri smiled, understanding that Dendybar intended to use him as a hound to sniff out the prey.“My apprentice will show you out,” Dendybar said, motioning to Sydney.Entreri turned to leave, pausing to meet the gaze of Jierdan.“Ware my path, soldier,” the assassin warned.“Vultures eat after the cat has feasted!”“When he has shown me to the drow, I‟ll have his head,” Jierdan growled when they had gone.“You shall keep clear of that one,” Dendybar instructed.Jierdan looked at him, puzzled.“Surely you want him watched.”“Surely,” agreed Dendybar.
|
[
447,
250,
2061,
4007,
857,
673,
4691,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
423,
616,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
373,
477,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
13,
1870,
1244,
314,
2193,
534,
1438,
30,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
5408,
750,
407,
1487,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
5380,
262,
1440,
19429,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
314,
760,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
3767,
11,
1719,
645,
6227,
284,
4097,
88,
262,
2071,
13,
447,
250,
40,
5380,
606,
11,
355,
880,
11,
475,
329,
1180,
3840,
11,
314,
716,
1654,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
760,
2147,
286,
616,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
466,
314,
1337,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
262,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
460,
1037,
1123,
584,
284,
674,
4553,
4661,
13,
2504,
318,
477,
326,
5353,
502,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
1265,
329,
645,
1037,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13818,
757,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
389,
257,
18680,
2700,
11,
17876,
13,
1639,
34994,
606,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
13710,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
345,
423,
1965,
616,
4007,
11,
1865,
423,
407,
4438,
534,
898,
13,
2061,
1597,
857,
262,
14504,
36170,
423,
351,
23325,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
30099,
306,
1965,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
314,
815,
4043,
1566,
356,
423,
8766,
1143,
281,
4381,
878,
14837,
281,
3280,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
314,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
3993,
880,
329,
5490,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
15246,
13,
15316,
262,
18731,
13818,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
1487,
534,
2000,
878,
428,
318,
5201,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
783,
314,
2897,
257,
1051,
286,
922,
4562,
13,
464,
19429,
389,
287,
262,
1748,
13,
35,
3320,
485,
13,
2990,
547,
284,
2652,
287,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
5211,
345,
760,
340,
30,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
14464,
11,
783,
845,
4609,
287,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2456,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
423,
2626,
606,
287,
262,
23978,
1322,
286,
262,
8830,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
4893,
11,
4395,
257,
36785,
379,
449,
959,
25604,
326,
925,
262,
10686,
6482,
17809,
292,
813,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
318,
262,
2756,
286,
428,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
14202,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
51,
9417,
345,
5419,
616,
898,
2728,
13,
1639,
481,
651,
644,
345,
765,
26,
644,
314,
6227,
481,
3520,
329,
502,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
13541,
11,
4547,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
5292,
284,
779,
683,
355,
257,
289,
633,
284,
26300,
503,
262,
15974,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
39252,
481,
905,
345,
503,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
11,
6268,
278,
284,
11852,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
284,
2666
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
2061,
4007,
857,
673,
4691,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
423,
616,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
373,
477,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
13,
1870,
1244,
314,
2193,
534,
1438,
30,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
5408,
750,
407,
1487,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
5380,
262,
1440,
19429,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
314,
760,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
3767,
11,
1719,
645,
6227,
284,
4097,
88,
262,
2071,
13,
447,
250,
40,
5380,
606,
11,
355,
880,
11,
475,
329,
1180,
3840,
11,
314,
716,
1654,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
760,
2147,
286,
616,
3840,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21991,
466,
314,
1337,
11,
447,
251,
13818,
262,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
460,
1037,
1123,
584,
284,
674,
4553,
4661,
13,
2504,
318,
477,
326,
5353,
502,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
1265,
329,
645,
1037,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13818,
757,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
389,
257,
18680,
2700,
11,
17876,
13,
1639,
34994,
606,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
13710,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
345,
423,
1965,
616,
4007,
11,
1865,
423,
407,
4438,
534,
898,
13,
2061,
1597,
857,
262,
14504,
36170,
423,
351,
23325,
422,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
30099,
306,
1965,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
314,
815,
4043,
1566,
356,
423,
8766,
1143,
281,
4381,
878,
14837,
281,
3280,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6423,
314,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
3993,
880,
329,
5490,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
15246,
13,
15316,
262,
18731,
13818,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
1487,
534,
2000,
878,
428,
318,
5201,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
783,
314,
2897,
257,
1051,
286,
922,
4562,
13,
464,
19429,
389,
287,
262,
1748,
13,
35,
3320,
485,
13,
2990,
547,
284,
2652,
287,
262,
9712,
31172,
13,
5211,
345,
760,
340,
30,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
14464,
11,
783,
845,
4609,
287,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2456,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
423,
2626,
606,
287,
262,
23978,
1322,
286,
262,
8830,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
4893,
11,
4395,
257,
36785,
379,
449,
959,
25604,
326,
925,
262,
10686,
6482,
17809,
292,
813,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
318,
262,
2756,
286,
428,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
14202,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
18731,
13,
447,
250,
51,
9417,
345,
5419,
616,
898,
2728,
13,
1639,
481,
651,
644,
345,
765,
26,
644,
314,
6227,
481,
3520,
329,
502,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
13541,
11,
4547,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
5292,
284,
779,
683,
355,
257,
289,
633,
284,
26300,
503,
262,
15974,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
39252,
481,
905,
345,
503,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
11,
6268,
278,
284,
11852,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
284,
2666
] |
dnd569
|
“But by Sydney, not you.Keep your anger,” Dendybar said to him, noting the outraged scowl.“I preserve your life.Your pride is great, indeed, and you have earned the right.But this one is beyond your prowess, my friend.His blade would have you before you ever knew he was there.”Outside, Entreri led Catti-brie away from the Hosttower without a word, silently replaying Page 52and reviewing the meeting, for he knew that he had not seen the last of Dendybar and his cohorts.Catti-brie was glad of the silence, too, engulfed in her own contemplations.Why would a wizard of the Hosttower be looking for Bruenor and the others?Revenge for Akar Kessell, the mad wizard that her friends had helped defeat before the last winter?She looked back to the treelike structure, and to the killer at her side, amazed and horrified at the attention her friends had brought upon themselves.Then she looked into her own heart, reviving her spirit and her courage.Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis were going to need her help before this was all over.She must not fail them.Page 53Book 2.Allies8.To the Peril of Low-Flying BirdsThe companions broke out of the twists and dips of the crags later in the afternoon, to their absolute relief.It had taken them some time to round up their mounts after the encounter with the Pegasus, particularly the halfling‟s pony, which had bolted early in the fight when Regis had gone down.In truth, the pony would not be ridden again, anyway; it was too skittish and Regis was in no condition to ride.But Drizzt had insisted that both horses and both ponies be found, reminding his companions of their responsibility to the farmers, especially considering the way they had appropriated the beasts.Regis now sat before Wulfgar on the barbarian‟s stallion, leading the way with his pony tied behind and Drizzt and Bruenor a short distance back, guarding the rear.Wulfgar kept his great arms close around the halfling, his protective hold secure enough to allow Regis some much-needed sleep.“Keep the setting sun at our backs,” Drizzt instructed the barbarian.Wulfgar called out his acknowledgement and looked back to confirm his bearings.“Rumblebelly couldn‟t find a safer place in all the Realms,” Bruenor remarked to the drow.Drizzt smiled.“Wulfgar has done well.”“Aye,” the dwarf agreed, obviously pleased.“Although I be wondering how much longer I can keep to callin‟ him a boy!Ye should have seen the Cutlass, elf,” the dwarf chuckled.“A boatload of pirates who‟d been seeing naught but the sea for a year and a day couldn‟t‟ve done more wrecking!”“When we left the dale, I worried if Wulfgar was ready for the many societies of this wide world,” replied Drizzt.
|
“But by Sydney, not you.Keep your anger,” Dendybar said to him, noting the outraged scowl.“I preserve your life.Your pride is great, indeed, and you have earned the right.But this one is beyond your prowess, my friend.His blade would have you before you ever knew he was there.”Outside, Entreri led Catti-brie away from the Hosttower without a word, silently replaying Page 52and reviewing the meeting, for he knew that he had not seen the last of Dendybar and his cohorts.Catti-brie was glad of the silence, too, engulfed in her own contemplations.Why would a wizard of the Hosttower be looking for Bruenor and the others?Revenge for Akar Kessell, the mad wizard that her friends had helped defeat before the last winter?She looked back to the treelike structure, and to the killer at her side, amazed and horrified at the attention her friends had brought upon themselves.Then she looked into her own heart, reviving her spirit and her courage.Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis were going to need her help before this was all over.She must not fail them.Page 53Book 2.Allies8.To the Peril of Low-Flying BirdsThe companions broke out of the twists and dips of the crags later in the afternoon, to their absolute relief.It had taken them some time to round up their mounts after the encounter with the Pegasus, particularly the halfling‟s pony, which had bolted early in the fight when Regis had gone down.In truth, the pony would not be ridden again, anyway; it was too skittish and Regis was in no condition to ride.But Drizzt had insisted that both horses and both ponies be found, reminding his companions of their responsibility to the farmers, especially considering the way they had appropriated the beasts.Regis now sat before Wulfgar on the barbarian‟s stallion, leading the way with his pony tied behind and Drizzt and Bruenor a short distance back, guarding the rear.Wulfgar kept his great arms close around the halfling, his protective hold secure enough to allow Regis some much-needed sleep.“Keep the setting sun at our backs,” Drizzt instructed the barbarian.Wulfgar called out his acknowledgement and looked back to confirm his bearings.“Rumblebelly couldn‟t find a safer place in all the Realms,” Bruenor remarked to the drow.Drizzt smiled.“Wulfgar has done well.”“Aye,” the dwarf agreed, obviously pleased.“Although I be wondering how much longer I can keep to callin‟ him a boy!Ye should have seen the Cutlass, elf,” the dwarf chuckled.“A boatload of pirates who‟d been seeing naught but the sea for a year and a day couldn‟t‟ve done more wrecking!”“When we left the dale, I worried if Wulfgar was ready for the many societies of this wide world,” replied Drizzt.
|
[
447,
250,
1537,
416,
11852,
11,
407,
345,
13,
15597,
534,
8993,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
284,
683,
11,
10820,
262,
27697,
629,
4883,
13,
447,
250,
40,
12201,
534,
1204,
13,
7120,
11293,
318,
1049,
11,
5600,
11,
290,
345,
423,
7366,
262,
826,
13,
1537,
428,
530,
318,
3675,
534,
30721,
11,
616,
1545,
13,
6653,
11865,
561,
423,
345,
878,
345,
1683,
2993,
339,
373,
612,
13,
447,
251,
30815,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
2957,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1497,
422,
262,
14504,
36170,
1231,
257,
1573,
11,
24595,
302,
17916,
7873,
6740,
392,
17217,
262,
3249,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
326,
339,
550,
407,
1775,
262,
938,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
465,
40182,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
9675,
286,
262,
9550,
11,
1165,
11,
40997,
287,
607,
898,
19377,
602,
13,
5195,
561,
257,
18731,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
307,
2045,
329,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
262,
1854,
30,
3041,
18674,
329,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
11,
262,
8805,
18731,
326,
607,
2460,
550,
4193,
7433,
878,
262,
938,
7374,
30,
3347,
3114,
736,
284,
262,
2054,
417,
522,
4645,
11,
290,
284,
262,
11868,
379,
607,
1735,
11,
24562,
290,
32816,
379,
262,
3241,
607,
2460,
550,
3181,
2402,
2405,
13,
6423,
673,
3114,
656,
607,
898,
2612,
11,
2710,
1412,
607,
4437,
290,
607,
11917,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
547,
1016,
284,
761,
607,
1037,
878,
428,
373,
477,
625,
13,
3347,
1276,
407,
2038,
606,
13,
9876,
7192,
10482,
362,
13,
3237,
444,
23,
13,
2514,
262,
2448,
346,
286,
7754,
12,
49095,
27124,
464,
19429,
6265,
503,
286,
262,
30953,
290,
48904,
286,
262,
1067,
3775,
1568,
287,
262,
6672,
11,
284,
511,
4112,
8259,
13,
1026,
550,
2077,
606,
617,
640,
284,
2835,
510,
511,
30790,
706,
262,
8791,
351,
262,
48188,
11,
3573,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
11,
543,
550,
49647,
1903,
287,
262,
1907,
618,
3310,
271,
550,
3750,
866,
13,
818,
3872,
11,
262,
26902,
561,
407,
307,
46715,
757,
11,
6949,
26,
340,
373,
1165,
1341,
715,
680,
290,
3310,
271,
373,
287,
645,
4006,
284,
6594,
13,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
11189,
326,
1111,
14260,
290,
1111,
46370,
307,
1043,
11,
30047,
465,
19429,
286,
511,
5798,
284,
262,
9818,
11,
2592,
6402,
262,
835,
484,
550,
32316,
262,
21930,
13,
8081,
271,
783,
3332,
878,
370,
4754,
4563,
319,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
22549,
295,
11,
3756,
262,
835,
351,
465,
26902,
8165,
2157,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
257,
1790,
5253,
736,
11,
33294,
262,
8286,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
4030,
465,
1049,
5101,
1969,
1088,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
465,
14153,
1745,
5713,
1576,
284,
1249,
3310,
271,
617,
881,
12,
27938,
3993,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
262,
4634,
4252,
379,
674,
12983,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
17767,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1444,
503,
465,
41259,
290,
3114,
736
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1537,
416,
11852,
11,
407,
345,
13,
15597,
534,
8993,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
531,
284,
683,
11,
10820,
262,
27697,
629,
4883,
13,
447,
250,
40,
12201,
534,
1204,
13,
7120,
11293,
318,
1049,
11,
5600,
11,
290,
345,
423,
7366,
262,
826,
13,
1537,
428,
530,
318,
3675,
534,
30721,
11,
616,
1545,
13,
6653,
11865,
561,
423,
345,
878,
345,
1683,
2993,
339,
373,
612,
13,
447,
251,
30815,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
2957,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1497,
422,
262,
14504,
36170,
1231,
257,
1573,
11,
24595,
302,
17916,
7873,
6740,
392,
17217,
262,
3249,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
326,
339,
550,
407,
1775,
262,
938,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
465,
40182,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
9675,
286,
262,
9550,
11,
1165,
11,
40997,
287,
607,
898,
19377,
602,
13,
5195,
561,
257,
18731,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
307,
2045,
329,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
262,
1854,
30,
3041,
18674,
329,
9084,
283,
40679,
7255,
11,
262,
8805,
18731,
326,
607,
2460,
550,
4193,
7433,
878,
262,
938,
7374,
30,
3347,
3114,
736,
284,
262,
2054,
417,
522,
4645,
11,
290,
284,
262,
11868,
379,
607,
1735,
11,
24562,
290,
32816,
379,
262,
3241,
607,
2460,
550,
3181,
2402,
2405,
13,
6423,
673,
3114,
656,
607,
898,
2612,
11,
2710,
1412,
607,
4437,
290,
607,
11917,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
547,
1016,
284,
761,
607,
1037,
878,
428,
373,
477,
625,
13,
3347,
1276,
407,
2038,
606,
13,
9876,
7192,
10482,
362,
13,
3237,
444,
23,
13,
2514,
262,
2448,
346,
286,
7754,
12,
49095,
27124,
464,
19429,
6265,
503,
286,
262,
30953,
290,
48904,
286,
262,
1067,
3775,
1568,
287,
262,
6672,
11,
284,
511,
4112,
8259,
13,
1026,
550,
2077,
606,
617,
640,
284,
2835,
510,
511,
30790,
706,
262,
8791,
351,
262,
48188,
11,
3573,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
11,
543,
550,
49647,
1903,
287,
262,
1907,
618,
3310,
271,
550,
3750,
866,
13,
818,
3872,
11,
262,
26902,
561,
407,
307,
46715,
757,
11,
6949,
26,
340,
373,
1165,
1341,
715,
680,
290,
3310,
271,
373,
287,
645,
4006,
284,
6594,
13,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
11189,
326,
1111,
14260,
290,
1111,
46370,
307,
1043,
11,
30047,
465,
19429,
286,
511,
5798,
284,
262,
9818,
11,
2592,
6402,
262,
835,
484,
550,
32316,
262,
21930,
13,
8081,
271,
783,
3332,
878,
370,
4754,
4563,
319,
262,
42577,
3699,
447,
253,
82,
22549,
295,
11,
3756,
262,
835,
351,
465,
26902,
8165,
2157,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
257,
1790,
5253,
736,
11,
33294,
262,
8286,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
4030,
465,
1049,
5101,
1969,
1088,
262,
2063,
1359,
11,
465,
14153,
1745,
5713,
1576,
284,
1249,
3310,
271,
617,
881,
12,
27938,
3993,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
262,
4634,
4252,
379,
674,
12983,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
17767,
262,
42577,
3699,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
1444,
503,
465,
41259,
290,
3114,
736
] |
dnd570
|
“Now I worry that the world may not be ready for him.You should be proud.”“Ye‟ve had as much a hand in him as meself,” said Bruenor.“He‟s me boy, elf, surer‟n if I‟d sired him meself.Not a thought to his own fears on the field back there.Ne‟er have I viewed such courage in a human as when ye‟d gone to the other plane.He waited–he hoped, I tell ye!–for the wretched beast to come back so he could get a good swing in to avenge the hurt to meself and the halfling.”Drizzt enjoyed this rare moment of vulnerability from the dwarf.A few times before, he had seen Bruenor drop his callous facade, back on the climb in Icewind Dale when the dwarf thought of Mithril Hall and the wondrous memories of his childhood.“Aye, I‟m proud,” Bruenor continued.“And I‟m finding meself willing to follow his lead and trust in his choices.”Drizzt could only agree, having come to the same conclusions many months before, when Wulfgar had united the peoples of Icewind Dale, barbarian and Ten-Towner alike, in a common defense against the harsh tundra winter.He still worried about bringing the young warrior into situations like the dockside of Luskan, for he knew that many of the finest persons in the Realms had paid dearly for their first encounters with the guilds and underground power structures of a city, and that Wulfgar‟s deep compassion and unwavering code of honor could be manipulated against him.But on the road, in the wild, Drizzt knew that he would never find a more valuable companion.They encountered no further problems that day or night, and the next morning came upon the main road, the trading route from Waterdeep to Mirabar and passing Longsaddle on the way.No landmarks stood out to guide them, as Drizzt had anticipated, but because of his plan in keeping more to the east than the straight line southeast, their direction from here was clearly south.Regis seemed much better this day and was anxious to see Longsaddle.He alone of the group had been to the home of the magic-using Harpell family and he looked forward to viewing the Page 54strange, and often outrageous, place again.His excited chatting only heightened Wulfgar‟s trepidations, though, for the barbarian‟s distrust of the dark arts ran deep.Among Wulfgar‟s people, wizards were viewed as cowards and evil tricksters.“How long must we remain in this place?” he asked Bruenor and Drizzt, who, with the crags safely behind them, had come up to ride beside him on the wide road.“Until we get some answers,” Bruenor answered.“Or until we figure a better place to go.”Wulfgar had to be satisfied with the answer.Soon they passed some of the outlying farms, drawing curious stares from the men in the fields who leaned on their hoes and rakes to study the party.Shortly after the first of these encounters, they were met on the road by five armed men called Longriders, representing the outer watch of the town.“Greetings, travelers,” said one politely.“Might we ask your intentions in these parts?”“Ye might…” started Bruenor, but Drizzt stopped his sarcastic remark with an outstretched hand.“We have come to see the Harpells,” Regis replied.“Our business does not concern your town, though we seek the wise counsel of the family in the mansion.”“Well met, then,” answered the Longrider.“The hill of the Ivy Mansion is just a few miles farther down the road, before Longsaddle proper.” He stopped suddenly, noticing the drow.“We could escort you if you desire,” he offered, clearing his throat in an effort to politely hide his gawking at the black elf.“It is not necessary,” said Drizzt.“I assure you that we can find the way, and that we mean no ill toward any of the people of Longsaddle.”“Very well.” The Longrider stepped his mount aside and the companions continued on.“Keep to the road, though,” he called after them.“Some of the farmers get anxious about people near the boundaries of their land.”“They are kindly folk,” Regis explained to his companions as they moved down the road,“and they trust in their wizards.”“Kindly, but wary,” Drizzt retorted, motioning to a distant field where the silhouette of a mounted man was barely visible on the far tree line.
|
“Now I worry that the world may not be ready for him.You should be proud.”“Ye‟ve had as much a hand in him as meself,” said Bruenor.“He‟s me boy, elf, surer‟n if I‟d sired him meself.Not a thought to his own fears on the field back there.Ne‟er have I viewed such courage in a human as when ye‟d gone to the other plane.He waited–he hoped, I tell ye!–for the wretched beast to come back so he could get a good swing in to avenge the hurt to meself and the halfling.”Drizzt enjoyed this rare moment of vulnerability from the dwarf.A few times before, he had seen Bruenor drop his callous facade, back on the climb in Icewind Dale when the dwarf thought of Mithril Hall and the wondrous memories of his childhood.“Aye, I‟m proud,” Bruenor continued.“And I‟m finding meself willing to follow his lead and trust in his choices.”Drizzt could only agree, having come to the same conclusions many months before, when Wulfgar had united the peoples of Icewind Dale, barbarian and Ten-Towner alike, in a common defense against the harsh tundra winter.He still worried about bringing the young warrior into situations like the dockside of Luskan, for he knew that many of the finest persons in the Realms had paid dearly for their first encounters with the guilds and underground power structures of a city, and that Wulfgar‟s deep compassion and unwavering code of honor could be manipulated against him.But on the road, in the wild, Drizzt knew that he would never find a more valuable companion.They encountered no further problems that day or night, and the next morning came upon the main road, the trading route from Waterdeep to Mirabar and passing Longsaddle on the way.No landmarks stood out to guide them, as Drizzt had anticipated, but because of his plan in keeping more to the east than the straight line southeast, their direction from here was clearly south.Regis seemed much better this day and was anxious to see Longsaddle.He alone of the group had been to the home of the magic-using Harpell family and he looked forward to viewing the Page 54strange, and often outrageous, place again.His excited chatting only heightened Wulfgar‟s trepidations, though, for the barbarian‟s distrust of the dark arts ran deep.Among Wulfgar‟s people, wizards were viewed as cowards and evil tricksters.“How long must we remain in this place?” he asked Bruenor and Drizzt, who, with the crags safely behind them, had come up to ride beside him on the wide road.“Until we get some answers,” Bruenor answered.“Or until we figure a better place to go.”Wulfgar had to be satisfied with the answer.Soon they passed some of the outlying farms, drawing curious stares from the men in the fields who leaned on their hoes and rakes to study the party.Shortly after the first of these encounters, they were met on the road by five armed men called Longriders, representing the outer watch of the town.“Greetings, travelers,” said one politely.“Might we ask your intentions in these parts?”“Ye might…” started Bruenor, but Drizzt stopped his sarcastic remark with an outstretched hand.“We have come to see the Harpells,” Regis replied.“Our business does not concern your town, though we seek the wise counsel of the family in the mansion.”“Well met, then,” answered the Longrider.“The hill of the Ivy Mansion is just a few miles farther down the road, before Longsaddle proper.” He stopped suddenly, noticing the drow.“We could escort you if you desire,” he offered, clearing his throat in an effort to politely hide his gawking at the black elf.“It is not necessary,” said Drizzt.“I assure you that we can find the way, and that we mean no ill toward any of the people of Longsaddle.”“Very well.” The Longrider stepped his mount aside and the companions continued on.“Keep to the road, though,” he called after them.“Some of the farmers get anxious about people near the boundaries of their land.”“They are kindly folk,” Regis explained to his companions as they moved down the road,“and they trust in their wizards.”“Kindly, but wary,” Drizzt retorted, motioning to a distant field where the silhouette of a mounted man was barely visible on the far tree line.
|
[
447,
250,
3844,
314,
5490,
326,
262,
995,
743,
407,
307,
3492,
329,
683,
13,
1639,
815,
307,
6613,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
550,
355,
881,
257,
1021,
287,
683,
355,
18842,
7046,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
502,
2933,
11,
23878,
11,
1654,
81,
447,
253,
77,
611,
314,
447,
253,
67,
264,
1202,
683,
18842,
7046,
13,
3673,
257,
1807,
284,
465,
898,
10251,
319,
262,
2214,
736,
612,
13,
8199,
447,
253,
263,
423,
314,
9569,
884,
11917,
287,
257,
1692,
355,
618,
9838,
447,
253,
67,
3750,
284,
262,
584,
6614,
13,
1544,
13488,
1906,
258,
10719,
11,
314,
1560,
9838,
0,
1906,
1640,
262,
41857,
13824,
284,
1282,
736,
523,
339,
714,
651,
257,
922,
9628,
287,
284,
257,
18674,
262,
5938,
284,
18842,
7046,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
8359,
428,
4071,
2589,
286,
15131,
422,
262,
24603,
13,
32,
1178,
1661,
878,
11,
339,
550,
1775,
8274,
268,
273,
4268,
465,
869,
516,
43562,
11,
736,
319,
262,
12080,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
618,
262,
24603,
1807,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
290,
262,
3135,
7596,
9846,
286,
465,
9963,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
314,
447,
253,
76,
6613,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3767,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
447,
253,
76,
4917,
18842,
7046,
4684,
284,
1061,
465,
1085,
290,
3774,
287,
465,
7747,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
714,
691,
4236,
11,
1719,
1282,
284,
262,
976,
13242,
867,
1933,
878,
11,
618,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
16503,
262,
14366,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
42577,
3699,
290,
9368,
12,
51,
18403,
12936,
11,
287,
257,
2219,
3761,
1028,
262,
11859,
256,
917,
430,
7374,
13,
1544,
991,
7960,
546,
6079,
262,
1862,
16491,
656,
7445,
588,
262,
45906,
485,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
326,
867,
286,
262,
18822,
6506,
287,
262,
35974,
550,
3432,
46379,
329,
511,
717,
16925,
351,
262,
19806,
82,
290,
11447,
1176,
8573,
286,
257,
1748,
11,
290,
326,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2769,
15213,
290,
7379,
42610,
2438,
286,
7522,
714,
307,
25036,
1028,
683,
13,
1537,
319,
262,
2975,
11,
287,
262,
4295,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2993,
326,
339,
561,
1239,
1064,
257,
517,
8119,
15185,
13,
2990,
12956,
645,
2252,
2761,
326,
1110,
393,
1755,
11,
290,
262,
1306,
3329,
1625,
2402,
262,
1388,
2975,
11,
262,
7313,
6339,
422,
5638,
22089,
284,
7381,
397,
283,
290,
6427,
5882,
82,
37382,
319,
262,
835,
13,
2949,
41532,
6204,
503,
284,
5698,
606,
11,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
14486,
11,
475,
780,
286,
465,
1410,
287,
5291,
517,
284,
262,
7627,
621,
262,
3892,
1627,
26015,
11,
511,
4571,
422,
994,
373,
4084,
5366,
13,
8081,
271,
3947,
881,
1365,
428,
1110,
290,
373,
18116,
284,
766,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1544,
3436,
286,
262,
1448,
550,
587,
284,
262,
1363,
286,
262,
5536,
12,
3500,
2113,
23506,
1641,
290,
339,
3114,
2651,
284,
11681
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
3844,
314,
5490,
326,
262,
995,
743,
407,
307,
3492,
329,
683,
13,
1639,
815,
307,
6613,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
550,
355,
881,
257,
1021,
287,
683,
355,
18842,
7046,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
502,
2933,
11,
23878,
11,
1654,
81,
447,
253,
77,
611,
314,
447,
253,
67,
264,
1202,
683,
18842,
7046,
13,
3673,
257,
1807,
284,
465,
898,
10251,
319,
262,
2214,
736,
612,
13,
8199,
447,
253,
263,
423,
314,
9569,
884,
11917,
287,
257,
1692,
355,
618,
9838,
447,
253,
67,
3750,
284,
262,
584,
6614,
13,
1544,
13488,
1906,
258,
10719,
11,
314,
1560,
9838,
0,
1906,
1640,
262,
41857,
13824,
284,
1282,
736,
523,
339,
714,
651,
257,
922,
9628,
287,
284,
257,
18674,
262,
5938,
284,
18842,
7046,
290,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
8359,
428,
4071,
2589,
286,
15131,
422,
262,
24603,
13,
32,
1178,
1661,
878,
11,
339,
550,
1775,
8274,
268,
273,
4268,
465,
869,
516,
43562,
11,
736,
319,
262,
12080,
287,
6663,
7972,
20412,
618,
262,
24603,
1807,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
290,
262,
3135,
7596,
9846,
286,
465,
9963,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
314,
447,
253,
76,
6613,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3767,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
447,
253,
76,
4917,
18842,
7046,
4684,
284,
1061,
465,
1085,
290,
3774,
287,
465,
7747,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
714,
691,
4236,
11,
1719,
1282,
284,
262,
976,
13242,
867,
1933,
878,
11,
618,
370,
4754,
4563,
550,
16503,
262,
14366,
286,
6663,
7972,
20412,
11,
42577,
3699,
290,
9368,
12,
51,
18403,
12936,
11,
287,
257,
2219,
3761,
1028,
262,
11859,
256,
917,
430,
7374,
13,
1544,
991,
7960,
546,
6079,
262,
1862,
16491,
656,
7445,
588,
262,
45906,
485,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
329,
339,
2993,
326,
867,
286,
262,
18822,
6506,
287,
262,
35974,
550,
3432,
46379,
329,
511,
717,
16925,
351,
262,
19806,
82,
290,
11447,
1176,
8573,
286,
257,
1748,
11,
290,
326,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
2769,
15213,
290,
7379,
42610,
2438,
286,
7522,
714,
307,
25036,
1028,
683,
13,
1537,
319,
262,
2975,
11,
287,
262,
4295,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
2993,
326,
339,
561,
1239,
1064,
257,
517,
8119,
15185,
13,
2990,
12956,
645,
2252,
2761,
326,
1110,
393,
1755,
11,
290,
262,
1306,
3329,
1625,
2402,
262,
1388,
2975,
11,
262,
7313,
6339,
422,
5638,
22089,
284,
7381,
397,
283,
290,
6427,
5882,
82,
37382,
319,
262,
835,
13,
2949,
41532,
6204,
503,
284,
5698,
606,
11,
355,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
14486,
11,
475,
780,
286,
465,
1410,
287,
5291,
517,
284,
262,
7627,
621,
262,
3892,
1627,
26015,
11,
511,
4571,
422,
994,
373,
4084,
5366,
13,
8081,
271,
3947,
881,
1365,
428,
1110,
290,
373,
18116,
284,
766,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1544,
3436,
286,
262,
1448,
550,
587,
284,
262,
1363,
286,
262,
5536,
12,
3500,
2113,
23506,
1641,
290,
339,
3114,
2651,
284,
11681
] |
dnd571
|
“We are being watched.”“But not bothered,” Said Bruenor.“And that‟s more than we can say about anywhere we‟ve been yet!”The hill of the Ivy Mansion comprised a small hillock sporting three buildings, two that resembled the low, wooden design of farmhouses.The third, though, was unlike anything the four companions had ever seen.Its walls turned at sharp angles every few feet, creating niches within niches, and dozens and dozens of spires sprouted from its many-angled roof, no two alike.A thousand windows were visible from this direction alone, some huge, others no bigger than an arrow slit.No one design, no overall architectural plan or style, could be found here.The Harpells‟mansion was a collage of independent ideas and experiments in magical creation.But there was truly a beauty within the chaos, a sense of freedom that defied the term “structure” and carried with it a feeling of welcome.A rail fence surrounded the hillock and the four friends approached curiously, if not excitedly.There was no gate, just an opening and the road continuing through.Seated on a stool inside the fence, staring blankly at the sky, was a fat, bearded man in a carmine robe.He noticed their arrival with a start.“Who are you and what do you want?” he demanded bluntly, angered at the interruption of his meditation.“Weary travelers,” replied Regis, “come to seek the wisdom of the reknowned Harpells.”The man seemed unimpressed.“And?” he prompted.Regis turned helplessly to Drizzt and Bruenor, but they could only answer him with shrugs of their own, not understanding what more was required of them.Bruenor started to move his pony out in front to reiterate the group‟s intentions when another robed man came shuffling out of the Page 55mansion to join the first.He had a few quiet words with the fat mage, then turned to the road.“Greetings,” he offered the companions.“Excuse poor Regweld, here–” he patted the fat mage‟s shoulder “–for he has had an incredible run of bad luck with some experimenting–not that things will not turn out, mind you.They just might take some time.“Regweld is really a fine wizard,” he continued, patting the shoulder again.“And his ideas for crossbreeding a horse and a frog are not without merit; never mind the explosion!Alchemy shops can be replaced!”The friends sat atop their mounts, biting back their amazement at the rambling discourse.“Why, think of the advantages for crossing rivers!” the robed man cried.“But enough of that.I am Harkle.How might I assist you?”“Harkle Harpell?” Regis snickered.The man bowed.“Bruenor of Icewind Dale, I be,” Bruenor proclaimed when he had found his voice.“Me friends and meself have come hundreds of miles seeking the words of the wizards of Longsaddle…” He noticed that Harkle, distracted by the drow, wasn‟t paying any attention to him.Drizzt had let his cowl slip back purposely to judge the reaction of the reputedly learned men of Longsaddle.
|
“We are being watched.”“But not bothered,” Said Bruenor.“And that‟s more than we can say about anywhere we‟ve been yet!”The hill of the Ivy Mansion comprised a small hillock sporting three buildings, two that resembled the low, wooden design of farmhouses.The third, though, was unlike anything the four companions had ever seen.Its walls turned at sharp angles every few feet, creating niches within niches, and dozens and dozens of spires sprouted from its many-angled roof, no two alike.A thousand windows were visible from this direction alone, some huge, others no bigger than an arrow slit.No one design, no overall architectural plan or style, could be found here.The Harpells‟mansion was a collage of independent ideas and experiments in magical creation.But there was truly a beauty within the chaos, a sense of freedom that defied the term “structure” and carried with it a feeling of welcome.A rail fence surrounded the hillock and the four friends approached curiously, if not excitedly.There was no gate, just an opening and the road continuing through.Seated on a stool inside the fence, staring blankly at the sky, was a fat, bearded man in a carmine robe.He noticed their arrival with a start.“Who are you and what do you want?” he demanded bluntly, angered at the interruption of his meditation.“Weary travelers,” replied Regis, “come to seek the wisdom of the reknowned Harpells.”The man seemed unimpressed.“And?” he prompted.Regis turned helplessly to Drizzt and Bruenor, but they could only answer him with shrugs of their own, not understanding what more was required of them.Bruenor started to move his pony out in front to reiterate the group‟s intentions when another robed man came shuffling out of the Page 55mansion to join the first.He had a few quiet words with the fat mage, then turned to the road.“Greetings,” he offered the companions.“Excuse poor Regweld, here–” he patted the fat mage‟s shoulder “–for he has had an incredible run of bad luck with some experimenting–not that things will not turn out, mind you.They just might take some time.“Regweld is really a fine wizard,” he continued, patting the shoulder again.“And his ideas for crossbreeding a horse and a frog are not without merit; never mind the explosion!Alchemy shops can be replaced!”The friends sat atop their mounts, biting back their amazement at the rambling discourse.“Why, think of the advantages for crossing rivers!” the robed man cried.“But enough of that.I am Harkle.How might I assist you?”“Harkle Harpell?” Regis snickered.The man bowed.“Bruenor of Icewind Dale, I be,” Bruenor proclaimed when he had found his voice.“Me friends and meself have come hundreds of miles seeking the words of the wizards of Longsaddle…” He noticed that Harkle, distracted by the drow, wasn‟t paying any attention to him.Drizzt had let his cowl slip back purposely to judge the reaction of the reputedly learned men of Longsaddle.
|
[
447,
250,
1135,
389,
852,
7342,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1537,
407,
20466,
11,
447,
251,
23885,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
326,
447,
253,
82,
517,
621,
356,
460,
910,
546,
6609,
356,
447,
253,
303,
587,
1865,
0,
447,
251,
464,
12788,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
19869,
257,
1402,
12788,
735,
17702,
1115,
6832,
11,
734,
326,
37657,
262,
1877,
11,
13510,
1486,
286,
5318,
20089,
13,
464,
2368,
11,
996,
11,
373,
5023,
1997,
262,
1440,
19429,
550,
1683,
1775,
13,
20459,
7714,
2900,
379,
7786,
18333,
790,
1178,
3625,
11,
4441,
9200,
956,
1626,
9200,
956,
11,
290,
9264,
290,
9264,
286,
599,
2387,
7500,
18534,
422,
663,
867,
12,
22393,
9753,
11,
645,
734,
12936,
13,
32,
7319,
9168,
547,
7424,
422,
428,
4571,
3436,
11,
617,
3236,
11,
1854,
645,
5749,
621,
281,
15452,
40724,
13,
2949,
530,
1486,
11,
645,
4045,
27070,
1410,
393,
3918,
11,
714,
307,
1043,
994,
13,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
447,
253,
76,
5487,
373,
257,
2927,
496,
286,
4795,
4213,
290,
10256,
287,
10883,
6282,
13,
1537,
612,
373,
4988,
257,
8737,
1626,
262,
11918,
11,
257,
2565,
286,
4925,
326,
47437,
262,
3381,
564,
250,
301,
5620,
447,
251,
290,
5281,
351,
340,
257,
4203,
286,
7062,
13,
32,
6787,
13990,
11191,
262,
12788,
735,
290,
262,
1440,
2460,
10448,
43211,
11,
611,
407,
6568,
306,
13,
1858,
373,
645,
8946,
11,
655,
281,
4756,
290,
262,
2975,
8282,
832,
13,
4653,
515,
319,
257,
38753,
2641,
262,
13990,
11,
16143,
9178,
306,
379,
262,
6766,
11,
373,
257,
3735,
11,
42634,
582,
287,
257,
1097,
3810,
33192,
13,
1544,
6810,
511,
10325,
351,
257,
923,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
290,
644,
466,
345,
765,
30,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
44514,
11,
31997,
379,
262,
41728,
286,
465,
16901,
13,
447,
250,
54,
451,
88,
23325,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
2958,
284,
5380,
262,
11501,
286,
262,
302,
4002,
276,
2113,
23506,
82,
13,
447,
251,
464,
582,
3947,
555,
11011,
2790,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
30,
447,
251,
339,
12053,
13,
8081,
271,
2900,
21144,
306,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
484,
714,
691,
3280,
683,
351,
32545,
82,
286,
511,
898,
11,
407,
4547,
644,
517,
373,
2672,
286,
606,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2067,
284,
1445,
465,
26902,
503,
287,
2166,
284,
49852,
262,
1448,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
618,
1194,
686,
3077,
582,
1625,
32299,
1359,
503,
286,
262,
7873,
5996,
76,
5487,
284,
4654,
262,
717,
13,
1544,
550,
257,
1178,
5897,
2456,
351,
262,
3735,
29241,
11,
788,
2900,
284,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4438,
262,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
40127,
1904,
3595,
3310,
732,
335,
11,
994,
1906,
447,
251,
339,
279,
16898,
262,
3735,
29241,
447,
253,
82,
8163,
564,
250,
1906,
1640,
339,
468,
550,
281,
8082,
1057,
286,
2089,
8458,
351,
617,
27826,
1906,
1662,
326,
1243,
481,
407,
1210,
503,
11,
2000,
345,
13
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1135,
389,
852,
7342,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1537,
407,
20466,
11,
447,
251,
23885,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
326,
447,
253,
82,
517,
621,
356,
460,
910,
546,
6609,
356,
447,
253,
303,
587,
1865,
0,
447,
251,
464,
12788,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
19869,
257,
1402,
12788,
735,
17702,
1115,
6832,
11,
734,
326,
37657,
262,
1877,
11,
13510,
1486,
286,
5318,
20089,
13,
464,
2368,
11,
996,
11,
373,
5023,
1997,
262,
1440,
19429,
550,
1683,
1775,
13,
20459,
7714,
2900,
379,
7786,
18333,
790,
1178,
3625,
11,
4441,
9200,
956,
1626,
9200,
956,
11,
290,
9264,
290,
9264,
286,
599,
2387,
7500,
18534,
422,
663,
867,
12,
22393,
9753,
11,
645,
734,
12936,
13,
32,
7319,
9168,
547,
7424,
422,
428,
4571,
3436,
11,
617,
3236,
11,
1854,
645,
5749,
621,
281,
15452,
40724,
13,
2949,
530,
1486,
11,
645,
4045,
27070,
1410,
393,
3918,
11,
714,
307,
1043,
994,
13,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
447,
253,
76,
5487,
373,
257,
2927,
496,
286,
4795,
4213,
290,
10256,
287,
10883,
6282,
13,
1537,
612,
373,
4988,
257,
8737,
1626,
262,
11918,
11,
257,
2565,
286,
4925,
326,
47437,
262,
3381,
564,
250,
301,
5620,
447,
251,
290,
5281,
351,
340,
257,
4203,
286,
7062,
13,
32,
6787,
13990,
11191,
262,
12788,
735,
290,
262,
1440,
2460,
10448,
43211,
11,
611,
407,
6568,
306,
13,
1858,
373,
645,
8946,
11,
655,
281,
4756,
290,
262,
2975,
8282,
832,
13,
4653,
515,
319,
257,
38753,
2641,
262,
13990,
11,
16143,
9178,
306,
379,
262,
6766,
11,
373,
257,
3735,
11,
42634,
582,
287,
257,
1097,
3810,
33192,
13,
1544,
6810,
511,
10325,
351,
257,
923,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
389,
345,
290,
644,
466,
345,
765,
30,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
44514,
11,
31997,
379,
262,
41728,
286,
465,
16901,
13,
447,
250,
54,
451,
88,
23325,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
3310,
271,
11,
564,
250,
2958,
284,
5380,
262,
11501,
286,
262,
302,
4002,
276,
2113,
23506,
82,
13,
447,
251,
464,
582,
3947,
555,
11011,
2790,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
30,
447,
251,
339,
12053,
13,
8081,
271,
2900,
21144,
306,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
484,
714,
691,
3280,
683,
351,
32545,
82,
286,
511,
898,
11,
407,
4547,
644,
517,
373,
2672,
286,
606,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
2067,
284,
1445,
465,
26902,
503,
287,
2166,
284,
49852,
262,
1448,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
618,
1194,
686,
3077,
582,
1625,
32299,
1359,
503,
286,
262,
7873,
5996,
76,
5487,
284,
4654,
262,
717,
13,
1544,
550,
257,
1178,
5897,
2456,
351,
262,
3735,
29241,
11,
788,
2900,
284,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
38,
46648,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4438,
262,
19429,
13,
447,
250,
40127,
1904,
3595,
3310,
732,
335,
11,
994,
1906,
447,
251,
339,
279,
16898,
262,
3735,
29241,
447,
253,
82,
8163,
564,
250,
1906,
1640,
339,
468,
550,
281,
8082,
1057,
286,
2089,
8458,
351,
617,
27826,
1906,
1662,
326,
1243,
481,
407,
1210,
503,
11,
2000,
345,
13
] |
dnd572
|
The Longrider back on the road had been surprised, but not outraged, and Drizzt had to learn if the town in general would be more tolerant of his heritage.“Fantastic,” muttered Harkle.“Simply unbelievable!” Regweld, too, had now noticed the black elf and seemed interested for the first time since the party had arrived.“Are we to be allowed passage?” Drizzt asked.“Oh, yes, please do come in,” replied Harkle, trying unsuccessfully to mask his excitement for the sake of etiquette.Striding his horse out in front, Wulfgar started them up the road.“Not that way,” said Harkle.“Not the road; of course, it is not really a road.Or it is, but you cannot get through.”Wulfgar stopped his mount.“Be done with your foolery, wizard!” he demanded angrily, his years of distrust for practitioners of the magic arts boiling over in his frustration.“May we enter, or not?”“There is no foolery, I assure you,” said Harkle, hoping to keep the meeting amiable.But Regweld cut in.“One of those,” the fat mage said accusingly, rising from his stool.Wulfgar glared at him curiously.“A barbarian,” Regweld explained.“A warrior trained to hate that which he cannot comprehend.Go ahead, warrior, take that big hammer off of your back.”Wulfgar hesitated, seeing his own unreasonable anger, and looked to his friends for support.He didn‟t want to spoil Bruenor‟s plans for the sake of his own pettiness.“Go ahead,” Regweld insisted, moving to the center of the road.“Take up your hammer and throw it at me.Satisfy your heartfelt desire to expose the foolery of a wizard!And strike one down in the process!A bargain if ever I heard one!” He pointed to his chin.“Right here,” he chided.“Regweld,” sighed Harkle, shaking his head.“Please oblige him, warrior.Bring a smile to his downcast face.”Wulfgar looked once more to his friends, but again they had no answers.Regweld settled it for him.“Bastard son of a caribou.”Aegis-fang was out and twirling through the air before the fat mage had finished the insult, bearing straight in on its mark.Regweld didn‟t flinch, and just before Aegis-fang would have crossed over the fence line, it smacked into something invisible, but as tangible as stone.Resounding like a ceremonial gong, the transparent wall shuddered and waves rolled out along it, visible to the astounded onlookers as mere distortions of the images behind the wall.The friends noticed for the first time that the rail fencing was not real, rather a painting on the surface of the transparent wall.Page 56Aegis-fang dropped to the dust, as though all power had been drained from it, taking a long moment to reappear in Wulfgar‟s grasp.Regweld‟s laughter was more of victory than of humor, but Harkle shook his head.“Always at the expense of others,” he scolded.
|
The Longrider back on the road had been surprised, but not outraged, and Drizzt had to learn if the town in general would be more tolerant of his heritage.“Fantastic,” muttered Harkle.“Simply unbelievable!” Regweld, too, had now noticed the black elf and seemed interested for the first time since the party had arrived.“Are we to be allowed passage?” Drizzt asked.“Oh, yes, please do come in,” replied Harkle, trying unsuccessfully to mask his excitement for the sake of etiquette.Striding his horse out in front, Wulfgar started them up the road.“Not that way,” said Harkle.“Not the road; of course, it is not really a road.Or it is, but you cannot get through.”Wulfgar stopped his mount.“Be done with your foolery, wizard!” he demanded angrily, his years of distrust for practitioners of the magic arts boiling over in his frustration.“May we enter, or not?”“There is no foolery, I assure you,” said Harkle, hoping to keep the meeting amiable.But Regweld cut in.“One of those,” the fat mage said accusingly, rising from his stool.Wulfgar glared at him curiously.“A barbarian,” Regweld explained.“A warrior trained to hate that which he cannot comprehend.Go ahead, warrior, take that big hammer off of your back.”Wulfgar hesitated, seeing his own unreasonable anger, and looked to his friends for support.He didn‟t want to spoil Bruenor‟s plans for the sake of his own pettiness.“Go ahead,” Regweld insisted, moving to the center of the road.“Take up your hammer and throw it at me.Satisfy your heartfelt desire to expose the foolery of a wizard!And strike one down in the process!A bargain if ever I heard one!” He pointed to his chin.“Right here,” he chided.“Regweld,” sighed Harkle, shaking his head.“Please oblige him, warrior.Bring a smile to his downcast face.”Wulfgar looked once more to his friends, but again they had no answers.Regweld settled it for him.“Bastard son of a caribou.”Aegis-fang was out and twirling through the air before the fat mage had finished the insult, bearing straight in on its mark.Regweld didn‟t flinch, and just before Aegis-fang would have crossed over the fence line, it smacked into something invisible, but as tangible as stone.Resounding like a ceremonial gong, the transparent wall shuddered and waves rolled out along it, visible to the astounded onlookers as mere distortions of the images behind the wall.The friends noticed for the first time that the rail fencing was not real, rather a painting on the surface of the transparent wall.Page 56Aegis-fang dropped to the dust, as though all power had been drained from it, taking a long moment to reappear in Wulfgar‟s grasp.Regweld‟s laughter was more of victory than of humor, but Harkle shook his head.“Always at the expense of others,” he scolded.
|
[
464,
5882,
49449,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
550,
587,
6655,
11,
475,
407,
27697,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
284,
2193,
611,
262,
3240,
287,
2276,
561,
307,
517,
33435,
286,
465,
15012,
13,
447,
250,
37,
415,
3477,
11,
447,
251,
34042,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
35596,
24479,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
11,
1165,
11,
550,
783,
6810,
262,
2042,
23878,
290,
3947,
4609,
329,
262,
717,
640,
1201,
262,
2151,
550,
5284,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
356,
284,
307,
3142,
10066,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
5812,
11,
3763,
11,
3387,
466,
1282,
287,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
367,
668,
293,
11,
2111,
40665,
284,
9335,
465,
14067,
329,
262,
11060,
286,
49455,
13,
13290,
2530,
465,
8223,
503,
287,
2166,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
2067,
606,
510,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
326,
835,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
262,
2975,
26,
286,
1781,
11,
340,
318,
407,
1107,
257,
2975,
13,
5574,
340,
318,
11,
475,
345,
2314,
651,
832,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
5025,
465,
3817,
13,
447,
250,
3856,
1760,
351,
534,
9192,
1924,
11,
18731,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
34425,
11,
465,
812,
286,
30086,
329,
24068,
286,
262,
5536,
10848,
24372,
625,
287,
465,
14285,
13,
447,
250,
6747,
356,
3802,
11,
393,
407,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1858,
318,
645,
9192,
1924,
11,
314,
19832,
345,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
11,
7725,
284,
1394,
262,
3249,
716,
3379,
13,
1537,
3310,
732,
335,
2005,
287,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
286,
883,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3735,
29241,
531,
19786,
306,
11,
7396,
422,
465,
38753,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
50030,
379,
683,
43211,
13,
447,
250,
32,
42577,
3699,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
32,
16491,
8776,
284,
5465,
326,
543,
339,
2314,
24772,
13,
5247,
4058,
11,
16491,
11,
1011,
326,
1263,
15554,
572,
286,
534,
736,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
41723,
11,
4379,
465,
898,
24673,
8993,
11,
290,
3114,
284,
465,
2460,
329,
1104,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
20851,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
3352,
329,
262,
11060,
286,
465,
898,
279,
3087,
1272,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
4058,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
11189,
11,
3867,
284,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
510,
534,
15554,
290,
3714,
340,
379,
502,
13,
50,
17403,
88,
534,
44018,
6227,
284,
15651,
262,
9192,
1924,
286,
257,
18731,
0,
1870,
5587,
530,
866,
287,
262,
1429,
0,
32,
22803,
611,
1683,
314,
2982,
530,
0,
447,
251,
679,
6235,
284,
465,
22531,
13,
447,
250,
11028,
994,
11,
447,
251,
339,
442,
1384,
13,
447,
250,
8081,
732,
335,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
367,
668,
293,
11,
17275,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
5492,
6263,
68,
683,
11,
16491,
13,
31416,
257,
8212,
284,
465,
866,
2701,
1986,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
1752,
517,
284,
465,
2460,
11
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
5882,
49449,
736,
319,
262,
2975,
550,
587,
6655,
11,
475,
407,
27697,
11,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
284,
2193,
611,
262,
3240,
287,
2276,
561,
307,
517,
33435,
286,
465,
15012,
13,
447,
250,
37,
415,
3477,
11,
447,
251,
34042,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
35596,
24479,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
11,
1165,
11,
550,
783,
6810,
262,
2042,
23878,
290,
3947,
4609,
329,
262,
717,
640,
1201,
262,
2151,
550,
5284,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
356,
284,
307,
3142,
10066,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
5812,
11,
3763,
11,
3387,
466,
1282,
287,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
367,
668,
293,
11,
2111,
40665,
284,
9335,
465,
14067,
329,
262,
11060,
286,
49455,
13,
13290,
2530,
465,
8223,
503,
287,
2166,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
2067,
606,
510,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
326,
835,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
3673,
262,
2975,
26,
286,
1781,
11,
340,
318,
407,
1107,
257,
2975,
13,
5574,
340,
318,
11,
475,
345,
2314,
651,
832,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
5025,
465,
3817,
13,
447,
250,
3856,
1760,
351,
534,
9192,
1924,
11,
18731,
0,
447,
251,
339,
12284,
34425,
11,
465,
812,
286,
30086,
329,
24068,
286,
262,
5536,
10848,
24372,
625,
287,
465,
14285,
13,
447,
250,
6747,
356,
3802,
11,
393,
407,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1858,
318,
645,
9192,
1924,
11,
314,
19832,
345,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
11,
7725,
284,
1394,
262,
3249,
716,
3379,
13,
1537,
3310,
732,
335,
2005,
287,
13,
447,
250,
3198,
286,
883,
11,
447,
251,
262,
3735,
29241,
531,
19786,
306,
11,
7396,
422,
465,
38753,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
50030,
379,
683,
43211,
13,
447,
250,
32,
42577,
3699,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
32,
16491,
8776,
284,
5465,
326,
543,
339,
2314,
24772,
13,
5247,
4058,
11,
16491,
11,
1011,
326,
1263,
15554,
572,
286,
534,
736,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
41723,
11,
4379,
465,
898,
24673,
8993,
11,
290,
3114,
284,
465,
2460,
329,
1104,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
20851,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
3352,
329,
262,
11060,
286,
465,
898,
279,
3087,
1272,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
4058,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
11189,
11,
3867,
284,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
2975,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
510,
534,
15554,
290,
3714,
340,
379,
502,
13,
50,
17403,
88,
534,
44018,
6227,
284,
15651,
262,
9192,
1924,
286,
257,
18731,
0,
1870,
5587,
530,
866,
287,
262,
1429,
0,
32,
22803,
611,
1683,
314,
2982,
530,
0,
447,
251,
679,
6235,
284,
465,
22531,
13,
447,
250,
11028,
994,
11,
447,
251,
339,
442,
1384,
13,
447,
250,
8081,
732,
335,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
367,
668,
293,
11,
17275,
465,
1182,
13,
447,
250,
5492,
6263,
68,
683,
11,
16491,
13,
31416,
257,
8212,
284,
465,
866,
2701,
1986,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3114,
1752,
517,
284,
465,
2460,
11
] |
dnd573
|
“You had no right to do that.”“He‟s better for the lesson,” Regweld retorted.“Humility is also a valuable commodity for a fighter.”Regis had bitten his lip for as long as he could.He had known about the invisible wall all along, and now his laughter burst out.Drizzt and Bruenor could not help but follow the halfling‟s lead, and even Wulfgar, after he had recovered from the shock, smirked at his own “foolery.”Of course, Harkle had no choice but to stop his scolding and join in.“Do come in,” he begged the friends.“The third post is real; you can find the gate there.But first, dismount and unsaddle your horses.”Wulfgar‟s suspicions came back suddenly, his scowl burying the smile.“Explain,” he requested of Harkle.“Do it!” Regis ordered, “or you shall find a bigger surprise than the last one.”Drizzt and Bruenor had already slipped from their saddles, intrigued, but not the least bit fearful of the hospitable Harkle Harpell.Wulfgar threw his arms out helplessly and followed, pulling the gear from the roan and leading the beast, and Regis‟s pony, after the others.Regis found the entrance easily and swung it open for his friends.They came in without fear, but were suddenly assailed by blinding flashes of light.When their eyes cleared again, they found that the horses and ponies had been reduced to the size of cats!“What?” blurted Bruenor, but Regis was laughing again and Harkle acted as though nothing unusual had happened.“Pick them up and come along,” he instructed.“It is nearly time to sup, and the meal at The Fuzzy Quarterstaff is particularly delicious this night!”He led them around the side of the weird mansion to a bridge crossing the center of the hillock.Bruenor and Wulfgar felt ridiculous carrying their mounts, but Drizzt accepted it with a smile and Regis thoroughly enjoyed the whole outrageous spectacle, having learned on his first visit that Longsaddle was a place to be taken lightly, appreciating the idiosyncrasies and unique ways of the Harpells purely for the sake of amusement.The high-arcing bridge before them, Regis knew, would serve as yet another example.Though its span across the small stream was not great, it was apparently unsupported, and its narrow planks were completely unadorned, even without handrails.Another robed Harpell, this one incredibly old, sat on a stool, his chin in his hand, mumbling to himself and seemingly taking no notice of the strangers whatsoever.When Wulfgar, in the front beside Harkle, neared the bank of the stream, he jumped back, gasping and stuttering.Regis snickered, knowing what the big man had seen, and Drizzt and Bruenor soon understood.The stream flowed UP the side of the hill, then vanished just before the top, though the companions could hear that water was indeed rushing along before them.Then the stream reappeared over the hill‟s crest, flowing down the other side.The old man sprang up suddenly and rushed over to Wulfgar.“What can it mean?” he cried desperately.“How can it be?” He banged on the barbarian‟s massive chest in frustration.Wulfgar looked around for an escape, not wanting to even grab the old man in restraint for fear of breaking his frail form.Just as abruptly as he had come, the old man dashed back to the stool and resumed his silent pose.“Alas, poor Chardin,” Harkle said somberly.“He was mighty in his day.It was he who turned the stream up the hill.But near a score of years now he has been obsessed with finding the secret of the invisibility under the bridge.”“Why is the stream so different from the wall?” wondered Drizzt.
|
“You had no right to do that.”“He‟s better for the lesson,” Regweld retorted.“Humility is also a valuable commodity for a fighter.”Regis had bitten his lip for as long as he could.He had known about the invisible wall all along, and now his laughter burst out.Drizzt and Bruenor could not help but follow the halfling‟s lead, and even Wulfgar, after he had recovered from the shock, smirked at his own “foolery.”Of course, Harkle had no choice but to stop his scolding and join in.“Do come in,” he begged the friends.“The third post is real; you can find the gate there.But first, dismount and unsaddle your horses.”Wulfgar‟s suspicions came back suddenly, his scowl burying the smile.“Explain,” he requested of Harkle.“Do it!” Regis ordered, “or you shall find a bigger surprise than the last one.”Drizzt and Bruenor had already slipped from their saddles, intrigued, but not the least bit fearful of the hospitable Harkle Harpell.Wulfgar threw his arms out helplessly and followed, pulling the gear from the roan and leading the beast, and Regis‟s pony, after the others.Regis found the entrance easily and swung it open for his friends.They came in without fear, but were suddenly assailed by blinding flashes of light.When their eyes cleared again, they found that the horses and ponies had been reduced to the size of cats!“What?” blurted Bruenor, but Regis was laughing again and Harkle acted as though nothing unusual had happened.“Pick them up and come along,” he instructed.“It is nearly time to sup, and the meal at The Fuzzy Quarterstaff is particularly delicious this night!”He led them around the side of the weird mansion to a bridge crossing the center of the hillock.Bruenor and Wulfgar felt ridiculous carrying their mounts, but Drizzt accepted it with a smile and Regis thoroughly enjoyed the whole outrageous spectacle, having learned on his first visit that Longsaddle was a place to be taken lightly, appreciating the idiosyncrasies and unique ways of the Harpells purely for the sake of amusement.The high-arcing bridge before them, Regis knew, would serve as yet another example.Though its span across the small stream was not great, it was apparently unsupported, and its narrow planks were completely unadorned, even without handrails.Another robed Harpell, this one incredibly old, sat on a stool, his chin in his hand, mumbling to himself and seemingly taking no notice of the strangers whatsoever.When Wulfgar, in the front beside Harkle, neared the bank of the stream, he jumped back, gasping and stuttering.Regis snickered, knowing what the big man had seen, and Drizzt and Bruenor soon understood.The stream flowed UP the side of the hill, then vanished just before the top, though the companions could hear that water was indeed rushing along before them.Then the stream reappeared over the hill‟s crest, flowing down the other side.The old man sprang up suddenly and rushed over to Wulfgar.“What can it mean?” he cried desperately.“How can it be?” He banged on the barbarian‟s massive chest in frustration.Wulfgar looked around for an escape, not wanting to even grab the old man in restraint for fear of breaking his frail form.Just as abruptly as he had come, the old man dashed back to the stool and resumed his silent pose.“Alas, poor Chardin,” Harkle said somberly.“He was mighty in his day.It was he who turned the stream up the hill.But near a score of years now he has been obsessed with finding the secret of the invisibility under the bridge.”“Why is the stream so different from the wall?” wondered Drizzt.
|
[
447,
250,
1639,
550,
645,
826,
284,
466,
326,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
1365,
329,
262,
11483,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
32661,
879,
318,
635,
257,
8119,
19464,
329,
257,
10543,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
550,
38854,
465,
10645,
329,
355,
890,
355,
339,
714,
13,
1544,
550,
1900,
546,
262,
14836,
3355,
477,
1863,
11,
290,
783,
465,
20263,
11173,
503,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
714,
407,
1037,
475,
1061,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1085,
11,
290,
772,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
706,
339,
550,
11911,
422,
262,
6380,
11,
42821,
9091,
379,
465,
898,
564,
250,
69,
970,
1924,
13,
447,
251,
5189,
1781,
11,
367,
668,
293,
550,
645,
3572,
475,
284,
2245,
465,
629,
33266,
290,
4654,
287,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1282,
287,
11,
447,
251,
339,
32946,
262,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2368,
1281,
318,
1103,
26,
345,
460,
1064,
262,
8946,
612,
13,
1537,
717,
11,
595,
14948,
290,
5576,
37382,
534,
14260,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
30508,
1625,
736,
6451,
11,
465,
629,
4883,
48360,
262,
8212,
13,
447,
250,
18438,
391,
11,
447,
251,
339,
9167,
286,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
340,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
6149,
11,
564,
250,
273,
345,
2236,
1064,
257,
5749,
5975,
621,
262,
938,
530,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
1541,
18859,
422,
511,
17766,
829,
11,
33720,
11,
475,
407,
262,
1551,
1643,
26844,
286,
262,
10496,
4674,
367,
668,
293,
2113,
23506,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
9617,
465,
5101,
503,
21144,
306,
290,
3940,
11,
10427,
262,
7733,
422,
262,
686,
272,
290,
3756,
262,
13824,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
11,
706,
262,
1854,
13,
8081,
271,
1043,
262,
10384,
3538,
290,
28507,
340,
1280,
329,
465,
2460,
13,
2990,
1625,
287,
1231,
3252,
11,
475,
547,
6451,
840,
6255,
416,
46573,
29227,
286,
1657,
13,
2215,
511,
2951,
12539,
757,
11,
484,
1043,
326,
262,
14260,
290,
46370,
550,
587,
5322,
284,
262,
2546,
286,
11875,
0,
447,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
23671,
1513,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
3310,
271,
373,
14376,
757,
290,
367,
668,
293,
13134,
355,
996,
2147,
8468,
550,
3022,
13,
447,
250,
31686,
606,
510,
290,
1282,
1863,
11,
447,
251,
339,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
3016,
640,
284,
7418,
11,
290,
262,
9799,
379,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
318,
3573,
12625,
428,
1755,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2957,
606,
1088,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
7650,
24141,
284,
257,
7696,
12538,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
12788,
735,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
2936,
11441,
6872,
511,
30790,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
6292,
340,
351,
257,
8212,
290,
3310,
271,
13770,
8359,
262,
2187,
23077,
27519,
11,
1719,
4499,
319,
465,
717,
3187,
326,
5882,
82,
37382,
373,
257,
1295,
284,
307,
2077,
15376,
11,
5763,
803,
262,
49875,
292
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1639,
550,
645,
826,
284,
466,
326,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1544,
447,
253,
82,
1365,
329,
262,
11483,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
732,
335,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
32661,
879,
318,
635,
257,
8119,
19464,
329,
257,
10543,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
550,
38854,
465,
10645,
329,
355,
890,
355,
339,
714,
13,
1544,
550,
1900,
546,
262,
14836,
3355,
477,
1863,
11,
290,
783,
465,
20263,
11173,
503,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
714,
407,
1037,
475,
1061,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
1085,
11,
290,
772,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
706,
339,
550,
11911,
422,
262,
6380,
11,
42821,
9091,
379,
465,
898,
564,
250,
69,
970,
1924,
13,
447,
251,
5189,
1781,
11,
367,
668,
293,
550,
645,
3572,
475,
284,
2245,
465,
629,
33266,
290,
4654,
287,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1282,
287,
11,
447,
251,
339,
32946,
262,
2460,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2368,
1281,
318,
1103,
26,
345,
460,
1064,
262,
8946,
612,
13,
1537,
717,
11,
595,
14948,
290,
5576,
37382,
534,
14260,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
30508,
1625,
736,
6451,
11,
465,
629,
4883,
48360,
262,
8212,
13,
447,
250,
18438,
391,
11,
447,
251,
339,
9167,
286,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
340,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
6149,
11,
564,
250,
273,
345,
2236,
1064,
257,
5749,
5975,
621,
262,
938,
530,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
1541,
18859,
422,
511,
17766,
829,
11,
33720,
11,
475,
407,
262,
1551,
1643,
26844,
286,
262,
10496,
4674,
367,
668,
293,
2113,
23506,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
9617,
465,
5101,
503,
21144,
306,
290,
3940,
11,
10427,
262,
7733,
422,
262,
686,
272,
290,
3756,
262,
13824,
11,
290,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
11,
706,
262,
1854,
13,
8081,
271,
1043,
262,
10384,
3538,
290,
28507,
340,
1280,
329,
465,
2460,
13,
2990,
1625,
287,
1231,
3252,
11,
475,
547,
6451,
840,
6255,
416,
46573,
29227,
286,
1657,
13,
2215,
511,
2951,
12539,
757,
11,
484,
1043,
326,
262,
14260,
290,
46370,
550,
587,
5322,
284,
262,
2546,
286,
11875,
0,
447,
250,
2061,
30,
447,
251,
23671,
1513,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
3310,
271,
373,
14376,
757,
290,
367,
668,
293,
13134,
355,
996,
2147,
8468,
550,
3022,
13,
447,
250,
31686,
606,
510,
290,
1282,
1863,
11,
447,
251,
339,
17767,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
3016,
640,
284,
7418,
11,
290,
262,
9799,
379,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
318,
3573,
12625,
428,
1755,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2957,
606,
1088,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
7650,
24141,
284,
257,
7696,
12538,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
12788,
735,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
2936,
11441,
6872,
511,
30790,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
6292,
340,
351,
257,
8212,
290,
3310,
271,
13770,
8359,
262,
2187,
23077,
27519,
11,
1719,
4499,
319,
465,
717,
3187,
326,
5882,
82,
37382,
373,
257,
1295,
284,
307,
2077,
15376,
11,
5763,
803,
262,
49875,
292
] |
dnd574
|
“Certainly this dweomer is not unknown among the wizard community.”Page 57“Ah, but there is a difference,” Harkle was quick to reply, excited at finding someone outside the Ivy Mansion apparently interested in their works.“An invisible object is not so rare, but a field of invisibility …” He swept his hand to the stream.“Anything that enters the river there takes on the property,” he explained.“But only for as long as it remains in the field.And to a person in the enchanted area–I know because I have done this test myself–everything beyond the field is unseen, though the water and fish within appear normal.It defies our knowledge of the properties of invisibility and may actually reflect a tear into the fabric of a wholly unknown plane of existence!”He saw that his excitement had gone beyond the comprehension or interest of the drow‟s companions some time ago, so he calmed himself and politely changed the subject.“The housing for your horses is in that building,” he said, pointing to one of the low, wooden structures.“The underbridge will get you there.I must attend to another matter now.Perhaps we can meet later in the tavern.”Wulfgar, not completely understanding Harkle‟s directions, stepped lightly onto the first wooden planks of the bridge, and was promptly thrown backward by some unseen force.“I said the underbridge,” cried Harkle, pointing under the bridge.“You cannot cross the river this way by the overbridge; that is used for the way back!Stops any arguments in crossing.” he explained.Wulfgar had his doubts about a bridge he could not see, but he didn‟t want to appear cowardly before his friends and the wizard.He moved beside the bridge‟s ascending arc and gingerly moved his foot out under the wooden structure, feeling for the invisible crossing.There was only the air, and the unseen rush of water just below his foot, and he hesitated.“Go on,” coaxed Harkle.Wulfgar plunged ahead, setting himself for a fall into the water.But to his absolute surprise, he did not fall down.He fell up!“Whoa!” the barbarian cried out as he thunked into the bottom of the bridge, headfirst.He lay there for a long moment, unable to get his bearings, flat on his back against the bottom of the bridge, looking down instead of up.“You see!” screeched the wizard.“The underbridge!”Drizzt moved next, leaping into the enchanted area with an easy tumble, and landing lightly on his feet beside his friend.“Are you all right?” he asked.“The road, my friend,” groaned Wulfgar.“I long for the road, and the orcs.It is safer.”Drizzt helped him struggle to his feet, for the barbarian‟s mind argued every inch of the way against standing upside-down under a bridge, with an invisible stream rushing above his head.Bruenor, too, had his reservations, but a taunt from the halfling moved him along, and soon the companions rolled back onto the grass of the natural world on the other bank of the stream.Two buildings stood before them, and they moved to the smaller, the one Harkle had indicated.A blue-robed woman met them at the door.“Four?” she asked rhetorically.
|
“Certainly this dweomer is not unknown among the wizard community.”Page 57“Ah, but there is a difference,” Harkle was quick to reply, excited at finding someone outside the Ivy Mansion apparently interested in their works.“An invisible object is not so rare, but a field of invisibility …” He swept his hand to the stream.“Anything that enters the river there takes on the property,” he explained.“But only for as long as it remains in the field.And to a person in the enchanted area–I know because I have done this test myself–everything beyond the field is unseen, though the water and fish within appear normal.It defies our knowledge of the properties of invisibility and may actually reflect a tear into the fabric of a wholly unknown plane of existence!”He saw that his excitement had gone beyond the comprehension or interest of the drow‟s companions some time ago, so he calmed himself and politely changed the subject.“The housing for your horses is in that building,” he said, pointing to one of the low, wooden structures.“The underbridge will get you there.I must attend to another matter now.Perhaps we can meet later in the tavern.”Wulfgar, not completely understanding Harkle‟s directions, stepped lightly onto the first wooden planks of the bridge, and was promptly thrown backward by some unseen force.“I said the underbridge,” cried Harkle, pointing under the bridge.“You cannot cross the river this way by the overbridge; that is used for the way back!Stops any arguments in crossing.” he explained.Wulfgar had his doubts about a bridge he could not see, but he didn‟t want to appear cowardly before his friends and the wizard.He moved beside the bridge‟s ascending arc and gingerly moved his foot out under the wooden structure, feeling for the invisible crossing.There was only the air, and the unseen rush of water just below his foot, and he hesitated.“Go on,” coaxed Harkle.Wulfgar plunged ahead, setting himself for a fall into the water.But to his absolute surprise, he did not fall down.He fell up!“Whoa!” the barbarian cried out as he thunked into the bottom of the bridge, headfirst.He lay there for a long moment, unable to get his bearings, flat on his back against the bottom of the bridge, looking down instead of up.“You see!” screeched the wizard.“The underbridge!”Drizzt moved next, leaping into the enchanted area with an easy tumble, and landing lightly on his feet beside his friend.“Are you all right?” he asked.“The road, my friend,” groaned Wulfgar.“I long for the road, and the orcs.It is safer.”Drizzt helped him struggle to his feet, for the barbarian‟s mind argued every inch of the way against standing upside-down under a bridge, with an invisible stream rushing above his head.Bruenor, too, had his reservations, but a taunt from the halfling moved him along, and soon the companions rolled back onto the grass of the natural world on the other bank of the stream.Two buildings stood before them, and they moved to the smaller, the one Harkle had indicated.A blue-robed woman met them at the door.“Four?” she asked rhetorically.
|
[
447,
250,
36001,
428,
288,
732,
12057,
318,
407,
6439,
1871,
262,
18731,
2055,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
7632,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
475,
612,
318,
257,
3580,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
373,
2068,
284,
10971,
11,
6568,
379,
4917,
2130,
2354,
262,
27386,
38560,
5729,
4609,
287,
511,
2499,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
14836,
2134,
318,
407,
523,
4071,
11,
475,
257,
2214,
286,
44837,
2247,
3926,
447,
251,
679,
17676,
465,
1021,
284,
262,
4269,
13,
447,
250,
40028,
326,
14170,
262,
7850,
612,
2753,
319,
262,
3119,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
691,
329,
355,
890,
355,
340,
3793,
287,
262,
2214,
13,
1870,
284,
257,
1048,
287,
262,
42282,
1989,
1906,
40,
760,
780,
314,
423,
1760,
428,
1332,
3589,
1906,
37814,
3675,
262,
2214,
318,
29587,
11,
996,
262,
1660,
290,
5916,
1626,
1656,
3487,
13,
1026,
825,
444,
674,
3725,
286,
262,
6608,
286,
44837,
2247,
290,
743,
1682,
4079,
257,
11626,
656,
262,
9664,
286,
257,
18174,
6439,
6614,
286,
6224,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2497,
326,
465,
14067,
550,
3750,
3675,
262,
35915,
393,
1393,
286,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
19429,
617,
640,
2084,
11,
523,
339,
49566,
2241,
290,
34313,
3421,
262,
2426,
13,
447,
250,
464,
5627,
329,
534,
14260,
318,
287,
326,
2615,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
10609,
284,
530,
286,
262,
1877,
11,
13510,
8573,
13,
447,
250,
464,
739,
9458,
481,
651,
345,
612,
13,
40,
1276,
5262,
284,
1194,
2300,
783,
13,
13710,
356,
460,
1826,
1568,
287,
262,
42488,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
407,
3190,
4547,
367,
668,
293,
447,
253,
82,
11678,
11,
10764,
15376,
4291,
262,
717,
13510,
1410,
591,
286,
262,
7696,
11,
290,
373,
19268,
8754,
19528,
416,
617,
29587,
2700,
13,
447,
250,
40,
531,
262,
739,
9458,
11,
447,
251,
16896,
367,
668,
293,
11,
10609,
739,
262,
7696,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
3272,
262,
7850,
428,
835,
416,
262,
625,
9458,
26,
326,
318,
973,
329,
262,
835,
736,
0,
1273,
2840,
597,
7159,
287,
12538,
13,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
550,
465,
17188,
546,
257,
7696,
339,
714,
407,
766,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
1656,
47687,
878,
465,
2460,
290,
262,
18731,
13,
1544,
3888,
13970,
262,
7696,
447,
253,
82,
41988,
10389,
290,
25072,
306,
3888,
465,
2366,
503,
739,
262,
13510,
4645,
11,
4203,
329,
262,
14836,
12538,
13,
1858,
373,
691,
262,
1633,
11,
290,
262,
29587,
10484,
286,
1660,
655,
2174,
465,
2366,
11,
290,
339,
41723,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
319,
11,
447,
251,
37700,
276,
367,
668,
293,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
31460,
4058,
11,
4634,
2241,
329,
257,
2121,
656,
262,
1660,
13,
1537,
284,
465,
4112,
5975,
11,
339,
750,
407,
2121,
866,
13,
1544,
3214,
510,
0,
447,
250,
8241,
64,
0,
447,
251,
262,
42577,
3699,
16896,
503,
355,
339,
294,
2954,
276,
656,
262,
4220,
286,
262,
7696,
11,
1182,
11085,
13,
1544,
3830,
612
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
36001,
428,
288,
732,
12057,
318,
407,
6439,
1871,
262,
18731,
2055,
13,
447,
251,
9876,
7632,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
475,
612,
318,
257,
3580,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
373,
2068,
284,
10971,
11,
6568,
379,
4917,
2130,
2354,
262,
27386,
38560,
5729,
4609,
287,
511,
2499,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
14836,
2134,
318,
407,
523,
4071,
11,
475,
257,
2214,
286,
44837,
2247,
3926,
447,
251,
679,
17676,
465,
1021,
284,
262,
4269,
13,
447,
250,
40028,
326,
14170,
262,
7850,
612,
2753,
319,
262,
3119,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
691,
329,
355,
890,
355,
340,
3793,
287,
262,
2214,
13,
1870,
284,
257,
1048,
287,
262,
42282,
1989,
1906,
40,
760,
780,
314,
423,
1760,
428,
1332,
3589,
1906,
37814,
3675,
262,
2214,
318,
29587,
11,
996,
262,
1660,
290,
5916,
1626,
1656,
3487,
13,
1026,
825,
444,
674,
3725,
286,
262,
6608,
286,
44837,
2247,
290,
743,
1682,
4079,
257,
11626,
656,
262,
9664,
286,
257,
18174,
6439,
6614,
286,
6224,
0,
447,
251,
1544,
2497,
326,
465,
14067,
550,
3750,
3675,
262,
35915,
393,
1393,
286,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
19429,
617,
640,
2084,
11,
523,
339,
49566,
2241,
290,
34313,
3421,
262,
2426,
13,
447,
250,
464,
5627,
329,
534,
14260,
318,
287,
326,
2615,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
10609,
284,
530,
286,
262,
1877,
11,
13510,
8573,
13,
447,
250,
464,
739,
9458,
481,
651,
345,
612,
13,
40,
1276,
5262,
284,
1194,
2300,
783,
13,
13710,
356,
460,
1826,
1568,
287,
262,
42488,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
407,
3190,
4547,
367,
668,
293,
447,
253,
82,
11678,
11,
10764,
15376,
4291,
262,
717,
13510,
1410,
591,
286,
262,
7696,
11,
290,
373,
19268,
8754,
19528,
416,
617,
29587,
2700,
13,
447,
250,
40,
531,
262,
739,
9458,
11,
447,
251,
16896,
367,
668,
293,
11,
10609,
739,
262,
7696,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2314,
3272,
262,
7850,
428,
835,
416,
262,
625,
9458,
26,
326,
318,
973,
329,
262,
835,
736,
0,
1273,
2840,
597,
7159,
287,
12538,
13,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
550,
465,
17188,
546,
257,
7696,
339,
714,
407,
766,
11,
475,
339,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
765,
284,
1656,
47687,
878,
465,
2460,
290,
262,
18731,
13,
1544,
3888,
13970,
262,
7696,
447,
253,
82,
41988,
10389,
290,
25072,
306,
3888,
465,
2366,
503,
739,
262,
13510,
4645,
11,
4203,
329,
262,
14836,
12538,
13,
1858,
373,
691,
262,
1633,
11,
290,
262,
29587,
10484,
286,
1660,
655,
2174,
465,
2366,
11,
290,
339,
41723,
13,
447,
250,
5247,
319,
11,
447,
251,
37700,
276,
367,
668,
293,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
31460,
4058,
11,
4634,
2241,
329,
257,
2121,
656,
262,
1660,
13,
1537,
284,
465,
4112,
5975,
11,
339,
750,
407,
2121,
866,
13,
1544,
3214,
510,
0,
447,
250,
8241,
64,
0,
447,
251,
262,
42577,
3699,
16896,
503,
355,
339,
294,
2954,
276,
656,
262,
4220,
286,
262,
7696,
11,
1182,
11085,
13,
1544,
3830,
612
] |
dnd575
|
“You really should have sent word ahead.”“Harkle sent us,” Regis explained.“We are not from these lands.Forgive our ignorance of your customs.”“Very well, then,” huffed the woman.“Come along in.We are actually unusually unbusy for this time of the year.I am sure that I have room for your horses.” She led them into the structure‟s main room, a square chamber.All four walls were lined, floor to ceiling, with small cages, just big enough for a cat-sized horse to stretch its legs.Many were occupied, their nameplates indicating that they were reserved for particular members of the Harpell clan, but the woman found four empty ones all together and put the companions‟ horses inside.“You may get them whenever you desire,” she explained, handing each of them a key to the cage of his particular mount.She paused when she got to Drizzt, studying his handsome features.“Who have we here?” she asked, not losing her calm monotone.“I had not heard of your arrival, but I am sure that many will desire an audience with you before you go!We have never seen one of Page 58your kind.”Drizzt nodded and did not reply, growing increasingly uncomfortable with this new type of attention.Somehow it seemed to degrade him even more than the threats of ignorant peasants.He understood the curiosity, though, and figured that he owed the wizards a few hours of conversation, at least.The Fuzzy Quarterstaff, on the back side of the Ivy Mansion, filled a circular chamber.The bar sat in the middle, like the hub of a wheel, and inside its wide perimeter was another room, an enclosed kitchen area.A hairy man with huge arms and a bald head wiped his rag endlessly along the shiny surface of the bar, more to pass the time than to clean any spills.Off to the rear, on a raised stage, musical instruments played themselves, guided by the jerking gyrations of a white-haired, wand-wielding wizard in black pants and a black waistcoat.Whenever the instruments hit a crescendo, the wizard pointed his wand and snapped the fingers of his free hand, and a burst of colored sparks erupted from each of the four corners of the stage.The companions took a table within sight of the entertaining wizard.They had their pick of location, for as far as they could tell, they were the only patrons in the room.The tables, too, were circular, made of fine wood and sporting a many-faceted, huge green gemstone on a silver pedestal as a centerpiece.“A stranger place I never heared of,” grumbled Bruenor, uncomfortable since the underbridge, but resigned to the necessity of speaking with the Harpells.“Nor I,” said the barbarian.“And may we leave it soon.”“You are both stuck in the small chambers of your minds,” Regis scolded.“This is a place to enjoy–and you know that no danger lurks here.” He winked as his gaze fell upon Wulfgar.“Nothing serious, anyway.”“Longsaddle offers us a much needed rest,” Drizzt added.
|
“You really should have sent word ahead.”“Harkle sent us,” Regis explained.“We are not from these lands.Forgive our ignorance of your customs.”“Very well, then,” huffed the woman.“Come along in.We are actually unusually unbusy for this time of the year.I am sure that I have room for your horses.” She led them into the structure‟s main room, a square chamber.All four walls were lined, floor to ceiling, with small cages, just big enough for a cat-sized horse to stretch its legs.Many were occupied, their nameplates indicating that they were reserved for particular members of the Harpell clan, but the woman found four empty ones all together and put the companions‟ horses inside.“You may get them whenever you desire,” she explained, handing each of them a key to the cage of his particular mount.She paused when she got to Drizzt, studying his handsome features.“Who have we here?” she asked, not losing her calm monotone.“I had not heard of your arrival, but I am sure that many will desire an audience with you before you go!We have never seen one of Page 58your kind.”Drizzt nodded and did not reply, growing increasingly uncomfortable with this new type of attention.Somehow it seemed to degrade him even more than the threats of ignorant peasants.He understood the curiosity, though, and figured that he owed the wizards a few hours of conversation, at least.The Fuzzy Quarterstaff, on the back side of the Ivy Mansion, filled a circular chamber.The bar sat in the middle, like the hub of a wheel, and inside its wide perimeter was another room, an enclosed kitchen area.A hairy man with huge arms and a bald head wiped his rag endlessly along the shiny surface of the bar, more to pass the time than to clean any spills.Off to the rear, on a raised stage, musical instruments played themselves, guided by the jerking gyrations of a white-haired, wand-wielding wizard in black pants and a black waistcoat.Whenever the instruments hit a crescendo, the wizard pointed his wand and snapped the fingers of his free hand, and a burst of colored sparks erupted from each of the four corners of the stage.The companions took a table within sight of the entertaining wizard.They had their pick of location, for as far as they could tell, they were the only patrons in the room.The tables, too, were circular, made of fine wood and sporting a many-faceted, huge green gemstone on a silver pedestal as a centerpiece.“A stranger place I never heared of,” grumbled Bruenor, uncomfortable since the underbridge, but resigned to the necessity of speaking with the Harpells.“Nor I,” said the barbarian.“And may we leave it soon.”“You are both stuck in the small chambers of your minds,” Regis scolded.“This is a place to enjoy–and you know that no danger lurks here.” He winked as his gaze fell upon Wulfgar.“Nothing serious, anyway.”“Longsaddle offers us a much needed rest,” Drizzt added.
|
[
447,
250,
1639,
1107,
815,
423,
1908,
1573,
4058,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
39,
668,
293,
1908,
514,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
407,
422,
777,
8604,
13,
1890,
26535,
674,
17010,
286,
534,
17112,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
16371,
880,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
289,
18339,
262,
2415,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
1863,
287,
13,
1135,
389,
1682,
23708,
555,
10885,
88,
329,
428,
640,
286,
262,
614,
13,
40,
716,
1654,
326,
314,
423,
2119,
329,
534,
14260,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
2957,
606,
656,
262,
4645,
447,
253,
82,
1388,
2119,
11,
257,
6616,
11847,
13,
3237,
1440,
7714,
547,
16566,
11,
4314,
284,
13387,
11,
351,
1402,
37933,
11,
655,
1263,
1576,
329,
257,
3797,
12,
13982,
8223,
284,
7539,
663,
7405,
13,
7085,
547,
12030,
11,
511,
1438,
17041,
12739,
326,
484,
547,
10395,
329,
1948,
1866,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
19065,
11,
475,
262,
2415,
1043,
1440,
6565,
3392,
477,
1978,
290,
1234,
262,
19429,
447,
253,
14260,
2641,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
651,
606,
8797,
345,
6227,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
11,
22786,
1123,
286,
606,
257,
1994,
284,
262,
17186,
286,
465,
1948,
3817,
13,
3347,
24487,
618,
673,
1392,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
11065,
465,
22665,
3033,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
423,
356,
994,
30,
447,
251,
673,
1965,
11,
407,
6078,
607,
9480,
937,
313,
505,
13,
447,
250,
40,
550,
407,
2982,
286,
534,
10325,
11,
475,
314,
716,
1654,
326,
867,
481,
6227,
281,
5386,
351,
345,
878,
345,
467,
0,
1135,
423,
1239,
1775,
530,
286,
7873,
7618,
14108,
1611,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
750,
407,
10971,
11,
3957,
6481,
12916,
351,
428,
649,
2099,
286,
3241,
13,
4366,
4919,
340,
3947,
284,
42962,
683,
772,
517,
621,
262,
7432,
286,
20109,
29177,
13,
1544,
7247,
262,
20136,
11,
996,
11,
290,
11638,
326,
339,
21057,
262,
34836,
257,
1178,
2250,
286,
5273,
11,
379,
1551,
13,
464,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
11,
319,
262,
736,
1735,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
11,
5901,
257,
18620,
11847,
13,
464,
2318,
3332,
287,
262,
3504,
11,
588,
262,
12575,
286,
257,
7825,
11,
290,
2641,
663,
3094,
25317,
373,
1194,
2119,
11,
281,
28543,
9592,
1989,
13,
32,
43873,
582,
351,
3236,
5101,
290,
257,
28273,
1182,
21122,
465,
34232,
33903,
1863,
262,
22441,
4417,
286,
262,
2318,
11,
517,
284,
1208,
262,
640,
621,
284,
3424,
597,
42123,
13,
9362,
284,
262,
8286,
11,
319,
257,
4376,
3800,
11,
10530,
12834,
2826,
2405,
11,
17455,
416,
262,
13665,
3364,
308,
2417,
602,
286,
257,
2330,
12,
29972,
11,
11569,
12,
86,
30449,
18731,
287,
2042,
12581,
290,
257,
2042,
16139,
31434,
13,
28877,
262,
12834,
2277,
257,
269,
411,
15695,
78,
11,
262,
18731,
6235,
465,
11569,
290,
20821,
262,
9353,
286,
465,
1479,
1021,
11,
290,
257,
11173,
286,
16396,
38306,
23681,
422,
1123,
286,
262,
1440,
14371,
286,
262,
3800,
13,
464,
19429,
1718,
257,
3084,
1626,
6504,
286,
262,
17774
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1639,
1107,
815,
423,
1908,
1573,
4058,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
39,
668,
293,
1908,
514,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
407,
422,
777,
8604,
13,
1890,
26535,
674,
17010,
286,
534,
17112,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
16371,
880,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
289,
18339,
262,
2415,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
1863,
287,
13,
1135,
389,
1682,
23708,
555,
10885,
88,
329,
428,
640,
286,
262,
614,
13,
40,
716,
1654,
326,
314,
423,
2119,
329,
534,
14260,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
2957,
606,
656,
262,
4645,
447,
253,
82,
1388,
2119,
11,
257,
6616,
11847,
13,
3237,
1440,
7714,
547,
16566,
11,
4314,
284,
13387,
11,
351,
1402,
37933,
11,
655,
1263,
1576,
329,
257,
3797,
12,
13982,
8223,
284,
7539,
663,
7405,
13,
7085,
547,
12030,
11,
511,
1438,
17041,
12739,
326,
484,
547,
10395,
329,
1948,
1866,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
19065,
11,
475,
262,
2415,
1043,
1440,
6565,
3392,
477,
1978,
290,
1234,
262,
19429,
447,
253,
14260,
2641,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
651,
606,
8797,
345,
6227,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4893,
11,
22786,
1123,
286,
606,
257,
1994,
284,
262,
17186,
286,
465,
1948,
3817,
13,
3347,
24487,
618,
673,
1392,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
11065,
465,
22665,
3033,
13,
447,
250,
8241,
423,
356,
994,
30,
447,
251,
673,
1965,
11,
407,
6078,
607,
9480,
937,
313,
505,
13,
447,
250,
40,
550,
407,
2982,
286,
534,
10325,
11,
475,
314,
716,
1654,
326,
867,
481,
6227,
281,
5386,
351,
345,
878,
345,
467,
0,
1135,
423,
1239,
1775,
530,
286,
7873,
7618,
14108,
1611,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
750,
407,
10971,
11,
3957,
6481,
12916,
351,
428,
649,
2099,
286,
3241,
13,
4366,
4919,
340,
3947,
284,
42962,
683,
772,
517,
621,
262,
7432,
286,
20109,
29177,
13,
1544,
7247,
262,
20136,
11,
996,
11,
290,
11638,
326,
339,
21057,
262,
34836,
257,
1178,
2250,
286,
5273,
11,
379,
1551,
13,
464,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
11,
319,
262,
736,
1735,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
11,
5901,
257,
18620,
11847,
13,
464,
2318,
3332,
287,
262,
3504,
11,
588,
262,
12575,
286,
257,
7825,
11,
290,
2641,
663,
3094,
25317,
373,
1194,
2119,
11,
281,
28543,
9592,
1989,
13,
32,
43873,
582,
351,
3236,
5101,
290,
257,
28273,
1182,
21122,
465,
34232,
33903,
1863,
262,
22441,
4417,
286,
262,
2318,
11,
517,
284,
1208,
262,
640,
621,
284,
3424,
597,
42123,
13,
9362,
284,
262,
8286,
11,
319,
257,
4376,
3800,
11,
10530,
12834,
2826,
2405,
11,
17455,
416,
262,
13665,
3364,
308,
2417,
602,
286,
257,
2330,
12,
29972,
11,
11569,
12,
86,
30449,
18731,
287,
2042,
12581,
290,
257,
2042,
16139,
31434,
13,
28877,
262,
12834,
2277,
257,
269,
411,
15695,
78,
11,
262,
18731,
6235,
465,
11569,
290,
20821,
262,
9353,
286,
465,
1479,
1021,
11,
290,
257,
11173,
286,
16396,
38306,
23681,
422,
1123,
286,
262,
1440,
14371,
286,
262,
3800,
13,
464,
19429,
1718,
257,
3084,
1626,
6504,
286,
262,
17774
] |
dnd576
|
“Here, we can lay the course of our next trek in safety and take back to the road refreshed.It was two weeks from the dale to Luskan, and nearly another to here, without reprieve.Weariness draws away the edge and takes the advantage from a skilled warrior.” He looked particularly at Wulfgar as he finished the thought.“A tired man will make mistakes.And mistakes in the wild are, more often than not, fatal.”“So let us relax arid enjoy the hospitality of the Harpells,” said Regis.“Agreed,” said Bruenor, glancing around, “but just a short rest.And where in the nine hells might the barmaid be, or do ye have to get to it yerself for food and drink?”“If you want something, then just ask,” came a voice from the center of the table.Wulfgar and Bruenor both leaped to their feet, on guard.Drizzt noted the flare of light within the green gem and studied the object, immediately guessing the setup.He looked back over his shoulder at the barkeep, who stood beside a similar gemstone.“A scrying device,” the drow explained to his friends, though they, by now, had come to the same understanding and felt very foolish standing in the middle of an empty tavern with their weapons in their hands.Regis had his head down, his shoulders rolling with his sobs of laughter.“Bah!Ye knew all along!” Bruenor growled at him.“Ye‟ve been takin‟ a bit of fun at our cost, Rumblebelly,” the dwarf warned.“For meself, I‟m wondering how much longer our road holds room for ye.”Regis looked up at the glare of his dwarven friend, matching it suddenly with a firm stare of his own.“We have walked and ridden more than four hundred miles together!” he retorted.“Through cold winds and orc raids, brawls and battles with ghosts.Allow me my pleasure for a short while, good dwarf.If you and Wulfgar would loosen the straps of your packs and see this place for what it is, you might find an equal share of laughter yourself!”Wulfgar did smile.Then, all at once, he jerked back his head and roared, throwing away all of his anger and prejudice, so that he might take the halfling‟s advice and view Longsaddle with an open mind.Even the musical wizard stopped his playing to observe the spectacle of the barbarian‟s soul-cleansing scream.And when he had finished, Wulfgar laughed.Not an amused chuckle, but a thunderous roll of Page 59laughter that flowed up from his belly and exploded out his widethrown mouth.“Ale!” Bruenor called into the gemstone.Almost immediately, a floating disk of blue light slipped over the bar, bearing to them enough strong ale to last the night.A few minutes later, all traces of the tensions of the road had flown, and they toasted and quaffed their mugs with enthusiasm.Only Drizzt kept his reserve, sipping his drink and staying alert to his surroundings.
|
“Here, we can lay the course of our next trek in safety and take back to the road refreshed.It was two weeks from the dale to Luskan, and nearly another to here, without reprieve.Weariness draws away the edge and takes the advantage from a skilled warrior.” He looked particularly at Wulfgar as he finished the thought.“A tired man will make mistakes.And mistakes in the wild are, more often than not, fatal.”“So let us relax arid enjoy the hospitality of the Harpells,” said Regis.“Agreed,” said Bruenor, glancing around, “but just a short rest.And where in the nine hells might the barmaid be, or do ye have to get to it yerself for food and drink?”“If you want something, then just ask,” came a voice from the center of the table.Wulfgar and Bruenor both leaped to their feet, on guard.Drizzt noted the flare of light within the green gem and studied the object, immediately guessing the setup.He looked back over his shoulder at the barkeep, who stood beside a similar gemstone.“A scrying device,” the drow explained to his friends, though they, by now, had come to the same understanding and felt very foolish standing in the middle of an empty tavern with their weapons in their hands.Regis had his head down, his shoulders rolling with his sobs of laughter.“Bah!Ye knew all along!” Bruenor growled at him.“Ye‟ve been takin‟ a bit of fun at our cost, Rumblebelly,” the dwarf warned.“For meself, I‟m wondering how much longer our road holds room for ye.”Regis looked up at the glare of his dwarven friend, matching it suddenly with a firm stare of his own.“We have walked and ridden more than four hundred miles together!” he retorted.“Through cold winds and orc raids, brawls and battles with ghosts.Allow me my pleasure for a short while, good dwarf.If you and Wulfgar would loosen the straps of your packs and see this place for what it is, you might find an equal share of laughter yourself!”Wulfgar did smile.Then, all at once, he jerked back his head and roared, throwing away all of his anger and prejudice, so that he might take the halfling‟s advice and view Longsaddle with an open mind.Even the musical wizard stopped his playing to observe the spectacle of the barbarian‟s soul-cleansing scream.And when he had finished, Wulfgar laughed.Not an amused chuckle, but a thunderous roll of Page 59laughter that flowed up from his belly and exploded out his widethrown mouth.“Ale!” Bruenor called into the gemstone.Almost immediately, a floating disk of blue light slipped over the bar, bearing to them enough strong ale to last the night.A few minutes later, all traces of the tensions of the road had flown, and they toasted and quaffed their mugs with enthusiasm.Only Drizzt kept his reserve, sipping his drink and staying alert to his surroundings.
|
[
447,
250,
4342,
11,
356,
460,
3830,
262,
1781,
286,
674,
1306,
30784,
287,
3747,
290,
1011,
736,
284,
262,
2975,
47193,
13,
1026,
373,
734,
2745,
422,
262,
288,
1000,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
290,
3016,
1194,
284,
994,
11,
1231,
1128,
30227,
13,
54,
451,
1272,
14293,
1497,
262,
5743,
290,
2753,
262,
4621,
422,
257,
14297,
16491,
13,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
3573,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
355,
339,
5201,
262,
1807,
13,
447,
250,
32,
10032,
582,
481,
787,
10135,
13,
1870,
10135,
287,
262,
4295,
389,
11,
517,
1690,
621,
407,
11,
10800,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
1309,
514,
8960,
610,
312,
2883,
262,
33362,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
447,
251,
531,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
10262,
15977,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
1278,
5077,
1088,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
655,
257,
1790,
1334,
13,
1870,
810,
287,
262,
5193,
5968,
82,
1244,
262,
275,
1670,
1698,
307,
11,
393,
466,
9838,
423,
284,
651,
284,
340,
331,
263,
944,
329,
2057,
290,
4144,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
765,
1223,
11,
788,
655,
1265,
11,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
3809,
422,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
3084,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
1111,
443,
5813,
284,
511,
3625,
11,
319,
4860,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
4367,
262,
30239,
286,
1657,
1626,
262,
4077,
16840,
290,
9713,
262,
2134,
11,
3393,
25260,
262,
9058,
13,
1544,
3114,
736,
625,
465,
8163,
379,
262,
2318,
14894,
11,
508,
6204,
13970,
257,
2092,
16840,
6440,
13,
447,
250,
32,
629,
14992,
3335,
11,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
4893,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
996,
484,
11,
416,
783,
11,
550,
1282,
284,
262,
976,
4547,
290,
2936,
845,
19538,
5055,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
281,
6565,
42488,
351,
511,
3777,
287,
511,
2832,
13,
8081,
271,
550,
465,
1182,
866,
11,
465,
12450,
10708,
351,
465,
523,
1443,
286,
20263,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
35543,
2993,
477,
1863,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
587,
256,
27048,
447,
253,
257,
1643,
286,
1257,
379,
674,
1575,
11,
42888,
65,
6148,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
18842,
7046,
11,
314,
447,
253,
76,
11263,
703,
881,
2392,
674,
2975,
6622,
2119,
329,
9838,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3114,
510,
379,
262,
36785,
286,
465,
15594,
574,
1545,
11,
12336,
340,
6451,
351,
257,
4081,
24170,
286,
465,
898,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
6807,
290,
46715,
517,
621,
1440,
3470,
4608,
1978,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
15046,
4692,
13520,
290,
26393,
20371,
11,
275,
1831,
7278,
290,
10181,
351,
25899,
13,
35265,
502,
616,
9476,
329,
257,
1790,
981,
11,
922,
24603,
13,
1532,
345,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
40953,
262,
29552,
286,
534,
15186,
290,
766,
428,
1295,
329,
644,
340,
318,
11,
345,
1244,
1064,
281,
4961,
2648,
286,
20263,
3511,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
750,
8212,
13,
6423
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
4342,
11,
356,
460,
3830,
262,
1781,
286,
674,
1306,
30784,
287,
3747,
290,
1011,
736,
284,
262,
2975,
47193,
13,
1026,
373,
734,
2745,
422,
262,
288,
1000,
284,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
290,
3016,
1194,
284,
994,
11,
1231,
1128,
30227,
13,
54,
451,
1272,
14293,
1497,
262,
5743,
290,
2753,
262,
4621,
422,
257,
14297,
16491,
13,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
3573,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
355,
339,
5201,
262,
1807,
13,
447,
250,
32,
10032,
582,
481,
787,
10135,
13,
1870,
10135,
287,
262,
4295,
389,
11,
517,
1690,
621,
407,
11,
10800,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
1309,
514,
8960,
610,
312,
2883,
262,
33362,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
447,
251,
531,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
10262,
15977,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
1278,
5077,
1088,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
655,
257,
1790,
1334,
13,
1870,
810,
287,
262,
5193,
5968,
82,
1244,
262,
275,
1670,
1698,
307,
11,
393,
466,
9838,
423,
284,
651,
284,
340,
331,
263,
944,
329,
2057,
290,
4144,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1532,
345,
765,
1223,
11,
788,
655,
1265,
11,
447,
251,
1625,
257,
3809,
422,
262,
3641,
286,
262,
3084,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
1111,
443,
5813,
284,
511,
3625,
11,
319,
4860,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
4367,
262,
30239,
286,
1657,
1626,
262,
4077,
16840,
290,
9713,
262,
2134,
11,
3393,
25260,
262,
9058,
13,
1544,
3114,
736,
625,
465,
8163,
379,
262,
2318,
14894,
11,
508,
6204,
13970,
257,
2092,
16840,
6440,
13,
447,
250,
32,
629,
14992,
3335,
11,
447,
251,
262,
288,
808,
4893,
284,
465,
2460,
11,
996,
484,
11,
416,
783,
11,
550,
1282,
284,
262,
976,
4547,
290,
2936,
845,
19538,
5055,
287,
262,
3504,
286,
281,
6565,
42488,
351,
511,
3777,
287,
511,
2832,
13,
8081,
271,
550,
465,
1182,
866,
11,
465,
12450,
10708,
351,
465,
523,
1443,
286,
20263,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
35543,
2993,
477,
1863,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
379,
683,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
303,
587,
256,
27048,
447,
253,
257,
1643,
286,
1257,
379,
674,
1575,
11,
42888,
65,
6148,
11,
447,
251,
262,
24603,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
18842,
7046,
11,
314,
447,
253,
76,
11263,
703,
881,
2392,
674,
2975,
6622,
2119,
329,
9838,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
3114,
510,
379,
262,
36785,
286,
465,
15594,
574,
1545,
11,
12336,
340,
6451,
351,
257,
4081,
24170,
286,
465,
898,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
6807,
290,
46715,
517,
621,
1440,
3470,
4608,
1978,
0,
447,
251,
339,
1005,
9741,
13,
447,
250,
15046,
4692,
13520,
290,
26393,
20371,
11,
275,
1831,
7278,
290,
10181,
351,
25899,
13,
35265,
502,
616,
9476,
329,
257,
1790,
981,
11,
922,
24603,
13,
1532,
345,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
561,
40953,
262,
29552,
286,
534,
15186,
290,
766,
428,
1295,
329,
644,
340,
318,
11,
345,
1244,
1064,
281,
4961,
2648,
286,
20263,
3511,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
750,
8212,
13,
6423
] |
dnd577
|
He felt no direct danger here, but he wanted to keep control against the wizards‟ inevitable probing.Shortly, the Harpells and their friends began to make a steady stream into The Fuzzy Quarterstaff.The companions were the only newcomers in town this night, and all of the diners pulled their tables close by, trading stories of the road and toasts of lasting friendship over fine meals, and later, beside a warm hearth.Many, led by Harkle, concerned themselves with Drizzt and their interest in the dark cities of his people, and he had few reservations about answering their questions.Then came the probing about the journey that had brought the companions so far.Bruenor actually initiated it, jumping up onto his table and proclaiming, “Mithril Hall, home of me fathers, ye shall be mine again!”Drizzt grew concerned.Judging by the inquisitive reaction of the gathering, the name of Bruenor‟s ancient homeland was known here, at least in legend.The drow didn‟t fear any malicious actions by the Harpells, but he simply did not want the purpose of the adventure following, and possibly even preceding, him and his friends on the next leg of the journey.Others might well be interested in learning the location of an ancient dwarven stronghold, a place referred to in tales as,“the mines where silver rivers run.”Drizzt took Harkle aside.“The night grows long.Are there rooms available in the village beyond?”“Nonsense,” huffed Harkle.“You are my guests and shall remain here.The rooms have already been prepared.”“And the price for all of this?”Harkle pushed Drizzt‟s purse away.“The price in the Ivy Mansion is a good tale or two, and bringing some interest into our existence.You and your friends have paid for a year and more!”“Our thanks,” replied Drizzt.“I think that it is time for my companions to rest.We have had a long ride, with much more before us.”“Concerning the road before you,” said Harkle.“I have arranged for a meeting with DelRoy, the eldest of the Harpells now in Longsaddle.He, more than any of us, might be able to help steer your way.”“Very good,” said Regis, leaning over to hear the conversation.“This meeting holds a small price,” Harkle told Drizzt.“DelRoy desires a private audience with you.He has sought knowledge of the drow for many years, but little is available to us.”“Agreed,” replied Drizzt.“Now, it is time for us to find our beds.”“I shall show you the way.”“What time are we to meet with DelRoy?” asked Regis.“Morning,” replied Harkle.Regis laughed, then leaned over to the other side of the table where Bruenor sat holding a mug motionless in his gnarled hands, his eyes unblinking.
|
He felt no direct danger here, but he wanted to keep control against the wizards‟ inevitable probing.Shortly, the Harpells and their friends began to make a steady stream into The Fuzzy Quarterstaff.The companions were the only newcomers in town this night, and all of the diners pulled their tables close by, trading stories of the road and toasts of lasting friendship over fine meals, and later, beside a warm hearth.Many, led by Harkle, concerned themselves with Drizzt and their interest in the dark cities of his people, and he had few reservations about answering their questions.Then came the probing about the journey that had brought the companions so far.Bruenor actually initiated it, jumping up onto his table and proclaiming, “Mithril Hall, home of me fathers, ye shall be mine again!”Drizzt grew concerned.Judging by the inquisitive reaction of the gathering, the name of Bruenor‟s ancient homeland was known here, at least in legend.The drow didn‟t fear any malicious actions by the Harpells, but he simply did not want the purpose of the adventure following, and possibly even preceding, him and his friends on the next leg of the journey.Others might well be interested in learning the location of an ancient dwarven stronghold, a place referred to in tales as,“the mines where silver rivers run.”Drizzt took Harkle aside.“The night grows long.Are there rooms available in the village beyond?”“Nonsense,” huffed Harkle.“You are my guests and shall remain here.The rooms have already been prepared.”“And the price for all of this?”Harkle pushed Drizzt‟s purse away.“The price in the Ivy Mansion is a good tale or two, and bringing some interest into our existence.You and your friends have paid for a year and more!”“Our thanks,” replied Drizzt.“I think that it is time for my companions to rest.We have had a long ride, with much more before us.”“Concerning the road before you,” said Harkle.“I have arranged for a meeting with DelRoy, the eldest of the Harpells now in Longsaddle.He, more than any of us, might be able to help steer your way.”“Very good,” said Regis, leaning over to hear the conversation.“This meeting holds a small price,” Harkle told Drizzt.“DelRoy desires a private audience with you.He has sought knowledge of the drow for many years, but little is available to us.”“Agreed,” replied Drizzt.“Now, it is time for us to find our beds.”“I shall show you the way.”“What time are we to meet with DelRoy?” asked Regis.“Morning,” replied Harkle.Regis laughed, then leaned over to the other side of the table where Bruenor sat holding a mug motionless in his gnarled hands, his eyes unblinking.
|
[
1544,
2936,
645,
1277,
3514,
994,
11,
475,
339,
2227,
284,
1394,
1630,
1028,
262,
34836,
447,
253,
13203,
41034,
13,
30513,
11,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
290,
511,
2460,
2540,
284,
787,
257,
11831,
4269,
656,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
13,
464,
19429,
547,
262,
691,
29661,
287,
3240,
428,
1755,
11,
290,
477,
286,
262,
16278,
364,
5954,
511,
8893,
1969,
416,
11,
7313,
3923,
286,
262,
2975,
290,
284,
5773,
286,
15727,
14738,
625,
3734,
13840,
11,
290,
1568,
11,
13970,
257,
5814,
3285,
400,
13,
7085,
11,
2957,
416,
367,
668,
293,
11,
5213,
2405,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
511,
1393,
287,
262,
3223,
4736,
286,
465,
661,
11,
290,
339,
550,
1178,
24722,
546,
18877,
511,
2683,
13,
6423,
1625,
262,
41034,
546,
262,
7002,
326,
550,
3181,
262,
19429,
523,
1290,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1682,
16862,
340,
11,
14284,
510,
4291,
465,
3084,
290,
46431,
11,
564,
250,
44,
342,
22379,
4789,
11,
1363,
286,
502,
17150,
11,
9838,
2236,
307,
6164,
757,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
6348,
5213,
13,
26141,
2667,
416,
262,
7949,
271,
1800,
6317,
286,
262,
11228,
11,
262,
1438,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
6156,
23184,
373,
1900,
994,
11,
379,
1551,
287,
8177,
13,
464,
288,
808,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3252,
597,
17412,
4028,
416,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
475,
339,
2391,
750,
407,
765,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
8855,
1708,
11,
290,
5457,
772,
18148,
11,
683,
290,
465,
2460,
319,
262,
1306,
1232,
286,
262,
7002,
13,
25599,
1244,
880,
307,
4609,
287,
4673,
262,
4067,
286,
281,
6156,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
257,
1295,
6412,
284,
287,
19490,
355,
11,
447,
250,
1169,
18446,
810,
8465,
18180,
1057,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
1718,
367,
668,
293,
7263,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1755,
13676,
890,
13,
8491,
612,
9519,
1695,
287,
262,
7404,
3675,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45,
46563,
11,
447,
251,
289,
18339,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
616,
10650,
290,
2236,
3520,
994,
13,
464,
9519,
423,
1541,
587,
5597,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
262,
2756,
329,
477,
286,
428,
30,
447,
251,
39,
668,
293,
7121,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
27517,
1497,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
318,
257,
922,
12838,
393,
734,
11,
290,
6079,
617,
1393,
656,
674,
6224,
13,
1639,
290,
534,
2460,
423,
3432,
329,
257,
614,
290,
517,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5122,
5176,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
40,
892,
326,
340,
318,
640,
329,
616,
19429,
284,
1334,
13,
1135,
423,
550,
257,
890,
6594,
11,
351,
881,
517,
878,
514,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3103,
41981,
262,
2975,
878,
345,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
14921,
329,
257,
3249,
351,
4216,
32027,
11,
262,
34331,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
783,
287,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1544,
11,
517,
621,
597,
286,
514,
11,
1244,
307,
1498
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
2936,
645,
1277,
3514,
994,
11,
475,
339,
2227,
284,
1394,
1630,
1028,
262,
34836,
447,
253,
13203,
41034,
13,
30513,
11,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
290,
511,
2460,
2540,
284,
787,
257,
11831,
4269,
656,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
13,
464,
19429,
547,
262,
691,
29661,
287,
3240,
428,
1755,
11,
290,
477,
286,
262,
16278,
364,
5954,
511,
8893,
1969,
416,
11,
7313,
3923,
286,
262,
2975,
290,
284,
5773,
286,
15727,
14738,
625,
3734,
13840,
11,
290,
1568,
11,
13970,
257,
5814,
3285,
400,
13,
7085,
11,
2957,
416,
367,
668,
293,
11,
5213,
2405,
351,
5809,
3019,
83,
290,
511,
1393,
287,
262,
3223,
4736,
286,
465,
661,
11,
290,
339,
550,
1178,
24722,
546,
18877,
511,
2683,
13,
6423,
1625,
262,
41034,
546,
262,
7002,
326,
550,
3181,
262,
19429,
523,
1290,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1682,
16862,
340,
11,
14284,
510,
4291,
465,
3084,
290,
46431,
11,
564,
250,
44,
342,
22379,
4789,
11,
1363,
286,
502,
17150,
11,
9838,
2236,
307,
6164,
757,
0,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
6348,
5213,
13,
26141,
2667,
416,
262,
7949,
271,
1800,
6317,
286,
262,
11228,
11,
262,
1438,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
6156,
23184,
373,
1900,
994,
11,
379,
1551,
287,
8177,
13,
464,
288,
808,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
3252,
597,
17412,
4028,
416,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
475,
339,
2391,
750,
407,
765,
262,
4007,
286,
262,
8855,
1708,
11,
290,
5457,
772,
18148,
11,
683,
290,
465,
2460,
319,
262,
1306,
1232,
286,
262,
7002,
13,
25599,
1244,
880,
307,
4609,
287,
4673,
262,
4067,
286,
281,
6156,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
257,
1295,
6412,
284,
287,
19490,
355,
11,
447,
250,
1169,
18446,
810,
8465,
18180,
1057,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
1718,
367,
668,
293,
7263,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1755,
13676,
890,
13,
8491,
612,
9519,
1695,
287,
262,
7404,
3675,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
45,
46563,
11,
447,
251,
289,
18339,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
616,
10650,
290,
2236,
3520,
994,
13,
464,
9519,
423,
1541,
587,
5597,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1870,
262,
2756,
329,
477,
286,
428,
30,
447,
251,
39,
668,
293,
7121,
5809,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
27517,
1497,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
318,
257,
922,
12838,
393,
734,
11,
290,
6079,
617,
1393,
656,
674,
6224,
13,
1639,
290,
534,
2460,
423,
3432,
329,
257,
614,
290,
517,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5122,
5176,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
40,
892,
326,
340,
318,
640,
329,
616,
19429,
284,
1334,
13,
1135,
423,
550,
257,
890,
6594,
11,
351,
881,
517,
878,
514,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3103,
41981,
262,
2975,
878,
345,
11,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
14921,
329,
257,
3249,
351,
4216,
32027,
11,
262,
34331,
286,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
783,
287,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1544,
11,
517,
621,
597,
286,
514,
11,
1244,
307,
1498
] |
dnd578
|
Regis gave the dwarf a little shove and Bruenor toppled, thudding into the floor without even a groan of protest.“Evening would be better,” the halfling remarked, pointing across the room to another table.Wulfgar was underneath it.Harkle looked at Drizzt.“Evening,” he agreed.“I shall speak to DelRoy.”The four friends spent the next day recuperating and enjoying the endless marvels of the Ivy Mansion.Drizzt was called away early for a meeting with DelRoy, while the others were guided by Harkle on a tour through the great house, passing through a dozen alchemy shops, scrying rooms, meditation chambers, and several secured rooms specifically designed for conjuring otherworldly beings.A statue of one Matherly Harpell was of particular interest, since the statue was actually the Page 60wizard himself.An unsuccessful mix of potions had left him stoned, literally.Then there was Bidderdoo, the family dog, who had once been Harkle‟s second cousin–again, a bad potion mix.Harkle kept no secrets from his guests, recounting the history of his clan, its achievements, and its often disastrous failures.And he told them of the lands around Longsaddle, of the Uthgardt barbarians, the Sky Ponies, they had encountered, and of other tribes they might yet meet along their way.Bruenor was glad that their relaxation carried a measure of valuable information.His goal pressed in on him every minute of every day, and when he spent any time without making any gains toward Mithril Hall, even if he simply needed to rest, he felt pangs of guilt.“Ye have to want it with all yer heart,” he often scolded himself.But Harkle had provided him with an important orientation to this land that would no doubt aid his cause in the days ahead, and he was satisfied when he sat down for supper at The Fuzzy Quarterstaff.Drizzt rejoined them there, sullen and quiet, and he wouldn‟t say much when questioned about his discussion with DelRoy.“Think to the meeting ahead,” was the drow‟s answer to Bruenor‟s probing.“DelRoy is very old and learned.He may prove to be our best hope of ever finding the road to Mithril Hall.”Bruenor was indeed thinking to the meeting ahead.And Drizzt sat back quietly throughout the meal, considering the tales and the images of his homeland that he had imparted to DelRoy, remembering the unique beauty of Menzoberranzan.And the malicious hearts that had despoiled it.A short time later, Harkle took Drizzt, Bruenor, and Wulfgar to see the old mage–Regis had begged out of the meeting in lieu of another party at the tavern.They met DelRoy in a small, torchlit, and shadowy chamber, the flickerings of light heightening the mystery in the aged wizard‟s face.Bruenor and Wulfgar came at once to agree with Drizzt‟s observations of DelRoy, for decades of experience and untold adventures were etched visibly into the features of his leathery brown skin.His body was failing him now, they could see, but the sheen of his pale eyes told of inner life and left little doubt about the sharp edge of his mind.Bruenor spread his map out on the room‟s circular table, beside the books and scrolls that DelRoy had brought.The old mage studied it carefully for a few seconds, tracing the line that had brought the companions to Longsaddle.“What do you recall of the ancient halls, dwarf?” he asked.“Landmarks or neighboring peoples?”Bruenor shook his head.“The pictures in me head show the deep halls and workplaces, the ringing sound of iron on the anvil.The flight of me clan started in mountains; that‟s all I know.”“The northland is a wide country,” Harkle remarked.“Many long ranges could harbor such a stronghold.”“That is why Mithril Hall, for all of its reputed wealth, has never been found,” replied DelRoy.“And thus our dilemma,” said Drizzt.
|
Regis gave the dwarf a little shove and Bruenor toppled, thudding into the floor without even a groan of protest.“Evening would be better,” the halfling remarked, pointing across the room to another table.Wulfgar was underneath it.Harkle looked at Drizzt.“Evening,” he agreed.“I shall speak to DelRoy.”The four friends spent the next day recuperating and enjoying the endless marvels of the Ivy Mansion.Drizzt was called away early for a meeting with DelRoy, while the others were guided by Harkle on a tour through the great house, passing through a dozen alchemy shops, scrying rooms, meditation chambers, and several secured rooms specifically designed for conjuring otherworldly beings.A statue of one Matherly Harpell was of particular interest, since the statue was actually the Page 60wizard himself.An unsuccessful mix of potions had left him stoned, literally.Then there was Bidderdoo, the family dog, who had once been Harkle‟s second cousin–again, a bad potion mix.Harkle kept no secrets from his guests, recounting the history of his clan, its achievements, and its often disastrous failures.And he told them of the lands around Longsaddle, of the Uthgardt barbarians, the Sky Ponies, they had encountered, and of other tribes they might yet meet along their way.Bruenor was glad that their relaxation carried a measure of valuable information.His goal pressed in on him every minute of every day, and when he spent any time without making any gains toward Mithril Hall, even if he simply needed to rest, he felt pangs of guilt.“Ye have to want it with all yer heart,” he often scolded himself.But Harkle had provided him with an important orientation to this land that would no doubt aid his cause in the days ahead, and he was satisfied when he sat down for supper at The Fuzzy Quarterstaff.Drizzt rejoined them there, sullen and quiet, and he wouldn‟t say much when questioned about his discussion with DelRoy.“Think to the meeting ahead,” was the drow‟s answer to Bruenor‟s probing.“DelRoy is very old and learned.He may prove to be our best hope of ever finding the road to Mithril Hall.”Bruenor was indeed thinking to the meeting ahead.And Drizzt sat back quietly throughout the meal, considering the tales and the images of his homeland that he had imparted to DelRoy, remembering the unique beauty of Menzoberranzan.And the malicious hearts that had despoiled it.A short time later, Harkle took Drizzt, Bruenor, and Wulfgar to see the old mage–Regis had begged out of the meeting in lieu of another party at the tavern.They met DelRoy in a small, torchlit, and shadowy chamber, the flickerings of light heightening the mystery in the aged wizard‟s face.Bruenor and Wulfgar came at once to agree with Drizzt‟s observations of DelRoy, for decades of experience and untold adventures were etched visibly into the features of his leathery brown skin.His body was failing him now, they could see, but the sheen of his pale eyes told of inner life and left little doubt about the sharp edge of his mind.Bruenor spread his map out on the room‟s circular table, beside the books and scrolls that DelRoy had brought.The old mage studied it carefully for a few seconds, tracing the line that had brought the companions to Longsaddle.“What do you recall of the ancient halls, dwarf?” he asked.“Landmarks or neighboring peoples?”Bruenor shook his head.“The pictures in me head show the deep halls and workplaces, the ringing sound of iron on the anvil.The flight of me clan started in mountains; that‟s all I know.”“The northland is a wide country,” Harkle remarked.“Many long ranges could harbor such a stronghold.”“That is why Mithril Hall, for all of its reputed wealth, has never been found,” replied DelRoy.“And thus our dilemma,” said Drizzt.
|
[
8081,
271,
2921,
262,
24603,
257,
1310,
38332,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
48757,
11,
294,
33926,
656,
262,
4314,
1231,
772,
257,
7128,
272,
286,
5402,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
278,
561,
307,
1365,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2063,
1359,
24998,
11,
10609,
1973,
262,
2119,
284,
1194,
3084,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
373,
14638,
340,
13,
39,
668,
293,
3114,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
278,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4987,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
2740,
284,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
251,
464,
1440,
2460,
3377,
262,
1306,
1110,
664,
48568,
803,
290,
13226,
262,
13079,
22672,
82,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
1444,
1497,
1903,
329,
257,
3249,
351,
4216,
32027,
11,
981,
262,
1854,
547,
17455,
416,
367,
668,
293,
319,
257,
4205,
832,
262,
1049,
2156,
11,
6427,
832,
257,
8667,
435,
26599,
12437,
11,
629,
14992,
9519,
11,
16901,
23204,
11,
290,
1811,
13659,
9519,
5734,
3562,
329,
11644,
870,
584,
49366,
9791,
13,
32,
15207,
286,
530,
337,
1032,
306,
2113,
23506,
373,
286,
1948,
1393,
11,
1201,
262,
15207,
373,
1682,
262,
7873,
3126,
86,
8669,
2241,
13,
2025,
23993,
5022,
286,
28074,
550,
1364,
683,
336,
12004,
11,
7360,
13,
6423,
612,
373,
43484,
1082,
67,
2238,
11,
262,
1641,
3290,
11,
508,
550,
1752,
587,
367,
668,
293,
447,
253,
82,
1218,
16933,
1906,
17776,
11,
257,
2089,
26572,
5022,
13,
39,
668,
293,
4030,
645,
13141,
422,
465,
10650,
11,
16369,
278,
262,
2106,
286,
465,
19065,
11,
663,
16970,
11,
290,
663,
1690,
20756,
15536,
13,
1870,
339,
1297,
606,
286,
262,
8604,
1088,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
286,
262,
471,
400,
19977,
83,
24837,
1547,
11,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
11,
484,
550,
12956,
11,
290,
286,
584,
15663,
484,
1244,
1865,
1826,
1863,
511,
835,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
373,
9675,
326,
511,
34205,
5281,
257,
3953,
286,
8119,
1321,
13,
6653,
3061,
12070,
287,
319,
683,
790,
5664,
286,
790,
1110,
11,
290,
618,
339,
3377,
597,
640,
1231,
1642,
597,
8810,
3812,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
772,
611,
339,
2391,
2622,
284,
1334,
11,
339,
2936,
279,
27725,
286,
14934,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
423,
284,
765,
340,
351,
477,
331,
263,
2612,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1690,
629,
48959,
2241,
13,
1537,
367,
668,
293,
550,
2810,
683,
351,
281,
1593,
12852,
284,
428,
1956,
326,
561,
645,
4719,
6133,
465,
2728,
287,
262,
1528,
4058,
11,
290,
339,
373,
11378,
618,
339,
3332,
866,
329,
43743,
379,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
30668,
1389,
606,
612,
11,
424,
297,
268,
290,
5897,
11,
290,
339,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
910,
881,
618,
11434,
546,
465,
5114,
351,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
22073,
284,
262,
3249,
4058,
11,
447,
251,
373,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
3280,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
41034,
13,
447,
250,
13856,
32027,
318,
845,
1468,
290,
4499,
13,
1544,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
674,
1266,
2911,
286,
1683,
4917,
262,
2975,
284
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
8081,
271,
2921,
262,
24603,
257,
1310,
38332,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
48757,
11,
294,
33926,
656,
262,
4314,
1231,
772,
257,
7128,
272,
286,
5402,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
278,
561,
307,
1365,
11,
447,
251,
262,
2063,
1359,
24998,
11,
10609,
1973,
262,
2119,
284,
1194,
3084,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
373,
14638,
340,
13,
39,
668,
293,
3114,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
6104,
278,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4987,
13,
447,
250,
40,
2236,
2740,
284,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
251,
464,
1440,
2460,
3377,
262,
1306,
1110,
664,
48568,
803,
290,
13226,
262,
13079,
22672,
82,
286,
262,
27386,
38560,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
1444,
1497,
1903,
329,
257,
3249,
351,
4216,
32027,
11,
981,
262,
1854,
547,
17455,
416,
367,
668,
293,
319,
257,
4205,
832,
262,
1049,
2156,
11,
6427,
832,
257,
8667,
435,
26599,
12437,
11,
629,
14992,
9519,
11,
16901,
23204,
11,
290,
1811,
13659,
9519,
5734,
3562,
329,
11644,
870,
584,
49366,
9791,
13,
32,
15207,
286,
530,
337,
1032,
306,
2113,
23506,
373,
286,
1948,
1393,
11,
1201,
262,
15207,
373,
1682,
262,
7873,
3126,
86,
8669,
2241,
13,
2025,
23993,
5022,
286,
28074,
550,
1364,
683,
336,
12004,
11,
7360,
13,
6423,
612,
373,
43484,
1082,
67,
2238,
11,
262,
1641,
3290,
11,
508,
550,
1752,
587,
367,
668,
293,
447,
253,
82,
1218,
16933,
1906,
17776,
11,
257,
2089,
26572,
5022,
13,
39,
668,
293,
4030,
645,
13141,
422,
465,
10650,
11,
16369,
278,
262,
2106,
286,
465,
19065,
11,
663,
16970,
11,
290,
663,
1690,
20756,
15536,
13,
1870,
339,
1297,
606,
286,
262,
8604,
1088,
5882,
82,
37382,
11,
286,
262,
471,
400,
19977,
83,
24837,
1547,
11,
262,
5274,
350,
17300,
11,
484,
550,
12956,
11,
290,
286,
584,
15663,
484,
1244,
1865,
1826,
1863,
511,
835,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
373,
9675,
326,
511,
34205,
5281,
257,
3953,
286,
8119,
1321,
13,
6653,
3061,
12070,
287,
319,
683,
790,
5664,
286,
790,
1110,
11,
290,
618,
339,
3377,
597,
640,
1231,
1642,
597,
8810,
3812,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
772,
611,
339,
2391,
2622,
284,
1334,
11,
339,
2936,
279,
27725,
286,
14934,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
423,
284,
765,
340,
351,
477,
331,
263,
2612,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1690,
629,
48959,
2241,
13,
1537,
367,
668,
293,
550,
2810,
683,
351,
281,
1593,
12852,
284,
428,
1956,
326,
561,
645,
4719,
6133,
465,
2728,
287,
262,
1528,
4058,
11,
290,
339,
373,
11378,
618,
339,
3332,
866,
329,
43743,
379,
383,
376,
4715,
88,
17264,
28120,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
30668,
1389,
606,
612,
11,
424,
297,
268,
290,
5897,
11,
290,
339,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
910,
881,
618,
11434,
546,
465,
5114,
351,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
22073,
284,
262,
3249,
4058,
11,
447,
251,
373,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
3280,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
41034,
13,
447,
250,
13856,
32027,
318,
845,
1468,
290,
4499,
13,
1544,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
674,
1266,
2911,
286,
1683,
4917,
262,
2975,
284
] |
dnd579
|
“Deciding where to even begin to look.”“Ah, but you have already begun,” answered DelRoy.“You have chosen well to come inland; most of the legends of Mithril Hall stem from the lands east of here, even farther from the coast.It seems likely that your goal lies between Longsaddle and the great desert, though north or south, I cannot guess.You have done well.”Drizzt nodded and broke off the conversation as the old mage fell back into his silent examination of Bruenor‟s map, marking strategic points and referring often to the stack of books he had piled beside the table.Bruenor hovered beside DelRoy, anxious for any advice or revelations that might be forthcoming.Dwarves were patient folk, though, a trait that allowed their crafting to outshine the work of the other races, and Bruenor kept his calm as best he could, not wanting to press the wizard.Some time later, when DelRoy was satisfied that his sorting of all the pertinent information was complete, he spoke again.“Where would you go next,” he asked Bruenor, “if no advice were offered here?”Page 61The dwarf looked back to his map, Drizzt peering over his shoulder, and traced a line east with his stubby finger.He looked to Drizzt for consent when he had reached a certain point that they had discussed earlier on the road.The drow nodded.“Citadel Adbar,” Bruenor declared, tapping his finger on the map.“The dwarven stronghold,” said DelRoy, not too surprised.“A fine choice.King Harbromm and his dwarves may be able to aid you greatly.They have been there, in the Mithril Mountains, for centuries uncounted.Certainly Adbar was old even in the days when the hammers of Mithril Hall rang out in dwarven song.”“Is Citadel Adbar your advice to us, then?” Drizzt asked.“It is your own choice, but as good a destination as I can offer,” replied DelRoy.“But the way is long, five weeks at the least if all goes well.And on the east road beyond Sundabar, that is unlikely.Still, you may get there before the first colds of winter, though I doubt that you would be able to take Harbromm‟s information and resume your journey before the next spring.”“Then the choice seems clear,” declared Bruenor.“To Adbar!”“There is more you should know,” said DelRoy.“And this is the true advice that I shall give to you: Do not be blinded to the possibilities along the road by the hopeful vision at the road‟s end.Your course so far has followed straight runs, first from Icewind Dale to Luskan, then from Luskan to here.There is little, other than monsters, along either of those roads to give a rider cause to turn aside.
|
“Deciding where to even begin to look.”“Ah, but you have already begun,” answered DelRoy.“You have chosen well to come inland; most of the legends of Mithril Hall stem from the lands east of here, even farther from the coast.It seems likely that your goal lies between Longsaddle and the great desert, though north or south, I cannot guess.You have done well.”Drizzt nodded and broke off the conversation as the old mage fell back into his silent examination of Bruenor‟s map, marking strategic points and referring often to the stack of books he had piled beside the table.Bruenor hovered beside DelRoy, anxious for any advice or revelations that might be forthcoming.Dwarves were patient folk, though, a trait that allowed their crafting to outshine the work of the other races, and Bruenor kept his calm as best he could, not wanting to press the wizard.Some time later, when DelRoy was satisfied that his sorting of all the pertinent information was complete, he spoke again.“Where would you go next,” he asked Bruenor, “if no advice were offered here?”Page 61The dwarf looked back to his map, Drizzt peering over his shoulder, and traced a line east with his stubby finger.He looked to Drizzt for consent when he had reached a certain point that they had discussed earlier on the road.The drow nodded.“Citadel Adbar,” Bruenor declared, tapping his finger on the map.“The dwarven stronghold,” said DelRoy, not too surprised.“A fine choice.King Harbromm and his dwarves may be able to aid you greatly.They have been there, in the Mithril Mountains, for centuries uncounted.Certainly Adbar was old even in the days when the hammers of Mithril Hall rang out in dwarven song.”“Is Citadel Adbar your advice to us, then?” Drizzt asked.“It is your own choice, but as good a destination as I can offer,” replied DelRoy.“But the way is long, five weeks at the least if all goes well.And on the east road beyond Sundabar, that is unlikely.Still, you may get there before the first colds of winter, though I doubt that you would be able to take Harbromm‟s information and resume your journey before the next spring.”“Then the choice seems clear,” declared Bruenor.“To Adbar!”“There is more you should know,” said DelRoy.“And this is the true advice that I shall give to you: Do not be blinded to the possibilities along the road by the hopeful vision at the road‟s end.Your course so far has followed straight runs, first from Icewind Dale to Luskan, then from Luskan to here.There is little, other than monsters, along either of those roads to give a rider cause to turn aside.
|
[
447,
250,
10707,
2530,
810,
284,
772,
2221,
284,
804,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
475,
345,
423,
1541,
9258,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
7147,
880,
284,
1282,
37874,
26,
749,
286,
262,
24901,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
10717,
422,
262,
8604,
7627,
286,
994,
11,
772,
18485,
422,
262,
7051,
13,
1026,
2331,
1884,
326,
534,
3061,
7363,
1022,
5882,
82,
37382,
290,
262,
1049,
10326,
11,
996,
5093,
393,
5366,
11,
314,
2314,
4724,
13,
1639,
423,
1760,
880,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
6265,
572,
262,
5273,
355,
262,
1468,
29241,
3214,
736,
656,
465,
10574,
12452,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
3975,
11,
18730,
10039,
2173,
290,
9759,
1690,
284,
262,
8931,
286,
3835,
339,
550,
33654,
13970,
262,
3084,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
289,
2557,
13970,
4216,
32027,
11,
18116,
329,
597,
5608,
393,
19111,
326,
1244,
307,
21220,
13,
35,
5767,
1158,
547,
5827,
15504,
11,
996,
11,
257,
16708,
326,
3142,
511,
21671,
284,
503,
19489,
262,
670,
286,
262,
584,
9558,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
4030,
465,
9480,
355,
1266,
339,
714,
11,
407,
10291,
284,
1803,
262,
18731,
13,
4366,
640,
1568,
11,
618,
4216,
32027,
373,
11378,
326,
465,
29407,
286,
477,
262,
35268,
1321,
373,
1844,
11,
339,
5158,
757,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
561,
345,
467,
1306,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
564,
250,
361,
645,
5608,
547,
4438,
994,
30,
447,
251,
9876,
8454,
464,
24603,
3114,
736,
284,
465,
3975,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
613,
1586,
625,
465,
8163,
11,
290,
23246,
257,
1627,
7627,
351,
465,
17071,
1525,
7660,
13,
1544,
3114,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
329,
8281,
618,
339,
550,
4251,
257,
1728,
966,
326,
484,
550,
6693,
2961,
319,
262,
2975,
13,
464,
288,
808,
14464,
13,
447,
250,
34,
270,
6959,
1215,
5657,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
6875,
11,
24435,
465,
7660,
319,
262,
3975,
13,
447,
250,
464,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
447,
251,
531,
4216,
32027,
11,
407,
1165,
6655,
13,
447,
250,
32,
3734,
3572,
13,
15708,
2113,
65,
398,
76,
290,
465,
40158,
743,
307,
1498,
284,
6133,
345,
9257,
13,
2990,
423,
587,
612,
11,
287,
262,
44137,
22379,
21124,
11,
329,
10675,
4591,
608,
276,
13,
36001,
1215,
5657,
373,
1468,
772,
287,
262,
1528,
618,
262,
25755,
364,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
28077,
503,
287,
15594,
574,
3496,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3792,
32266,
1215,
5657,
534,
5608,
284,
514,
11,
788,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
534,
898,
3572,
11,
475,
355,
922,
257,
10965,
355,
314,
460,
2897,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
262,
835,
318,
890,
11,
1936,
2745,
379,
262,
1551,
611,
477,
2925,
880,
13,
1870,
319,
262,
7627,
2975,
3675,
3309,
397,
283,
11,
326,
318,
7485,
13,
9590,
11,
345,
743,
651,
612,
878,
262,
717,
4692,
82,
286,
7374,
11,
996,
314,
4719,
326
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
10707,
2530,
810,
284,
772,
2221,
284,
804,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
10910,
11,
475,
345,
423,
1541,
9258,
11,
447,
251,
9373,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
423,
7147,
880,
284,
1282,
37874,
26,
749,
286,
262,
24901,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
10717,
422,
262,
8604,
7627,
286,
994,
11,
772,
18485,
422,
262,
7051,
13,
1026,
2331,
1884,
326,
534,
3061,
7363,
1022,
5882,
82,
37382,
290,
262,
1049,
10326,
11,
996,
5093,
393,
5366,
11,
314,
2314,
4724,
13,
1639,
423,
1760,
880,
13,
447,
251,
20564,
3019,
83,
14464,
290,
6265,
572,
262,
5273,
355,
262,
1468,
29241,
3214,
736,
656,
465,
10574,
12452,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
3975,
11,
18730,
10039,
2173,
290,
9759,
1690,
284,
262,
8931,
286,
3835,
339,
550,
33654,
13970,
262,
3084,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
289,
2557,
13970,
4216,
32027,
11,
18116,
329,
597,
5608,
393,
19111,
326,
1244,
307,
21220,
13,
35,
5767,
1158,
547,
5827,
15504,
11,
996,
11,
257,
16708,
326,
3142,
511,
21671,
284,
503,
19489,
262,
670,
286,
262,
584,
9558,
11,
290,
8274,
268,
273,
4030,
465,
9480,
355,
1266,
339,
714,
11,
407,
10291,
284,
1803,
262,
18731,
13,
4366,
640,
1568,
11,
618,
4216,
32027,
373,
11378,
326,
465,
29407,
286,
477,
262,
35268,
1321,
373,
1844,
11,
339,
5158,
757,
13,
447,
250,
8496,
561,
345,
467,
1306,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
564,
250,
361,
645,
5608,
547,
4438,
994,
30,
447,
251,
9876,
8454,
464,
24603,
3114,
736,
284,
465,
3975,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
613,
1586,
625,
465,
8163,
11,
290,
23246,
257,
1627,
7627,
351,
465,
17071,
1525,
7660,
13,
1544,
3114,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
329,
8281,
618,
339,
550,
4251,
257,
1728,
966,
326,
484,
550,
6693,
2961,
319,
262,
2975,
13,
464,
288,
808,
14464,
13,
447,
250,
34,
270,
6959,
1215,
5657,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
6875,
11,
24435,
465,
7660,
319,
262,
3975,
13,
447,
250,
464,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
447,
251,
531,
4216,
32027,
11,
407,
1165,
6655,
13,
447,
250,
32,
3734,
3572,
13,
15708,
2113,
65,
398,
76,
290,
465,
40158,
743,
307,
1498,
284,
6133,
345,
9257,
13,
2990,
423,
587,
612,
11,
287,
262,
44137,
22379,
21124,
11,
329,
10675,
4591,
608,
276,
13,
36001,
1215,
5657,
373,
1468,
772,
287,
262,
1528,
618,
262,
25755,
364,
286,
44137,
22379,
4789,
28077,
503,
287,
15594,
574,
3496,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3792,
32266,
1215,
5657,
534,
5608,
284,
514,
11,
788,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
534,
898,
3572,
11,
475,
355,
922,
257,
10965,
355,
314,
460,
2897,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
4216,
32027,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
262,
835,
318,
890,
11,
1936,
2745,
379,
262,
1551,
611,
477,
2925,
880,
13,
1870,
319,
262,
7627,
2975,
3675,
3309,
397,
283,
11,
326,
318,
7485,
13,
9590,
11,
345,
743,
651,
612,
878,
262,
717,
4692,
82,
286,
7374,
11,
996,
314,
4719,
326
] |
dnd580
|
But on the journey to Adbar, you shall pass Silverymoon, city of wisdom and legacy, and the Lady Alustriel, and the Vault of Sages, as fine a library as exists in all the northland.Many in that fair city may be able to offer more aid to your quest than I, or even than King Harbromm.And beyond Silverymoon you shall find Sundabar, itself an ancient dwarven stronghold, where Helm, reknowned dwarf-friend, rules.His ties to your race run deep, Bruenor, tracing back many generations.Ties, perhaps, even to your own people.”“Possibilities!” beamed Harkle.“We shall heed your wise advice, DelRoy,” said Drizzt.“Aye,” agreed the dwarf, his spirits high.“When we left the dale, I had no idea beyond Luskan.Me hopes were to follow a road of guesses, expectin‟ half and more to be nothing of value.The halfling was wise in guiding us to this spot, for we‟ve found a trail of clues!And clues to lead to more clues!” He looked around at the excited group, Drizzt, Harkle, and DelRoy, and then noticed Wulfgar, still sitting quietly in his chair, his huge arms crossed on his chest, watching without any apparent emotion.“What of yerself, boy?” Bruenor demanded.“Have ye a notion to share?”Wulfgar leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.“Neither my quest, nor my land,” he explained.“I follow you, confident in any path you choose.“And I am glad of your mirth and excitement,” he added quietly.Bruenor took the explanation as complete, and turned back to DelRoy and Harkle for some specific information on the road ahead.Drizzt, though, unconvinced of the sincerity of Wulfgar‟s last statement, let his gaze linger on the young barbarian, noting the expression in his eyes as he watched Bruenor.Sorrow?They spent two more restful days in the Ivy Mansion, though Drizzt was hounded constantly by curious Harpells who wanted more information about his rarely seen race.He took the questions politely, understanding their good intentions, and answered as best he could.When Harkle came to escort them out on the fifth morning, they were refreshed and ready to get on with their business.Harkle promised to arrange for the return of the horses to their rightful owners, saying that it was the least he could do for the strangers who had brought so much interest to the town.But in truth, the friends had benefited more for the stay.DelRoy and Harkle had given them valuable information and, perhaps even more importantly, had restored their hope in the quest.Bruenor was up and about before dawn that last morning, his adrenaline pumping at the thought of returning to the road now that he had somewhere to go.They moved out from the mansion throwing many good-byes and lamenting looks over their Page 62shoulders, even from Wulfgar, who had come in so steadfast in his antipathy toward wizards.They crossed the overbridge, saying farewell to Chardin, who was too lost in his meditations of the stream to even notice, and soon discovered that the structure beside the miniature stable was an experimental farm.“It will change the face of the world!” Harkle assured them as he veered them toward the building for a closer look.Drizzt guessed his meaning even before they entered, as soon as he heard the high-pitched bleating and cricketlike chirping.Like the stable, the farm was one room, though part of it had no roof and was actually a field within walls.Cat-sized cows and sheep mulled about, while chickens the size of field mice dodged around the animals‟ tiny feet.“Of course, this is the first season and we have not seen results yet,” explained Harkle, “but we expect a high yield considering the small amount of resources involved.”“Efficiency,” laughed Regis.
|
But on the journey to Adbar, you shall pass Silverymoon, city of wisdom and legacy, and the Lady Alustriel, and the Vault of Sages, as fine a library as exists in all the northland.Many in that fair city may be able to offer more aid to your quest than I, or even than King Harbromm.And beyond Silverymoon you shall find Sundabar, itself an ancient dwarven stronghold, where Helm, reknowned dwarf-friend, rules.His ties to your race run deep, Bruenor, tracing back many generations.Ties, perhaps, even to your own people.”“Possibilities!” beamed Harkle.“We shall heed your wise advice, DelRoy,” said Drizzt.“Aye,” agreed the dwarf, his spirits high.“When we left the dale, I had no idea beyond Luskan.Me hopes were to follow a road of guesses, expectin‟ half and more to be nothing of value.The halfling was wise in guiding us to this spot, for we‟ve found a trail of clues!And clues to lead to more clues!” He looked around at the excited group, Drizzt, Harkle, and DelRoy, and then noticed Wulfgar, still sitting quietly in his chair, his huge arms crossed on his chest, watching without any apparent emotion.“What of yerself, boy?” Bruenor demanded.“Have ye a notion to share?”Wulfgar leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.“Neither my quest, nor my land,” he explained.“I follow you, confident in any path you choose.“And I am glad of your mirth and excitement,” he added quietly.Bruenor took the explanation as complete, and turned back to DelRoy and Harkle for some specific information on the road ahead.Drizzt, though, unconvinced of the sincerity of Wulfgar‟s last statement, let his gaze linger on the young barbarian, noting the expression in his eyes as he watched Bruenor.Sorrow?They spent two more restful days in the Ivy Mansion, though Drizzt was hounded constantly by curious Harpells who wanted more information about his rarely seen race.He took the questions politely, understanding their good intentions, and answered as best he could.When Harkle came to escort them out on the fifth morning, they were refreshed and ready to get on with their business.Harkle promised to arrange for the return of the horses to their rightful owners, saying that it was the least he could do for the strangers who had brought so much interest to the town.But in truth, the friends had benefited more for the stay.DelRoy and Harkle had given them valuable information and, perhaps even more importantly, had restored their hope in the quest.Bruenor was up and about before dawn that last morning, his adrenaline pumping at the thought of returning to the road now that he had somewhere to go.They moved out from the mansion throwing many good-byes and lamenting looks over their Page 62shoulders, even from Wulfgar, who had come in so steadfast in his antipathy toward wizards.They crossed the overbridge, saying farewell to Chardin, who was too lost in his meditations of the stream to even notice, and soon discovered that the structure beside the miniature stable was an experimental farm.“It will change the face of the world!” Harkle assured them as he veered them toward the building for a closer look.Drizzt guessed his meaning even before they entered, as soon as he heard the high-pitched bleating and cricketlike chirping.Like the stable, the farm was one room, though part of it had no roof and was actually a field within walls.Cat-sized cows and sheep mulled about, while chickens the size of field mice dodged around the animals‟ tiny feet.“Of course, this is the first season and we have not seen results yet,” explained Harkle, “but we expect a high yield considering the small amount of resources involved.”“Efficiency,” laughed Regis.
|
[
1537,
319,
262,
7002,
284,
1215,
5657,
11,
345,
2236,
1208,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
1748,
286,
11501,
290,
10655,
11,
290,
262,
11182,
978,
436,
11719,
11,
290,
262,
23450,
286,
311,
1095,
11,
355,
3734,
257,
5888,
355,
7160,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
7085,
287,
326,
3148,
1748,
743,
307,
1498,
284,
2897,
517,
6133,
284,
534,
1235,
621,
314,
11,
393,
772,
621,
2677,
2113,
65,
398,
76,
13,
1870,
3675,
4243,
548,
22977,
345,
2236,
1064,
3309,
397,
283,
11,
2346,
281,
6156,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
810,
28351,
11,
302,
4002,
276,
24603,
12,
6726,
11,
3173,
13,
6653,
8470,
284,
534,
3234,
1057,
2769,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
35328,
736,
867,
10439,
13,
51,
444,
11,
3737,
11,
772,
284,
534,
898,
661,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47,
793,
7992,
0,
447,
251,
307,
2434,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2236,
32420,
534,
10787,
5608,
11,
4216,
32027,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
447,
251,
4987,
262,
24603,
11,
465,
13747,
1029,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1364,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
314,
550,
645,
2126,
3675,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
5308,
7176,
547,
284,
1061,
257,
2975,
286,
44774,
11,
1607,
259,
447,
253,
2063,
290,
517,
284,
307,
2147,
286,
1988,
13,
464,
2063,
1359,
373,
10787,
287,
26727,
514,
284,
428,
4136,
11,
329,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1043,
257,
8025,
286,
20195,
0,
1870,
20195,
284,
1085,
284,
517,
20195,
0,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
1088,
379,
262,
6568,
1448,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
367,
668,
293,
11,
290,
4216,
32027,
11,
290,
788,
6810,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
991,
5586,
12703,
287,
465,
5118,
11,
465,
3236,
5101,
12606,
319,
465,
7721,
11,
4964,
1231,
597,
4156,
9942,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
286,
331,
263,
944,
11,
2933,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
9838,
257,
9495,
284,
2648,
30,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
23831,
2651,
11,
19186,
465,
37076,
319,
262,
3084,
13,
447,
250,
27270,
616,
1235,
11,
4249,
616,
1956,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1061,
345,
11,
6563,
287,
597,
3108,
345,
3853,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
716,
9675,
286,
534,
285,
3333,
290,
14067,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
12703,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1718,
262,
7468,
355,
1844,
11,
290,
2900,
736,
284,
4216,
32027,
290,
367,
668,
293,
329,
617,
2176,
1321,
319,
262,
2975,
4058,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
996,
11,
21254,
7114,
771,
286,
262,
44053,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
938,
2643,
11,
1309,
465,
17841,
31402,
319,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
11,
10820,
262,
5408,
287,
465,
2951,
355,
339,
7342,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
50,
6254,
30,
2990,
3377,
734,
517,
1334,
913,
1528,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
11,
996,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
289,
6302,
7558,
416,
11040,
2113,
23506,
82,
508,
2227,
517,
1321,
546,
465,
8365,
1775,
3234,
13,
1544,
1718,
262,
2683,
34313,
11,
4547
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
319,
262,
7002,
284,
1215,
5657,
11,
345,
2236,
1208,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
1748,
286,
11501,
290,
10655,
11,
290,
262,
11182,
978,
436,
11719,
11,
290,
262,
23450,
286,
311,
1095,
11,
355,
3734,
257,
5888,
355,
7160,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
7085,
287,
326,
3148,
1748,
743,
307,
1498,
284,
2897,
517,
6133,
284,
534,
1235,
621,
314,
11,
393,
772,
621,
2677,
2113,
65,
398,
76,
13,
1870,
3675,
4243,
548,
22977,
345,
2236,
1064,
3309,
397,
283,
11,
2346,
281,
6156,
15594,
574,
32753,
11,
810,
28351,
11,
302,
4002,
276,
24603,
12,
6726,
11,
3173,
13,
6653,
8470,
284,
534,
3234,
1057,
2769,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
35328,
736,
867,
10439,
13,
51,
444,
11,
3737,
11,
772,
284,
534,
898,
661,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47,
793,
7992,
0,
447,
251,
307,
2434,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
2236,
32420,
534,
10787,
5608,
11,
4216,
32027,
11,
447,
251,
531,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
32,
5948,
11,
447,
251,
4987,
262,
24603,
11,
465,
13747,
1029,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
356,
1364,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
314,
550,
645,
2126,
3675,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
5308,
7176,
547,
284,
1061,
257,
2975,
286,
44774,
11,
1607,
259,
447,
253,
2063,
290,
517,
284,
307,
2147,
286,
1988,
13,
464,
2063,
1359,
373,
10787,
287,
26727,
514,
284,
428,
4136,
11,
329,
356,
447,
253,
303,
1043,
257,
8025,
286,
20195,
0,
1870,
20195,
284,
1085,
284,
517,
20195,
0,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
1088,
379,
262,
6568,
1448,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
11,
367,
668,
293,
11,
290,
4216,
32027,
11,
290,
788,
6810,
370,
4754,
4563,
11,
991,
5586,
12703,
287,
465,
5118,
11,
465,
3236,
5101,
12606,
319,
465,
7721,
11,
4964,
1231,
597,
4156,
9942,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
286,
331,
263,
944,
11,
2933,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
12284,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
9838,
257,
9495,
284,
2648,
30,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
23831,
2651,
11,
19186,
465,
37076,
319,
262,
3084,
13,
447,
250,
27270,
616,
1235,
11,
4249,
616,
1956,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4893,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1061,
345,
11,
6563,
287,
597,
3108,
345,
3853,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
314,
716,
9675,
286,
534,
285,
3333,
290,
14067,
11,
447,
251,
339,
2087,
12703,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1718,
262,
7468,
355,
1844,
11,
290,
2900,
736,
284,
4216,
32027,
290,
367,
668,
293,
329,
617,
2176,
1321,
319,
262,
2975,
4058,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
996,
11,
21254,
7114,
771,
286,
262,
44053,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
938,
2643,
11,
1309,
465,
17841,
31402,
319,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
11,
10820,
262,
5408,
287,
465,
2951,
355,
339,
7342,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
50,
6254,
30,
2990,
3377,
734,
517,
1334,
913,
1528,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
11,
996,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
289,
6302,
7558,
416,
11040,
2113,
23506,
82,
508,
2227,
517,
1321,
546,
465,
8365,
1775,
3234,
13,
1544,
1718,
262,
2683,
34313,
11,
4547
] |
dnd581
|
“Less feed, less space, and you can blow them back up when you want to eat them!”“Precisely!” said Harkle.They next went to the stable, where Harkle picked out fine mounts for them, two horses and two ponies.These were gifts, Harkle explained, only to be returned at the companions‟ leisure.“It‟s the least we could do to aid such a noble quest,” Harkle said with a low bow to stop any protests from Bruenor and Drizzt.The road meandered, continuing on down the back of the hill.Harkle stood for a moment scratching his chin, a puzzled expression on his face.“The sixth post,” he told himself, “but to the left or the right?”A man working on a ladder (another amusing curiosity–to see a ladder rise up above the phony rails of the fence and come to rest in mid-air against the top of the invisible wall) came to their aid.“Forgot again?” he chuckled at Harkle.“He pointed to the railing off to one side.“Sixth post to your left!”Harkle shrugged away his embarrassment and moved on.The companions watched the workman curiously as they passed from the hill, their mounts still tucked under their arms.He had a bucket and some rags and was rubbing several reddish-brown spots from the invisible wall.“Low-flying birds,” Harkle explained apologetically.“But have no fear, Regweld is working on the problem even as we speak.“Now we have come to the end of our meeting, though many years shall pass before you are forgotten in the Ivy Mansion!The road takes you right through the village of Longsaddle.You can restock your supplies there–it has all been arranged.”“Me deepest regards to yerself and yer kin,” said Bruenor, bowing low.“Suren Longsaddle has been a bright spot on a bleary road!” The others were quick to agree.“Farewell then, Companions of the Hall,” sighed Harkle.“The Harpells expect to see a small token when you at last find Mithril Hall and start the ancient forges burning again!”“A king‟s treasure!” Bruenor assured him as they moved away.They were back on the road beyond Longsaddle‟s borders before noon, their mounts trotting along easily with fully stuffed packs.“Well, which do ye prefer, elf,” Bruenor asked later that day, “the jabs of a mad soldier‟s spear, or the pokings of a wonderin‟ wizard‟s nose?”Drizzt chuckled defensively as he thought about the question.Longsaddle had been so different from anywhere he had ever been, and yet, so much the same.In either case, his color singled him out as an oddity, and it wasn‟t so much the hostility of his usual treatment that bothered him, as the embarrassing reminders that he would ever be different.Only Wulfgar, riding beside him, caught his mumbled reply.“The road.”9.There is No Honor“Why do you approach the city before the light of dawn?” the Nightkeeper of the North Gate Page 63asked the emissary for the merchant caravan that had pulled up outside Luskan‟s wall.Jierdan, in his post beside the Nightkeeper, watched with special interest, certain that this troupe had come from Ten-Towns.“We would not impose upon the regulations of the city if our business were not urgent,”answered the spokesman.“We have not rested for two days.” Another man emerged from the cluster of wagons, a body limp across his shoulders.“Murdered on the road,” explained the spokesman.“And another of the party taken.Catti-brie, daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer himself!”“A dwarf-maid?” Jierdan blurted out, suspecting otherwise, but masking his excitement for fear that it might implicate him.“Nay, no dwarf.
|
“Less feed, less space, and you can blow them back up when you want to eat them!”“Precisely!” said Harkle.They next went to the stable, where Harkle picked out fine mounts for them, two horses and two ponies.These were gifts, Harkle explained, only to be returned at the companions‟ leisure.“It‟s the least we could do to aid such a noble quest,” Harkle said with a low bow to stop any protests from Bruenor and Drizzt.The road meandered, continuing on down the back of the hill.Harkle stood for a moment scratching his chin, a puzzled expression on his face.“The sixth post,” he told himself, “but to the left or the right?”A man working on a ladder (another amusing curiosity–to see a ladder rise up above the phony rails of the fence and come to rest in mid-air against the top of the invisible wall) came to their aid.“Forgot again?” he chuckled at Harkle.“He pointed to the railing off to one side.“Sixth post to your left!”Harkle shrugged away his embarrassment and moved on.The companions watched the workman curiously as they passed from the hill, their mounts still tucked under their arms.He had a bucket and some rags and was rubbing several reddish-brown spots from the invisible wall.“Low-flying birds,” Harkle explained apologetically.“But have no fear, Regweld is working on the problem even as we speak.“Now we have come to the end of our meeting, though many years shall pass before you are forgotten in the Ivy Mansion!The road takes you right through the village of Longsaddle.You can restock your supplies there–it has all been arranged.”“Me deepest regards to yerself and yer kin,” said Bruenor, bowing low.“Suren Longsaddle has been a bright spot on a bleary road!” The others were quick to agree.“Farewell then, Companions of the Hall,” sighed Harkle.“The Harpells expect to see a small token when you at last find Mithril Hall and start the ancient forges burning again!”“A king‟s treasure!” Bruenor assured him as they moved away.They were back on the road beyond Longsaddle‟s borders before noon, their mounts trotting along easily with fully stuffed packs.“Well, which do ye prefer, elf,” Bruenor asked later that day, “the jabs of a mad soldier‟s spear, or the pokings of a wonderin‟ wizard‟s nose?”Drizzt chuckled defensively as he thought about the question.Longsaddle had been so different from anywhere he had ever been, and yet, so much the same.In either case, his color singled him out as an oddity, and it wasn‟t so much the hostility of his usual treatment that bothered him, as the embarrassing reminders that he would ever be different.Only Wulfgar, riding beside him, caught his mumbled reply.“The road.”9.There is No Honor“Why do you approach the city before the light of dawn?” the Nightkeeper of the North Gate Page 63asked the emissary for the merchant caravan that had pulled up outside Luskan‟s wall.Jierdan, in his post beside the Nightkeeper, watched with special interest, certain that this troupe had come from Ten-Towns.“We would not impose upon the regulations of the city if our business were not urgent,”answered the spokesman.“We have not rested for two days.” Another man emerged from the cluster of wagons, a body limp across his shoulders.“Murdered on the road,” explained the spokesman.“And another of the party taken.Catti-brie, daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer himself!”“A dwarf-maid?” Jierdan blurted out, suspecting otherwise, but masking his excitement for fear that it might implicate him.“Nay, no dwarf.
|
[
447,
250,
22058,
3745,
11,
1342,
2272,
11,
290,
345,
460,
6611,
606,
736,
510,
618,
345,
765,
284,
4483,
606,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6719,
37561,
306,
0,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
2990,
1306,
1816,
284,
262,
8245,
11,
810,
367,
668,
293,
6497,
503,
3734,
30790,
329,
606,
11,
734,
14260,
290,
734,
46370,
13,
4711,
547,
13201,
11,
367,
668,
293,
4893,
11,
691,
284,
307,
4504,
379,
262,
19429,
447,
253,
24638,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
253,
82,
262,
1551,
356,
714,
466,
284,
6133,
884,
257,
15581,
1235,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
531,
351,
257,
1877,
9563,
284,
2245,
597,
8536,
422,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
464,
2975,
502,
392,
1068,
11,
8282,
319,
866,
262,
736,
286,
262,
12788,
13,
39,
668,
293,
6204,
329,
257,
2589,
34688,
465,
22531,
11,
257,
36907,
5408,
319,
465,
1986,
13,
447,
250,
464,
11695,
1281,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
2241,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
284,
262,
1364,
393,
262,
826,
30,
447,
251,
32,
582,
1762,
319,
257,
18002,
357,
29214,
28297,
20136,
1906,
1462,
766,
257,
18002,
4485,
510,
2029,
262,
41421,
27587,
286,
262,
13990,
290,
1282,
284,
1334,
287,
3095,
12,
958,
1028,
262,
1353,
286,
262,
14836,
3355,
8,
1625,
284,
511,
6133,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
23442,
757,
30,
447,
251,
339,
39889,
379,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
6235,
284,
262,
47590,
572,
284,
530,
1735,
13,
447,
250,
21447,
400,
1281,
284,
534,
1364,
0,
447,
251,
39,
668,
293,
28271,
1497,
465,
24655,
290,
3888,
319,
13,
464,
19429,
7342,
262,
670,
805,
43211,
355,
484,
3804,
422,
262,
12788,
11,
511,
30790,
991,
29779,
739,
511,
5101,
13,
1544,
550,
257,
19236,
290,
617,
374,
3775,
290,
373,
27714,
1811,
14688,
680,
12,
33282,
10222,
422,
262,
14836,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
20535,
12,
45928,
10087,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
4893,
8453,
16877,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
423,
645,
3252,
11,
3310,
732,
335,
318,
1762,
319,
262,
1917,
772,
355,
356,
2740,
13,
447,
250,
3844,
356,
423,
1282,
284,
262,
886,
286,
674,
3249,
11,
996,
867,
812,
2236,
1208,
878,
345,
389,
11564,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
0,
464,
2975,
2753,
345,
826,
832,
262,
7404,
286,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1639,
460,
1334,
735,
534,
9416,
612,
1906,
270,
468,
477,
587,
14921,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5308,
25420,
13957,
284,
331,
263,
944,
290,
331,
263,
18967,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
275,
7855,
1877,
13,
447,
250,
19457,
77,
5882,
82,
37382,
468,
587,
257,
6016,
4136,
319,
257,
7245,
560,
2975,
0,
447,
251,
383,
1854,
547,
2068,
284,
4236,
13,
447,
250,
37,
533,
4053,
788,
11,
16154,
507,
286,
262,
4789,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
1607,
284,
766,
257,
1402,
11241,
618,
345,
379,
938,
1064,
44137,
22379,
4789,
290,
923,
262,
6156,
329,
3212,
9482,
757,
0,
447,
251
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
22058,
3745,
11,
1342,
2272,
11,
290,
345,
460,
6611,
606,
736,
510,
618,
345,
765,
284,
4483,
606,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6719,
37561,
306,
0,
447,
251,
531,
367,
668,
293,
13,
2990,
1306,
1816,
284,
262,
8245,
11,
810,
367,
668,
293,
6497,
503,
3734,
30790,
329,
606,
11,
734,
14260,
290,
734,
46370,
13,
4711,
547,
13201,
11,
367,
668,
293,
4893,
11,
691,
284,
307,
4504,
379,
262,
19429,
447,
253,
24638,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
447,
253,
82,
262,
1551,
356,
714,
466,
284,
6133,
884,
257,
15581,
1235,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
531,
351,
257,
1877,
9563,
284,
2245,
597,
8536,
422,
8274,
268,
273,
290,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
464,
2975,
502,
392,
1068,
11,
8282,
319,
866,
262,
736,
286,
262,
12788,
13,
39,
668,
293,
6204,
329,
257,
2589,
34688,
465,
22531,
11,
257,
36907,
5408,
319,
465,
1986,
13,
447,
250,
464,
11695,
1281,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1297,
2241,
11,
564,
250,
4360,
284,
262,
1364,
393,
262,
826,
30,
447,
251,
32,
582,
1762,
319,
257,
18002,
357,
29214,
28297,
20136,
1906,
1462,
766,
257,
18002,
4485,
510,
2029,
262,
41421,
27587,
286,
262,
13990,
290,
1282,
284,
1334,
287,
3095,
12,
958,
1028,
262,
1353,
286,
262,
14836,
3355,
8,
1625,
284,
511,
6133,
13,
447,
250,
1890,
23442,
757,
30,
447,
251,
339,
39889,
379,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
6235,
284,
262,
47590,
572,
284,
530,
1735,
13,
447,
250,
21447,
400,
1281,
284,
534,
1364,
0,
447,
251,
39,
668,
293,
28271,
1497,
465,
24655,
290,
3888,
319,
13,
464,
19429,
7342,
262,
670,
805,
43211,
355,
484,
3804,
422,
262,
12788,
11,
511,
30790,
991,
29779,
739,
511,
5101,
13,
1544,
550,
257,
19236,
290,
617,
374,
3775,
290,
373,
27714,
1811,
14688,
680,
12,
33282,
10222,
422,
262,
14836,
3355,
13,
447,
250,
20535,
12,
45928,
10087,
11,
447,
251,
367,
668,
293,
4893,
8453,
16877,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
423,
645,
3252,
11,
3310,
732,
335,
318,
1762,
319,
262,
1917,
772,
355,
356,
2740,
13,
447,
250,
3844,
356,
423,
1282,
284,
262,
886,
286,
674,
3249,
11,
996,
867,
812,
2236,
1208,
878,
345,
389,
11564,
287,
262,
27386,
38560,
0,
464,
2975,
2753,
345,
826,
832,
262,
7404,
286,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
1639,
460,
1334,
735,
534,
9416,
612,
1906,
270,
468,
477,
587,
14921,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5308,
25420,
13957,
284,
331,
263,
944,
290,
331,
263,
18967,
11,
447,
251,
531,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
275,
7855,
1877,
13,
447,
250,
19457,
77,
5882,
82,
37382,
468,
587,
257,
6016,
4136,
319,
257,
7245,
560,
2975,
0,
447,
251,
383,
1854,
547,
2068,
284,
4236,
13,
447,
250,
37,
533,
4053,
788,
11,
16154,
507,
286,
262,
4789,
11,
447,
251,
21893,
367,
668,
293,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2113,
23506,
82,
1607,
284,
766,
257,
1402,
11241,
618,
345,
379,
938,
1064,
44137,
22379,
4789,
290,
923,
262,
6156,
329,
3212,
9482,
757,
0,
447,
251
] |
dnd582
|
A woman,” lamented the spokeman.“Fairest in all the dale, maybe in all the north.The dwarf took her in as an orphaned child and claimed her as his own.”“Orcs?” asked the Nightkeeper, more concerned with potential hazards on the road than with the fate of a single woman.“This was not the work of orcs,” replied the spokesman.“Stealth and cunning took Catti-brie from us and killed the driver.We did not even discover the foul deed until the next morn.”Jierdan needed no further information, not even a more complete description of Catti-brie, to put the pieces together.Her connection to Bruenor explained Entreri‟s interest in her.Jierdan looked to the eastern horizon and the first rays of the coming dawn, anxious to be cleared of his duties on the wall so that he could go report his findings to Dendybar.This little piece of news should help to alleviate the mottled wizard‟s anger at him for losing the drow‟s trail on the docks.* * *“He has not found them?” Dendybar hissed at Sydney.“He has found nothing but a cold trail,” the younger mage replied.“If they are on the docks yet, they are well disguised.”Dendybar paused to consider his apprentice‟s report.Something was out of place with this scenario.Four distinctive characters simply could not have vanished.“Have you learned anything of the assassin, then, or of his companion?”“The vagabonds in the alleys fear him.Even the ruffians give him a respectfully wide berth.”“So our friend is known among the bowel-dwellers,” Dendybar mused.“A hired killer, I would guess,” reasoned Sydney.“Probably from the south–Waterdeep, perhaps, though we should have heard more of him if that were the case.Perhaps even farther south, from the lands beyond our vision.”“Interesting,” replied Dendybar, trying to formulate some theory to satisfy all the variables.“And the girl?”Sydney shrugged.“I do not believe that she follows him willingly, though she has made no move to be free of him.And when you saw him in Morkai‟s vision, he was riding alone.”“He acquired her,” came an unexpected reply from the doorway.Jierdan entered the room.“What?Unannounced?” sneered Dendybar.“I have news–it could not wait,” Jierdan replied boldly.“Have they left the city?” Sydney prompted, voicing her suspicions to heighten the anger she read on the mottled wizard‟s pallid face.
|
A woman,” lamented the spokeman.“Fairest in all the dale, maybe in all the north.The dwarf took her in as an orphaned child and claimed her as his own.”“Orcs?” asked the Nightkeeper, more concerned with potential hazards on the road than with the fate of a single woman.“This was not the work of orcs,” replied the spokesman.“Stealth and cunning took Catti-brie from us and killed the driver.We did not even discover the foul deed until the next morn.”Jierdan needed no further information, not even a more complete description of Catti-brie, to put the pieces together.Her connection to Bruenor explained Entreri‟s interest in her.Jierdan looked to the eastern horizon and the first rays of the coming dawn, anxious to be cleared of his duties on the wall so that he could go report his findings to Dendybar.This little piece of news should help to alleviate the mottled wizard‟s anger at him for losing the drow‟s trail on the docks.* * *“He has not found them?” Dendybar hissed at Sydney.“He has found nothing but a cold trail,” the younger mage replied.“If they are on the docks yet, they are well disguised.”Dendybar paused to consider his apprentice‟s report.Something was out of place with this scenario.Four distinctive characters simply could not have vanished.“Have you learned anything of the assassin, then, or of his companion?”“The vagabonds in the alleys fear him.Even the ruffians give him a respectfully wide berth.”“So our friend is known among the bowel-dwellers,” Dendybar mused.“A hired killer, I would guess,” reasoned Sydney.“Probably from the south–Waterdeep, perhaps, though we should have heard more of him if that were the case.Perhaps even farther south, from the lands beyond our vision.”“Interesting,” replied Dendybar, trying to formulate some theory to satisfy all the variables.“And the girl?”Sydney shrugged.“I do not believe that she follows him willingly, though she has made no move to be free of him.And when you saw him in Morkai‟s vision, he was riding alone.”“He acquired her,” came an unexpected reply from the doorway.Jierdan entered the room.“What?Unannounced?” sneered Dendybar.“I have news–it could not wait,” Jierdan replied boldly.“Have they left the city?” Sydney prompted, voicing her suspicions to heighten the anger she read on the mottled wizard‟s pallid face.
|
[
32,
2415,
11,
447,
251,
40176,
262,
5158,
805,
13,
447,
250,
37,
7626,
301,
287,
477,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
3863,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
13,
464,
24603,
1718,
607,
287,
355,
281,
26051,
276,
1200,
290,
4752,
607,
355,
465,
898,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5574,
6359,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
262,
5265,
13884,
11,
517,
5213,
351,
2785,
27491,
319,
262,
2975,
621,
351,
262,
10030,
286,
257,
2060,
2415,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
373,
407,
262,
670,
286,
46448,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
6523,
13,
447,
250,
7447,
1094,
290,
34218,
1718,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
422,
514,
290,
2923,
262,
4639,
13,
1135,
750,
407,
772,
7073,
262,
15626,
28637,
1566,
262,
1306,
285,
1211,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
2622,
645,
2252,
1321,
11,
407,
772,
257,
517,
1844,
6764,
286,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
284,
1234,
262,
5207,
1978,
13,
9360,
4637,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1393,
287,
607,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
3114,
284,
262,
10183,
17810,
290,
262,
717,
24823,
286,
262,
2406,
17577,
11,
18116,
284,
307,
12539,
286,
465,
10741,
319,
262,
3355,
523,
326,
339,
714,
467,
989,
465,
6373,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
1212,
1310,
3704,
286,
1705,
815,
1037,
284,
30885,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
8993,
379,
683,
329,
6078,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
8025,
319,
262,
45906,
15885,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
1544,
468,
407,
1043,
606,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
465,
36622,
379,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
468,
1043,
2147,
475,
257,
4692,
8025,
11,
447,
251,
262,
7099,
29241,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
484,
389,
319,
262,
45906,
1865,
11,
484,
389,
880,
32192,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
24487,
284,
2074,
465,
39252,
447,
253,
82,
989,
13,
22210,
373,
503,
286,
1295,
351,
428,
8883,
13,
15137,
18778,
3435,
2391,
714,
407,
423,
23717,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
4499,
1997,
286,
262,
31120,
11,
788,
11,
393,
286,
465,
15185,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
14334,
397,
24764,
287,
262,
435,
21325,
3252,
683,
13,
6104,
262,
374,
1648,
1547,
1577,
683,
257,
41177,
3094,
45015,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
674,
1545,
318,
1900,
1871,
262,
35711,
12,
67,
4053,
364,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
285,
1484,
13,
447,
250,
32,
9657,
11868,
11,
314,
561,
4724,
11,
447,
251,
37857,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
34784,
422,
262,
5366,
1906,
19184,
22089,
11,
3737,
11,
996,
356,
815,
423,
2982,
517,
286,
683,
611,
326,
547,
262,
1339,
13,
13710,
772,
18485,
5366,
11,
422,
262,
8604,
3675,
674,
5761,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
19302,
278,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
2111,
284,
46418,
617,
4583,
284,
15959,
477,
262,
9633,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
262,
2576,
30,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
407,
1975,
326,
673,
5679,
683,
30981,
11,
996,
673,
468,
925,
645,
1445
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
2415,
11,
447,
251,
40176,
262,
5158,
805,
13,
447,
250,
37,
7626,
301,
287,
477,
262,
288,
1000,
11,
3863,
287,
477,
262,
5093,
13,
464,
24603,
1718,
607,
287,
355,
281,
26051,
276,
1200,
290,
4752,
607,
355,
465,
898,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
5574,
6359,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
262,
5265,
13884,
11,
517,
5213,
351,
2785,
27491,
319,
262,
2975,
621,
351,
262,
10030,
286,
257,
2060,
2415,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
373,
407,
262,
670,
286,
46448,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
262,
6523,
13,
447,
250,
7447,
1094,
290,
34218,
1718,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
422,
514,
290,
2923,
262,
4639,
13,
1135,
750,
407,
772,
7073,
262,
15626,
28637,
1566,
262,
1306,
285,
1211,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
2622,
645,
2252,
1321,
11,
407,
772,
257,
517,
1844,
6764,
286,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
284,
1234,
262,
5207,
1978,
13,
9360,
4637,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
4893,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1393,
287,
607,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
3114,
284,
262,
10183,
17810,
290,
262,
717,
24823,
286,
262,
2406,
17577,
11,
18116,
284,
307,
12539,
286,
465,
10741,
319,
262,
3355,
523,
326,
339,
714,
467,
989,
465,
6373,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
1212,
1310,
3704,
286,
1705,
815,
1037,
284,
30885,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
8993,
379,
683,
329,
6078,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
8025,
319,
262,
45906,
15885,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
1544,
468,
407,
1043,
606,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
465,
36622,
379,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
468,
1043,
2147,
475,
257,
4692,
8025,
11,
447,
251,
262,
7099,
29241,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
484,
389,
319,
262,
45906,
1865,
11,
484,
389,
880,
32192,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
24487,
284,
2074,
465,
39252,
447,
253,
82,
989,
13,
22210,
373,
503,
286,
1295,
351,
428,
8883,
13,
15137,
18778,
3435,
2391,
714,
407,
423,
23717,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
4499,
1997,
286,
262,
31120,
11,
788,
11,
393,
286,
465,
15185,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
14334,
397,
24764,
287,
262,
435,
21325,
3252,
683,
13,
6104,
262,
374,
1648,
1547,
1577,
683,
257,
41177,
3094,
45015,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
2396,
674,
1545,
318,
1900,
1871,
262,
35711,
12,
67,
4053,
364,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
285,
1484,
13,
447,
250,
32,
9657,
11868,
11,
314,
561,
4724,
11,
447,
251,
37857,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
34784,
422,
262,
5366,
1906,
19184,
22089,
11,
3737,
11,
996,
356,
815,
423,
2982,
517,
286,
683,
611,
326,
547,
262,
1339,
13,
13710,
772,
18485,
5366,
11,
422,
262,
8604,
3675,
674,
5761,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
19302,
278,
11,
447,
251,
8712,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
2111,
284,
46418,
617,
4583,
284,
15959,
477,
262,
9633,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
262,
2576,
30,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
28271,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
407,
1975,
326,
673,
5679,
683,
30981,
11,
996,
673,
468,
925,
645,
1445
] |
dnd583
|
Sydney well understood the dangers and the difficulties of the docks, and almost pitied Jierdan for incurring the wrath of the merciless Dendybar in a situation beyond his control.But Jierdan remained her competition for the mottled wizard‟s favor, and she wouldn‟t let sympathy stand in the way of her ambitions.“No,” Jierdan snapped at her.“My news does not concern the drow‟s party.” He looked back to Dendybar.“A caravan arrived in Luskan today–in search of the woman.”“Who is she?” asked Dendybar, suddenly very interested and forgetting his anger at the intrusion.Page 64“The adopted daughter of Bruenor Battlehamer,” Jierdan replied.“Cat–”“Catti-brie!Of course!” hissed Dendybar, himself familiar with most of the prominent people in Ten-Towns.“I should have guessed!” He turned to Sydney.“My respect for our mysterious rider grows each day.Find him and bring him back to me!”Sydney nodded, though she feared that Dendybar‟s request would prove more difficult than the mottled wizard believed, probably even beyond her skills altogether.She spent that night, until the early hours of the following morning, searching the alleyways and meeting places of the dockside area.But even using her contacts on the docks and all the magical tricks at her disposal, she found no sign of Entreri and Catti-brie, and no one willing or able to pass along any information that might help her in her search.Tired and frustrated, she returned to the Hosttower the next day, passing the corridor to Dendybar‟s room, even though he had ordered her to report to him directly upon her return.Sydney was in no mood to listen to the mottled wizard‟s ranting about her failure.She entered her small room, just off the main trunk of the Hosttower on the northern branch, below the rooms of the Master of the North Spire, and bolted the doors, further sealing them against unwelcomed intrusion with a magical spell.She had barely fallen into her bed when the surface of her coveted scrying mirror began to swirl and glow.“Damn you, Dendybar,” she growled, assuming that the disturbance was her master‟s doing.Dragging her weary body to the mirror, she stared deeply into it, attuning her mind to the swirl to bring the image clearer.It was not Dendybar that she faced, to her relief, but a wizard from a distant town, a would-be suitor that the passionless Sydney kept dangling by a thread of hope so that she could manipulate him as she needed.“Greetings, fair Sydney,” the mage said.“I pray I did not disturb your sleep, but I have exciting news!”Normally, Sydney would have tactfully listened to the mage, feigned interest in the story, and politely excused herself from the encounter.But now, with Dendybar‟s pressing demands lying squarely across her shoulders, she had no patience for distractions.“This is not the time!” she snapped.The mage, so caught up in his own news, seemed not to notice her definitive tone.“The most marvelous thing has happened in our town,” he rambled.“Harkle!” Sydney cried to break his babbling momentum.The mage halted, crestfallen.“But, Sydney,” he said.“Another time,” she insisted.“But how often in this day does one actually see and speak with a drow elf?” Harkle persisted.“I cannot–” Sydney stopped short, digesting Harkle‟s last words.“A drow elf?” she stammered.“Yes,” Harkle beamed proudly, thrilled that his news had apparently impressed his beloved Sydney.
|
Sydney well understood the dangers and the difficulties of the docks, and almost pitied Jierdan for incurring the wrath of the merciless Dendybar in a situation beyond his control.But Jierdan remained her competition for the mottled wizard‟s favor, and she wouldn‟t let sympathy stand in the way of her ambitions.“No,” Jierdan snapped at her.“My news does not concern the drow‟s party.” He looked back to Dendybar.“A caravan arrived in Luskan today–in search of the woman.”“Who is she?” asked Dendybar, suddenly very interested and forgetting his anger at the intrusion.Page 64“The adopted daughter of Bruenor Battlehamer,” Jierdan replied.“Cat–”“Catti-brie!Of course!” hissed Dendybar, himself familiar with most of the prominent people in Ten-Towns.“I should have guessed!” He turned to Sydney.“My respect for our mysterious rider grows each day.Find him and bring him back to me!”Sydney nodded, though she feared that Dendybar‟s request would prove more difficult than the mottled wizard believed, probably even beyond her skills altogether.She spent that night, until the early hours of the following morning, searching the alleyways and meeting places of the dockside area.But even using her contacts on the docks and all the magical tricks at her disposal, she found no sign of Entreri and Catti-brie, and no one willing or able to pass along any information that might help her in her search.Tired and frustrated, she returned to the Hosttower the next day, passing the corridor to Dendybar‟s room, even though he had ordered her to report to him directly upon her return.Sydney was in no mood to listen to the mottled wizard‟s ranting about her failure.She entered her small room, just off the main trunk of the Hosttower on the northern branch, below the rooms of the Master of the North Spire, and bolted the doors, further sealing them against unwelcomed intrusion with a magical spell.She had barely fallen into her bed when the surface of her coveted scrying mirror began to swirl and glow.“Damn you, Dendybar,” she growled, assuming that the disturbance was her master‟s doing.Dragging her weary body to the mirror, she stared deeply into it, attuning her mind to the swirl to bring the image clearer.It was not Dendybar that she faced, to her relief, but a wizard from a distant town, a would-be suitor that the passionless Sydney kept dangling by a thread of hope so that she could manipulate him as she needed.“Greetings, fair Sydney,” the mage said.“I pray I did not disturb your sleep, but I have exciting news!”Normally, Sydney would have tactfully listened to the mage, feigned interest in the story, and politely excused herself from the encounter.But now, with Dendybar‟s pressing demands lying squarely across her shoulders, she had no patience for distractions.“This is not the time!” she snapped.The mage, so caught up in his own news, seemed not to notice her definitive tone.“The most marvelous thing has happened in our town,” he rambled.“Harkle!” Sydney cried to break his babbling momentum.The mage halted, crestfallen.“But, Sydney,” he said.“Another time,” she insisted.“But how often in this day does one actually see and speak with a drow elf?” Harkle persisted.“I cannot–” Sydney stopped short, digesting Harkle‟s last words.“A drow elf?” she stammered.“Yes,” Harkle beamed proudly, thrilled that his news had apparently impressed his beloved Sydney.
|
[
50,
5173,
1681,
880,
7247,
262,
16169,
290,
262,
13156,
286,
262,
45906,
11,
290,
2048,
6028,
798,
449,
959,
25604,
329,
753,
14924,
262,
26485,
286,
262,
40618,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
287,
257,
3074,
3675,
465,
1630,
13,
1537,
449,
959,
25604,
6150,
607,
5449,
329,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2661,
11,
290,
673,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1309,
20242,
1302,
287,
262,
835,
286,
607,
22455,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
20821,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
1705,
857,
407,
2328,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
13,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
736,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
32,
44321,
5284,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
1909,
1906,
259,
2989,
286,
262,
2415,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8241,
318,
673,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
6451,
845,
4609,
290,
32012,
465,
8993,
379,
262,
34396,
13,
9876,
5598,
447,
250,
464,
8197,
4957,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
71,
2382,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21979,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
0,
5189,
1781,
0,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
2241,
5385,
351,
749,
286,
262,
9208,
661,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
250,
40,
815,
423,
25183,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
284,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
2461,
329,
674,
11428,
17876,
13676,
1123,
1110,
13,
16742,
683,
290,
2222,
683,
736,
284,
502,
0,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
14464,
11,
996,
673,
15240,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2581,
561,
5879,
517,
2408,
621,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
4762,
11,
2192,
772,
3675,
607,
4678,
13318,
13,
3347,
3377,
326,
1755,
11,
1566,
262,
1903,
2250,
286,
262,
1708,
3329,
11,
10342,
262,
23978,
1322,
290,
3249,
4113,
286,
262,
45906,
485,
1989,
13,
1537,
772,
1262,
607,
13961,
319,
262,
45906,
290,
477,
262,
10883,
15910,
379,
607,
18264,
11,
673,
1043,
645,
1051,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
290,
645,
530,
4684,
393,
1498,
284,
1208,
1863,
597,
1321,
326,
1244,
1037,
607,
287,
607,
2989,
13,
51,
1202,
290,
14718,
11,
673,
4504,
284,
262,
14504,
36170,
262,
1306,
1110,
11,
6427,
262,
20749,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2119,
11,
772,
996,
339,
550,
6149,
607,
284,
989,
284,
683,
3264,
2402,
607,
1441,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
373,
287,
645,
10038,
284,
6004,
284,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
374,
20482,
546,
607,
5287,
13,
3347,
5982,
607,
1402,
2119,
11,
655,
572,
262,
1388,
21427,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
319,
262,
7840,
8478,
11,
2174,
262,
9519,
286,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
290,
49647,
262,
8215,
11,
2252,
38689,
606,
1028,
7379,
417,
15128,
34396,
351,
257,
10883,
4822,
13,
3347,
550,
8523,
9292,
656,
607,
3996,
618,
262,
4417,
286,
607,
34707,
629,
14992,
10162,
2540,
284,
42835,
290,
19634,
13,
447,
250,
43343
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
50,
5173,
1681,
880,
7247,
262,
16169,
290,
262,
13156,
286,
262,
45906,
11,
290,
2048,
6028,
798,
449,
959,
25604,
329,
753,
14924,
262,
26485,
286,
262,
40618,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
287,
257,
3074,
3675,
465,
1630,
13,
1537,
449,
959,
25604,
6150,
607,
5449,
329,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
2661,
11,
290,
673,
3636,
447,
253,
83,
1309,
20242,
1302,
287,
262,
835,
286,
607,
22455,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
20821,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
1705,
857,
407,
2328,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
13,
447,
251,
679,
3114,
736,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
32,
44321,
5284,
287,
406,
17990,
272,
1909,
1906,
259,
2989,
286,
262,
2415,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8241,
318,
673,
30,
447,
251,
1965,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
6451,
845,
4609,
290,
32012,
465,
8993,
379,
262,
34396,
13,
9876,
5598,
447,
250,
464,
8197,
4957,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
5838,
71,
2382,
11,
447,
251,
449,
959,
25604,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
21979,
1906,
447,
251,
447,
250,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
0,
5189,
1781,
0,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
2241,
5385,
351,
749,
286,
262,
9208,
661,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
13,
447,
250,
40,
815,
423,
25183,
0,
447,
251,
679,
2900,
284,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
2461,
329,
674,
11428,
17876,
13676,
1123,
1110,
13,
16742,
683,
290,
2222,
683,
736,
284,
502,
0,
447,
251,
50,
5173,
1681,
14464,
11,
996,
673,
15240,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2581,
561,
5879,
517,
2408,
621,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
4762,
11,
2192,
772,
3675,
607,
4678,
13318,
13,
3347,
3377,
326,
1755,
11,
1566,
262,
1903,
2250,
286,
262,
1708,
3329,
11,
10342,
262,
23978,
1322,
290,
3249,
4113,
286,
262,
45906,
485,
1989,
13,
1537,
772,
1262,
607,
13961,
319,
262,
45906,
290,
477,
262,
10883,
15910,
379,
607,
18264,
11,
673,
1043,
645,
1051,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
290,
645,
530,
4684,
393,
1498,
284,
1208,
1863,
597,
1321,
326,
1244,
1037,
607,
287,
607,
2989,
13,
51,
1202,
290,
14718,
11,
673,
4504,
284,
262,
14504,
36170,
262,
1306,
1110,
11,
6427,
262,
20749,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2119,
11,
772,
996,
339,
550,
6149,
607,
284,
989,
284,
683,
3264,
2402,
607,
1441,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
373,
287,
645,
10038,
284,
6004,
284,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
374,
20482,
546,
607,
5287,
13,
3347,
5982,
607,
1402,
2119,
11,
655,
572,
262,
1388,
21427,
286,
262,
14504,
36170,
319,
262,
7840,
8478,
11,
2174,
262,
9519,
286,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
11,
290,
49647,
262,
8215,
11,
2252,
38689,
606,
1028,
7379,
417,
15128,
34396,
351,
257,
10883,
4822,
13,
3347,
550,
8523,
9292,
656,
607,
3996,
618,
262,
4417,
286,
607,
34707,
629,
14992,
10162,
2540,
284,
42835,
290,
19634,
13,
447,
250,
43343
] |
dnd584
|
“Drizzt Do‟Urden, by name.He left Longsaddle just two days ago.I would have told you earlier, but the mansion has just been astir about the whole thing!”“Tell me more, dear Harkle,” Sydney purred enticingly.“Do tell me everything.”* * *“I am in need of information.”Whisper froze at the sound of the unexpected voice, guessing the speaker immediately.She knew that he was in town, and knew, too, that he was the only one who could have slipped through her defenses to get into her secret chambers.“Information,” Entreri said again, moving out from the shadows behind a dressing screen.Whisper slid the jar of healing unguent into her pocket and took a good measure of the man.Rumors spoke of him as the deadliest of assassins, and she, all too familiar with killers, knew at once that the rumors rang with truth.She sensed Entreri‟s power, and the easy coordination of his Page 65movements.“Men do not come to my room uninvited,” she warned bravely.Entreri moved to a better vantage point to study the bold woman.He had heard of her as well, a survivor of the rough streets, beautiful and deadly.But apparently Whisper had lost an encounter.Her nose was broken and disjointed, splayed across her cheek.Whisper understood the scrutiny.She squared her shoulders and threw her head back proudly.“An unfortunate accident,” she hissed.“It is not my concern,” Entreri came back.“I have come for information.”Whisper turned away to go about her routine, trying to appear unbothered.“My price is high,”she said coolly.She turned back to Entreri, the intense but frighteningly calm look on his face telling her beyond doubt that her life would be the only reward for cooperation.“I seek four companions,” said Entreri.“A dwarf, a drow, a young man, and a halfling.”Whisper was unused to such situations.No crossbows supported her now, no bodyguards waited for her signal behind a nearby secret door.She tried to remain calm, but Entreri knew the depth of her fear.She chuckled and pointed to her broken nose.“I have met your dwarf, and your drow, Artemis Entreri.” She emphasized his name as she spoke it, hoping that her recognition would put him back on the defensive.“Where are they?” Entreri asked, still in control.“And what did they request of you?”Whisper shrugged.“If they remain in Luskan, I do not know where.Most probably they are gone; the dwarf has a map of the northland.”Entreri considered the words.
|
“Drizzt Do‟Urden, by name.He left Longsaddle just two days ago.I would have told you earlier, but the mansion has just been astir about the whole thing!”“Tell me more, dear Harkle,” Sydney purred enticingly.“Do tell me everything.”* * *“I am in need of information.”Whisper froze at the sound of the unexpected voice, guessing the speaker immediately.She knew that he was in town, and knew, too, that he was the only one who could have slipped through her defenses to get into her secret chambers.“Information,” Entreri said again, moving out from the shadows behind a dressing screen.Whisper slid the jar of healing unguent into her pocket and took a good measure of the man.Rumors spoke of him as the deadliest of assassins, and she, all too familiar with killers, knew at once that the rumors rang with truth.She sensed Entreri‟s power, and the easy coordination of his Page 65movements.“Men do not come to my room uninvited,” she warned bravely.Entreri moved to a better vantage point to study the bold woman.He had heard of her as well, a survivor of the rough streets, beautiful and deadly.But apparently Whisper had lost an encounter.Her nose was broken and disjointed, splayed across her cheek.Whisper understood the scrutiny.She squared her shoulders and threw her head back proudly.“An unfortunate accident,” she hissed.“It is not my concern,” Entreri came back.“I have come for information.”Whisper turned away to go about her routine, trying to appear unbothered.“My price is high,”she said coolly.She turned back to Entreri, the intense but frighteningly calm look on his face telling her beyond doubt that her life would be the only reward for cooperation.“I seek four companions,” said Entreri.“A dwarf, a drow, a young man, and a halfling.”Whisper was unused to such situations.No crossbows supported her now, no bodyguards waited for her signal behind a nearby secret door.She tried to remain calm, but Entreri knew the depth of her fear.She chuckled and pointed to her broken nose.“I have met your dwarf, and your drow, Artemis Entreri.” She emphasized his name as she spoke it, hoping that her recognition would put him back on the defensive.“Where are they?” Entreri asked, still in control.“And what did they request of you?”Whisper shrugged.“If they remain in Luskan, I do not know where.Most probably they are gone; the dwarf has a map of the northland.”Entreri considered the words.
|
[
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
416,
1438,
13,
1544,
1364,
5882,
82,
37382,
655,
734,
1528,
2084,
13,
40,
561,
423,
1297,
345,
2961,
11,
475,
262,
24141,
468,
655,
587,
6468,
343,
546,
262,
2187,
1517,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
24446,
502,
517,
11,
13674,
367,
668,
293,
11,
447,
251,
11852,
1308,
445,
920,
291,
4420,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1560,
502,
2279,
13,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
40,
716,
287,
761,
286,
1321,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
37785,
379,
262,
2128,
286,
262,
10059,
3809,
11,
25260,
262,
10834,
3393,
13,
3347,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
287,
3240,
11,
290,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
339,
373,
262,
691,
530,
508,
714,
423,
18859,
832,
607,
18370,
284,
651,
656,
607,
3200,
23204,
13,
447,
250,
21918,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
757,
11,
3867,
503,
422,
262,
16187,
2157,
257,
18544,
3159,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
27803,
262,
17379,
286,
11516,
555,
5162,
298,
656,
607,
10000,
290,
1718,
257,
922,
3953,
286,
262,
582,
13,
47127,
669,
5158,
286,
683,
355,
262,
39268,
286,
44454,
11,
290,
673,
11,
477,
1165,
5385,
351,
25542,
11,
2993,
379,
1752,
326,
262,
14923,
28077,
351,
3872,
13,
3347,
39243,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1176,
11,
290,
262,
2562,
19877,
286,
465,
7873,
6135,
21084,
902,
13,
447,
250,
10418,
466,
407,
1282,
284,
616,
2119,
555,
16340,
863,
11,
447,
251,
673,
7728,
14802,
306,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3888,
284,
257,
1365,
47929,
966,
284,
2050,
262,
10758,
2415,
13,
1544,
550,
2982,
286,
607,
355,
880,
11,
257,
23446,
286,
262,
5210,
6483,
11,
4950,
290,
10309,
13,
1537,
5729,
28424,
525,
550,
2626,
281,
8791,
13,
9360,
9686,
373,
5445,
290,
595,
73,
20909,
11,
264,
21542,
1973,
607,
19353,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
7247,
262,
14521,
13,
3347,
44345,
607,
12450,
290,
9617,
607,
1182,
736,
23017,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
14855,
5778,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
407,
616,
2328,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1625,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1282,
329,
1321,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
2900,
1497,
284,
467,
546,
607,
8027,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
555,
13645,
6083,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
2756,
318,
1029,
11,
447,
251,
7091,
531,
763,
5098,
13,
3347,
2900,
736,
284,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
262,
8157,
475,
23101,
306,
9480,
804,
319,
465,
1986,
5149,
607,
3675,
4719,
326,
607,
1204,
561,
307,
262,
691,
6721,
329,
11113,
13,
447,
250,
40,
5380,
1440,
19429,
11,
447,
251,
531,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
32,
24603,
11,
257,
288,
808,
11,
257,
1862,
582,
11,
290,
257,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
373,
21958,
284,
884,
7445,
13,
2949,
3272,
25435,
4855,
607,
783,
11,
645,
1767,
33427,
13488,
329,
607,
6737,
2157,
257,
6716,
3200,
3420,
13,
3347,
3088,
284,
3520,
9480,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
2993,
262,
6795,
286
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
20564,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
11,
416,
1438,
13,
1544,
1364,
5882,
82,
37382,
655,
734,
1528,
2084,
13,
40,
561,
423,
1297,
345,
2961,
11,
475,
262,
24141,
468,
655,
587,
6468,
343,
546,
262,
2187,
1517,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
24446,
502,
517,
11,
13674,
367,
668,
293,
11,
447,
251,
11852,
1308,
445,
920,
291,
4420,
13,
447,
250,
5211,
1560,
502,
2279,
13,
447,
251,
9,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
40,
716,
287,
761,
286,
1321,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
37785,
379,
262,
2128,
286,
262,
10059,
3809,
11,
25260,
262,
10834,
3393,
13,
3347,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
287,
3240,
11,
290,
2993,
11,
1165,
11,
326,
339,
373,
262,
691,
530,
508,
714,
423,
18859,
832,
607,
18370,
284,
651,
656,
607,
3200,
23204,
13,
447,
250,
21918,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
757,
11,
3867,
503,
422,
262,
16187,
2157,
257,
18544,
3159,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
27803,
262,
17379,
286,
11516,
555,
5162,
298,
656,
607,
10000,
290,
1718,
257,
922,
3953,
286,
262,
582,
13,
47127,
669,
5158,
286,
683,
355,
262,
39268,
286,
44454,
11,
290,
673,
11,
477,
1165,
5385,
351,
25542,
11,
2993,
379,
1752,
326,
262,
14923,
28077,
351,
3872,
13,
3347,
39243,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
1176,
11,
290,
262,
2562,
19877,
286,
465,
7873,
6135,
21084,
902,
13,
447,
250,
10418,
466,
407,
1282,
284,
616,
2119,
555,
16340,
863,
11,
447,
251,
673,
7728,
14802,
306,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3888,
284,
257,
1365,
47929,
966,
284,
2050,
262,
10758,
2415,
13,
1544,
550,
2982,
286,
607,
355,
880,
11,
257,
23446,
286,
262,
5210,
6483,
11,
4950,
290,
10309,
13,
1537,
5729,
28424,
525,
550,
2626,
281,
8791,
13,
9360,
9686,
373,
5445,
290,
595,
73,
20909,
11,
264,
21542,
1973,
607,
19353,
13,
1199,
271,
525,
7247,
262,
14521,
13,
3347,
44345,
607,
12450,
290,
9617,
607,
1182,
736,
23017,
13,
447,
250,
2025,
14855,
5778,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
407,
616,
2328,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1625,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1282,
329,
1321,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
2900,
1497,
284,
467,
546,
607,
8027,
11,
2111,
284,
1656,
555,
13645,
6083,
13,
447,
250,
3666,
2756,
318,
1029,
11,
447,
251,
7091,
531,
763,
5098,
13,
3347,
2900,
736,
284,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
262,
8157,
475,
23101,
306,
9480,
804,
319,
465,
1986,
5149,
607,
3675,
4719,
326,
607,
1204,
561,
307,
262,
691,
6721,
329,
11113,
13,
447,
250,
40,
5380,
1440,
19429,
11,
447,
251,
531,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
447,
250,
32,
24603,
11,
257,
288,
808,
11,
257,
1862,
582,
11,
290,
257,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
373,
21958,
284,
884,
7445,
13,
2949,
3272,
25435,
4855,
607,
783,
11,
645,
1767,
33427,
13488,
329,
607,
6737,
2157,
257,
6716,
3200,
3420,
13,
3347,
3088,
284,
3520,
9480,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
2993,
262,
6795,
286
] |
dnd585
|
“Your reputation speaks more highly of you,” he said sarcastically.“You accept such a wound and let them slip through your grasp?”Whisper‟s eyes narrowed in anger.“I choose my fights carefully,” she hissed.“The four are too dangerous for actions of frivolous vengeance.Let them go where they will.I want no business with them again.”Entreri‟s calm visage sagged a bit.He had already been to the Cutlass and heard of Wulfgar‟s exploits.And now this.A woman like Whisper was not easily cowed.Perhaps he should indeed re-evaluate the strength of his opponents.“Fearless is the dwarf,” Whisper offered, sensing his dismay and taking pleasure in furthering his discomfort.“And ware the drow, Artemis Entreri,” she hissed pointedly, attempting to relegate him to a similar level of respect for the companions with the grimness of her tone.“He walks in shadows that we cannot see, and strikes from the darkness.He conjures a demon in the form of a great cat and–”Entreri turned and started away, having no intention of allowing Whisper to gain any more of an advantage.Reveling in her victory, Whisper couldn‟t resist the temptation to throw one final dart.“Men do not come to my room uninvited,” she said again.Entreri passed into an adjoining room and Whisper heard the door to the alley close.“I choose my fights carefully,” she whispered to the emptiness of the room, regaining a measure of her pride with the threat.She turned back to a small dressing table and took out the jar of unguent, quite pleased with herself.She examined her wound in the table‟s mirror.Not too bad.The salve would erase it as it had erased so many scars from the trials of her profession.She understood her stupidity when she saw the shadow slip past her reflection in the mirror, and felt the brush of air at her back.Her business allowed no tolerance for errors, and offered no second chance.For the first and last time in her life, Whisper had let her pride rise above her judgment.A final groan escaped her as the jeweled dagger sunk deeply into her back.“I, too, choose my fights with care,” Entreri whispered into her ear.
|
“Your reputation speaks more highly of you,” he said sarcastically.“You accept such a wound and let them slip through your grasp?”Whisper‟s eyes narrowed in anger.“I choose my fights carefully,” she hissed.“The four are too dangerous for actions of frivolous vengeance.Let them go where they will.I want no business with them again.”Entreri‟s calm visage sagged a bit.He had already been to the Cutlass and heard of Wulfgar‟s exploits.And now this.A woman like Whisper was not easily cowed.Perhaps he should indeed re-evaluate the strength of his opponents.“Fearless is the dwarf,” Whisper offered, sensing his dismay and taking pleasure in furthering his discomfort.“And ware the drow, Artemis Entreri,” she hissed pointedly, attempting to relegate him to a similar level of respect for the companions with the grimness of her tone.“He walks in shadows that we cannot see, and strikes from the darkness.He conjures a demon in the form of a great cat and–”Entreri turned and started away, having no intention of allowing Whisper to gain any more of an advantage.Reveling in her victory, Whisper couldn‟t resist the temptation to throw one final dart.“Men do not come to my room uninvited,” she said again.Entreri passed into an adjoining room and Whisper heard the door to the alley close.“I choose my fights carefully,” she whispered to the emptiness of the room, regaining a measure of her pride with the threat.She turned back to a small dressing table and took out the jar of unguent, quite pleased with herself.She examined her wound in the table‟s mirror.Not too bad.The salve would erase it as it had erased so many scars from the trials of her profession.She understood her stupidity when she saw the shadow slip past her reflection in the mirror, and felt the brush of air at her back.Her business allowed no tolerance for errors, and offered no second chance.For the first and last time in her life, Whisper had let her pride rise above her judgment.A final groan escaped her as the jeweled dagger sunk deeply into her back.“I, too, choose my fights with care,” Entreri whispered into her ear.
|
[
447,
250,
7120,
8507,
9209,
517,
4047,
286,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
36543,
1146,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2453,
884,
257,
11699,
290,
1309,
606,
13819,
832,
534,
13180,
30,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
33214,
287,
8993,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3853,
616,
11418,
7773,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1440,
389,
1165,
4923,
329,
4028,
286,
48461,
30657,
13,
5756,
606,
467,
810,
484,
481,
13,
40,
765,
645,
1597,
351,
606,
757,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
9480,
1490,
496,
264,
14655,
257,
1643,
13,
1544,
550,
1541,
587,
284,
262,
9712,
31172,
290,
2982,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
27062,
13,
1870,
783,
428,
13,
32,
2415,
588,
28424,
525,
373,
407,
3538,
269,
6972,
13,
13710,
339,
815,
5600,
302,
12,
49786,
262,
4202,
286,
465,
7691,
13,
447,
250,
37798,
1203,
318,
262,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
28424,
525,
4438,
11,
34244,
465,
29793,
290,
2263,
9476,
287,
2252,
278,
465,
23597,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
16202,
262,
288,
808,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
6235,
306,
11,
9361,
284,
24542,
378,
683,
284,
257,
2092,
1241,
286,
2461,
329,
262,
19429,
351,
262,
18288,
1108,
286,
607,
8216,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
11114,
287,
16187,
326,
356,
2314,
766,
11,
290,
8956,
422,
262,
11854,
13,
1544,
11644,
942,
257,
3222,
287,
262,
1296,
286,
257,
1049,
3797,
290,
1906,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
290,
2067,
1497,
11,
1719,
645,
6778,
286,
5086,
28424,
525,
284,
4461,
597,
517,
286,
281,
4621,
13,
3041,
626,
278,
287,
607,
5373,
11,
28424,
525,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
4180,
262,
29062,
284,
3714,
530,
2457,
35970,
13,
447,
250,
10418,
466,
407,
1282,
284,
616,
2119,
555,
16340,
863,
11,
447,
251,
673,
531,
757,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3804,
656,
281,
48106,
2119,
290,
28424,
525,
2982,
262,
3420,
284,
262,
23978,
1969,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3853,
616,
11418,
7773,
11,
447,
251,
673,
25029,
284,
262,
49333,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
842,
1397,
257,
3953,
286,
607,
11293,
351,
262,
2372,
13,
3347,
2900,
736,
284,
257,
1402,
18544,
3084,
290,
1718,
503,
262,
17379,
286,
555,
5162,
298,
11,
2407,
10607,
351,
5223,
13,
3347,
11068,
607,
11699,
287,
262,
3084,
447,
253,
82,
10162,
13,
3673,
1165,
2089,
13,
464,
3664,
303,
561,
28602,
340,
355,
340,
550,
33588,
523,
867,
31109,
422,
262,
9867,
286,
607,
7573,
13,
3347,
7247,
607,
37775,
618,
673,
2497,
262,
9082,
13819,
1613,
607,
14580,
287,
262,
10162,
11,
290,
2936,
262,
14093,
286,
1633,
379,
607,
736,
13,
9360,
1597,
3142,
645,
15621,
329,
8563,
11,
290,
4438,
645,
1218,
2863,
13,
1890,
262,
717,
290,
938,
640,
287,
607,
1204,
11,
28424,
525,
550,
1309,
607,
11293,
4485,
2029,
607,
8492,
13,
32,
2457,
7128,
272,
13537,
607,
355,
262,
16927,
276,
31322,
24790,
7744,
656,
607,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
11,
1165,
11,
3853,
616,
11418
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
7120,
8507,
9209,
517,
4047,
286,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
36543,
1146,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
2453,
884,
257,
11699,
290,
1309,
606,
13819,
832,
534,
13180,
30,
447,
251,
1199,
271,
525,
447,
253,
82,
2951,
33214,
287,
8993,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3853,
616,
11418,
7773,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1440,
389,
1165,
4923,
329,
4028,
286,
48461,
30657,
13,
5756,
606,
467,
810,
484,
481,
13,
40,
765,
645,
1597,
351,
606,
757,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
9480,
1490,
496,
264,
14655,
257,
1643,
13,
1544,
550,
1541,
587,
284,
262,
9712,
31172,
290,
2982,
286,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
27062,
13,
1870,
783,
428,
13,
32,
2415,
588,
28424,
525,
373,
407,
3538,
269,
6972,
13,
13710,
339,
815,
5600,
302,
12,
49786,
262,
4202,
286,
465,
7691,
13,
447,
250,
37798,
1203,
318,
262,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
28424,
525,
4438,
11,
34244,
465,
29793,
290,
2263,
9476,
287,
2252,
278,
465,
23597,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
16202,
262,
288,
808,
11,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
673,
465,
36622,
6235,
306,
11,
9361,
284,
24542,
378,
683,
284,
257,
2092,
1241,
286,
2461,
329,
262,
19429,
351,
262,
18288,
1108,
286,
607,
8216,
13,
447,
250,
1544,
11114,
287,
16187,
326,
356,
2314,
766,
11,
290,
8956,
422,
262,
11854,
13,
1544,
11644,
942,
257,
3222,
287,
262,
1296,
286,
257,
1049,
3797,
290,
1906,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
2900,
290,
2067,
1497,
11,
1719,
645,
6778,
286,
5086,
28424,
525,
284,
4461,
597,
517,
286,
281,
4621,
13,
3041,
626,
278,
287,
607,
5373,
11,
28424,
525,
3521,
447,
253,
83,
4180,
262,
29062,
284,
3714,
530,
2457,
35970,
13,
447,
250,
10418,
466,
407,
1282,
284,
616,
2119,
555,
16340,
863,
11,
447,
251,
673,
531,
757,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
3804,
656,
281,
48106,
2119,
290,
28424,
525,
2982,
262,
3420,
284,
262,
23978,
1969,
13,
447,
250,
40,
3853,
616,
11418,
7773,
11,
447,
251,
673,
25029,
284,
262,
49333,
286,
262,
2119,
11,
842,
1397,
257,
3953,
286,
607,
11293,
351,
262,
2372,
13,
3347,
2900,
736,
284,
257,
1402,
18544,
3084,
290,
1718,
503,
262,
17379,
286,
555,
5162,
298,
11,
2407,
10607,
351,
5223,
13,
3347,
11068,
607,
11699,
287,
262,
3084,
447,
253,
82,
10162,
13,
3673,
1165,
2089,
13,
464,
3664,
303,
561,
28602,
340,
355,
340,
550,
33588,
523,
867,
31109,
422,
262,
9867,
286,
607,
7573,
13,
3347,
7247,
607,
37775,
618,
673,
2497,
262,
9082,
13819,
1613,
607,
14580,
287,
262,
10162,
11,
290,
2936,
262,
14093,
286,
1633,
379,
607,
736,
13,
9360,
1597,
3142,
645,
15621,
329,
8563,
11,
290,
4438,
645,
1218,
2863,
13,
1890,
262,
717,
290,
938,
640,
287,
607,
1204,
11,
28424,
525,
550,
1309,
607,
11293,
4485,
2029,
607,
8492,
13,
32,
2457,
7128,
272,
13537,
607,
355,
262,
16927,
276,
31322,
24790,
7744,
656,
607,
736,
13,
447,
250,
40,
11,
1165,
11,
3853,
616,
11418
] |
dnd586
|
* * *Page 66The next morning found Entreri outside a place he did not want to enter: the Hosttower of the Arcane.He knew that he was running out of options.Convinced now that the companions had long since left Luskan, the assassin needed some magical assistance to heat up the trail again.It had taken him nearly two years to sniff out the halfling in Ten-Towns, and his patience was wearing thin.Catti-brie reluctantly but obediently at his side, he approached the structure, and was promptly escorted to Dendybar‟s audience hall, where the mottled wizard and Sydney waited to greet him.“They have left the city,” Entreri said bluntly, before any exchange of greetings.Dendybar smiled to show Entreri that he had the upper hand this time.“As long as a week ago,” he replied calmly.“And you know where they are,” Entreri reasoned.Dendybar nodded, the smile still curling into his hollow cheeks.The assassin didn‟t enjoy the game.He spent a long moment measuring his counterpart, searching for some hint of the wizard‟s intentions.Dendybar did likewise, still very much interested in an alliance with the formidable killer–but only on favorable terms.“The price of the information?” Entreri asked.“I do not even know your name,” was Dendybar‟s reply.Fair enough, the assassin thought.He bowed low.“Artemis Entreri,” he said, confident enough to speak truthfully.“And why do you seek the companions, carrying the dwarf‟s daughter in tow?” Dendybar pressed, playing his hand out to give the cocky assassin something to worry about.“That is my own care,” hissed Entreri, the narrowing of his eyes the only indication that Dendybar‟s knowledge had perturbed him.“It is mine, as well, if we are to be allies in this!” shouted Dendybar, rising to stand tall and ominous and intimidate Entreri.The assassin, though, cared little for the wizard‟s continuing antics, too engrossed in assessing the value of such an alliance.“I ask nothing of your business with them,” Entreri replied at length.“Tell me only which one of the four it concerns.”It was Dendybar‟s turn to ponder.He wanted Entreri in his court, if for no other reason than he feared having the assassin working against him.And he liked the notion that he would not have to disclose anything about the artifact that he sought to this very dangerous man.“The drow has something of mine, or knowledge of where I can find it,” he said.“I want it back.”“And the halfling is mine,” Entreri demanded.“Where are they?”Dendybar motioned to Sydney.“They have passed through Longsaddle,” she said.“And are headed to Silverymoon, more than two weeks to the east.”The names were unknown to Catti-brie, but she was glad that her friends had a good lead.She needed time to sort out a plan, though she wondered how effective she could be surrounded by such powerful captors.“And what do you propose?” Entreri asked.“An alliance,” replied Dendybar.“But I have the information I need,” Entreri laughed.“What do I gain in an alliance with you?”“My powers can get you to them, and can aid in defeating them.They are not a weak force.Consider it of mutual benefit.”“You and I on the road?
|
* * *Page 66The next morning found Entreri outside a place he did not want to enter: the Hosttower of the Arcane.He knew that he was running out of options.Convinced now that the companions had long since left Luskan, the assassin needed some magical assistance to heat up the trail again.It had taken him nearly two years to sniff out the halfling in Ten-Towns, and his patience was wearing thin.Catti-brie reluctantly but obediently at his side, he approached the structure, and was promptly escorted to Dendybar‟s audience hall, where the mottled wizard and Sydney waited to greet him.“They have left the city,” Entreri said bluntly, before any exchange of greetings.Dendybar smiled to show Entreri that he had the upper hand this time.“As long as a week ago,” he replied calmly.“And you know where they are,” Entreri reasoned.Dendybar nodded, the smile still curling into his hollow cheeks.The assassin didn‟t enjoy the game.He spent a long moment measuring his counterpart, searching for some hint of the wizard‟s intentions.Dendybar did likewise, still very much interested in an alliance with the formidable killer–but only on favorable terms.“The price of the information?” Entreri asked.“I do not even know your name,” was Dendybar‟s reply.Fair enough, the assassin thought.He bowed low.“Artemis Entreri,” he said, confident enough to speak truthfully.“And why do you seek the companions, carrying the dwarf‟s daughter in tow?” Dendybar pressed, playing his hand out to give the cocky assassin something to worry about.“That is my own care,” hissed Entreri, the narrowing of his eyes the only indication that Dendybar‟s knowledge had perturbed him.“It is mine, as well, if we are to be allies in this!” shouted Dendybar, rising to stand tall and ominous and intimidate Entreri.The assassin, though, cared little for the wizard‟s continuing antics, too engrossed in assessing the value of such an alliance.“I ask nothing of your business with them,” Entreri replied at length.“Tell me only which one of the four it concerns.”It was Dendybar‟s turn to ponder.He wanted Entreri in his court, if for no other reason than he feared having the assassin working against him.And he liked the notion that he would not have to disclose anything about the artifact that he sought to this very dangerous man.“The drow has something of mine, or knowledge of where I can find it,” he said.“I want it back.”“And the halfling is mine,” Entreri demanded.“Where are they?”Dendybar motioned to Sydney.“They have passed through Longsaddle,” she said.“And are headed to Silverymoon, more than two weeks to the east.”The names were unknown to Catti-brie, but she was glad that her friends had a good lead.She needed time to sort out a plan, though she wondered how effective she could be surrounded by such powerful captors.“And what do you propose?” Entreri asked.“An alliance,” replied Dendybar.“But I have the information I need,” Entreri laughed.“What do I gain in an alliance with you?”“My powers can get you to them, and can aid in defeating them.They are not a weak force.Consider it of mutual benefit.”“You and I on the road?
|
[
9,
1635,
1635,
9876,
7930,
464,
1306,
3329,
1043,
7232,
260,
380,
2354,
257,
1295,
339,
750,
407,
765,
284,
3802,
25,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
2491,
503,
286,
3689,
13,
3103,
7114,
771,
783,
326,
262,
19429,
550,
890,
1201,
1364,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
262,
31120,
2622,
617,
10883,
6829,
284,
4894,
510,
262,
8025,
757,
13,
1026,
550,
2077,
683,
3016,
734,
812,
284,
26300,
503,
262,
2063,
1359,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
290,
465,
16336,
373,
5762,
7888,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
35462,
475,
41652,
306,
379,
465,
1735,
11,
339,
10448,
262,
4645,
11,
290,
373,
19268,
30037,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
5386,
6899,
11,
810,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
290,
11852,
13488,
284,
12589,
683,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
423,
1364,
262,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
44514,
11,
878,
597,
5163,
286,
12589,
654,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
284,
905,
7232,
260,
380,
326,
339,
550,
262,
6727,
1021,
428,
640,
13,
447,
250,
1722,
890,
355,
257,
1285,
2084,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
30180,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
345,
760,
810,
484,
389,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
37857,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
14464,
11,
262,
8212,
991,
1090,
1359,
656,
465,
20596,
25839,
13,
464,
31120,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
2883,
262,
983,
13,
1544,
3377,
257,
890,
2589,
15964,
465,
11283,
11,
10342,
329,
617,
9254,
286,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
750,
20467,
11,
991,
845,
881,
4609,
287,
281,
12801,
351,
262,
24599,
11868,
1906,
4360,
691,
319,
17070,
2846,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
286,
262,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
407,
772,
760,
534,
1438,
11,
447,
251,
373,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
10971,
13,
30099,
1576,
11,
262,
31120,
1807,
13,
1544,
35737,
1877,
13,
447,
250,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
6563,
1576,
284,
2740,
3872,
2759,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1521,
466,
345,
5380,
262,
19429,
11,
6872,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4957,
287,
6094,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
12070,
11,
2712,
465,
1021,
503,
284,
1577,
262,
7540,
88,
31120,
1223,
284,
5490,
546,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
318,
616,
898,
1337,
11,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
262,
46426,
286,
465,
2951,
262,
691,
12955,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
3725,
550,
22146,
37694,
683,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
6164,
11,
355,
880,
11,
611,
356,
389,
284,
307,
7681,
287,
428,
0,
447,
251,
17293,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
7396,
284,
1302,
7331,
290,
34837,
290,
34903,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
464,
31120,
11,
996,
11,
19951,
1310,
329,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
8282,
39343,
11,
1165,
1786,
1214,
276,
287,
24171,
262,
1988,
286,
884,
281,
12801,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1265,
2147,
286,
534,
1597,
351,
606,
11,
447
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
9,
1635,
1635,
9876,
7930,
464,
1306,
3329,
1043,
7232,
260,
380,
2354,
257,
1295,
339,
750,
407,
765,
284,
3802,
25,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
1544,
2993,
326,
339,
373,
2491,
503,
286,
3689,
13,
3103,
7114,
771,
783,
326,
262,
19429,
550,
890,
1201,
1364,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
262,
31120,
2622,
617,
10883,
6829,
284,
4894,
510,
262,
8025,
757,
13,
1026,
550,
2077,
683,
3016,
734,
812,
284,
26300,
503,
262,
2063,
1359,
287,
9368,
12,
38097,
82,
11,
290,
465,
16336,
373,
5762,
7888,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
35462,
475,
41652,
306,
379,
465,
1735,
11,
339,
10448,
262,
4645,
11,
290,
373,
19268,
30037,
284,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
5386,
6899,
11,
810,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
290,
11852,
13488,
284,
12589,
683,
13,
447,
250,
2990,
423,
1364,
262,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
44514,
11,
878,
597,
5163,
286,
12589,
654,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
13541,
284,
905,
7232,
260,
380,
326,
339,
550,
262,
6727,
1021,
428,
640,
13,
447,
250,
1722,
890,
355,
257,
1285,
2084,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
30180,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
345,
760,
810,
484,
389,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
37857,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
14464,
11,
262,
8212,
991,
1090,
1359,
656,
465,
20596,
25839,
13,
464,
31120,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
2883,
262,
983,
13,
1544,
3377,
257,
890,
2589,
15964,
465,
11283,
11,
10342,
329,
617,
9254,
286,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
14953,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
750,
20467,
11,
991,
845,
881,
4609,
287,
281,
12801,
351,
262,
24599,
11868,
1906,
4360,
691,
319,
17070,
2846,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2756,
286,
262,
1321,
30,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
40,
466,
407,
772,
760,
534,
1438,
11,
447,
251,
373,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
10971,
13,
30099,
1576,
11,
262,
31120,
1807,
13,
1544,
35737,
1877,
13,
447,
250,
8001,
30561,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
11,
6563,
1576,
284,
2740,
3872,
2759,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
1521,
466,
345,
5380,
262,
19429,
11,
6872,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4957,
287,
6094,
30,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
12070,
11,
2712,
465,
1021,
503,
284,
1577,
262,
7540,
88,
31120,
1223,
284,
5490,
546,
13,
447,
250,
2504,
318,
616,
898,
1337,
11,
447,
251,
465,
36622,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
262,
46426,
286,
465,
2951,
262,
691,
12955,
326,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
3725,
550,
22146,
37694,
683,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
6164,
11,
355,
880,
11,
611,
356,
389,
284,
307,
7681,
287,
428,
0,
447,
251,
17293,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
7396,
284,
1302,
7331,
290,
34837,
290,
34903,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
464,
31120,
11,
996,
11,
19951,
1310,
329,
262,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
8282,
39343,
11,
1165,
1786,
1214,
276,
287,
24171,
262,
1988,
286,
884,
281,
12801,
13,
447,
250,
40,
1265,
2147,
286,
534,
1597,
351,
606,
11,
447
] |
dnd587
|
You seem more fitted to a book and a desk, wizard.”Dendybar locked an unblinking glare on the arrogant assassin.“I assure you that I can get wherever I desire more effectively than you ever could imagine,” he growled.He let go of his anger quickly, though, being more interested in completing business.“But I shall remain here.Sydney will go in my stead, and Jierdan, the soldier, will be her escort.”Entreri did not like the idea of traveling with Jierdan, but he decided not to press the point.It might be interesting, and helpful, in sharing the hunt with the Hosttower of the Arcane.He agreed Page 67to the terms.“And what of her?” Sydney asked, pointing to Catti-brie.“She goes with me,” Entreri was quick to answer.“Of course,” agreed Dendybar.“No purpose in wasting such a valuable hostage.”“We are three against five,” Sydney reasoned.“If things do not work out as easily as the two of you seem to expect, the girl may prove to be our downfall.”“She goes!” demanded Entreri.Dendybar had the solution already worked out.He turned a wry smile at Sydney.“Take Bok,”he chuckled.Sydney‟s face drooped, at the suggestion, as though Dendybar‟s command had stolen her desire for the hunt.Entreri wasn‟t sure if he liked this new development or not.Sensing the assassin‟s discomfort, Dendybar motioned Sydney to a curtained closet at the side of the room.“Bok,” she called softly when she got there, the hint of a tremble in her voice.It stepped through the curtain.Fully eight feet tall and three wide at the shoulders, the monster strode stiffly to the woman‟s side.A huge man, it seemed, and indeed the wizard had used pieces of human bodies for many of its parts.Bok was bigger and more square than any man living, nearly the size of a giant, and had been magically empowered with strength beyond the measures of the natural world.“A golem,” Dendybar proudly explained.“My own creation.Bok could kill us all right now.Even your fell blade would be of little use against it, Artemis Entreri.”The assassin wasn‟t so convinced, but he could not completely mask his intimidation.Dendybar had obviously tipped the scales of their partnership in his own favor, but Entreri knew that if he backed away from the bargain now he would be aligning the mottled wizard and his minions against him, and in direct competition with him for the dwarf‟s party.Furthermore, it would take him weeks, perhaps even months to catch the travelers by normal means and he did not doubt that Dendybar could get there faster.Catti-brie shared the same uncomfortable thoughts.She had no desire to travel with the gruesome monster, but she wondered what carnage she would find when she finally caught up to Bruenor and the others if Entreri decided to break away from the alliance.“Fear not,” Dendybar comforted.“Bok is harmless, incapable of any independent thought, for, you see, Bok has no mind.
|
You seem more fitted to a book and a desk, wizard.”Dendybar locked an unblinking glare on the arrogant assassin.“I assure you that I can get wherever I desire more effectively than you ever could imagine,” he growled.He let go of his anger quickly, though, being more interested in completing business.“But I shall remain here.Sydney will go in my stead, and Jierdan, the soldier, will be her escort.”Entreri did not like the idea of traveling with Jierdan, but he decided not to press the point.It might be interesting, and helpful, in sharing the hunt with the Hosttower of the Arcane.He agreed Page 67to the terms.“And what of her?” Sydney asked, pointing to Catti-brie.“She goes with me,” Entreri was quick to answer.“Of course,” agreed Dendybar.“No purpose in wasting such a valuable hostage.”“We are three against five,” Sydney reasoned.“If things do not work out as easily as the two of you seem to expect, the girl may prove to be our downfall.”“She goes!” demanded Entreri.Dendybar had the solution already worked out.He turned a wry smile at Sydney.“Take Bok,”he chuckled.Sydney‟s face drooped, at the suggestion, as though Dendybar‟s command had stolen her desire for the hunt.Entreri wasn‟t sure if he liked this new development or not.Sensing the assassin‟s discomfort, Dendybar motioned Sydney to a curtained closet at the side of the room.“Bok,” she called softly when she got there, the hint of a tremble in her voice.It stepped through the curtain.Fully eight feet tall and three wide at the shoulders, the monster strode stiffly to the woman‟s side.A huge man, it seemed, and indeed the wizard had used pieces of human bodies for many of its parts.Bok was bigger and more square than any man living, nearly the size of a giant, and had been magically empowered with strength beyond the measures of the natural world.“A golem,” Dendybar proudly explained.“My own creation.Bok could kill us all right now.Even your fell blade would be of little use against it, Artemis Entreri.”The assassin wasn‟t so convinced, but he could not completely mask his intimidation.Dendybar had obviously tipped the scales of their partnership in his own favor, but Entreri knew that if he backed away from the bargain now he would be aligning the mottled wizard and his minions against him, and in direct competition with him for the dwarf‟s party.Furthermore, it would take him weeks, perhaps even months to catch the travelers by normal means and he did not doubt that Dendybar could get there faster.Catti-brie shared the same uncomfortable thoughts.She had no desire to travel with the gruesome monster, but she wondered what carnage she would find when she finally caught up to Bruenor and the others if Entreri decided to break away from the alliance.“Fear not,” Dendybar comforted.“Bok is harmless, incapable of any independent thought, for, you see, Bok has no mind.
|
[
1639,
1283,
517,
18235,
284,
257,
1492,
290,
257,
6915,
11,
18731,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
8970,
281,
555,
2436,
8040,
36785,
319,
262,
28868,
31120,
13,
447,
250,
40,
19832,
345,
326,
314,
460,
651,
14530,
314,
6227,
517,
6840,
621,
345,
1683,
714,
5967,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
13,
1544,
1309,
467,
286,
465,
8993,
2952,
11,
996,
11,
852,
517,
4609,
287,
14339,
1597,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
314,
2236,
3520,
994,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
481,
467,
287,
616,
7978,
11,
290,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
262,
10686,
11,
481,
307,
607,
27675,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
750,
407,
588,
262,
2126,
286,
11300,
351,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
475,
339,
3066,
407,
284,
1803,
262,
966,
13,
1026,
1244,
307,
3499,
11,
290,
7613,
11,
287,
7373,
262,
12601,
351,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
1544,
4987,
7873,
8275,
1462,
262,
2846,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
607,
30,
447,
251,
11852,
1965,
11,
10609,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
13,
447,
250,
3347,
2925,
351,
502,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
2068,
284,
3280,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
4987,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
4007,
287,
24430,
884,
257,
8119,
23229,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
1115,
1028,
1936,
11,
447,
251,
11852,
37857,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
1243,
466,
407,
670,
503,
355,
3538,
355,
262,
734,
286,
345,
1283,
284,
1607,
11,
262,
2576,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
674,
38041,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3347,
2925,
0,
447,
251,
12284,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
262,
4610,
1541,
3111,
503,
13,
1544,
2900,
257,
266,
563,
8212,
379,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
47390,
11,
447,
251,
258,
39889,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
3102,
19458,
11,
379,
262,
13052,
11,
355,
996,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
3141,
550,
9909,
607,
6227,
329,
262,
12601,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1654,
611,
339,
8288,
428,
649,
2478,
393,
407,
13,
50,
26426,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
23597,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
6268,
276,
11852,
284,
257,
1090,
4644,
21615,
379,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
33,
482,
11,
447,
251,
673,
1444,
26625,
618,
673,
1392,
612,
11,
262,
9254,
286,
257,
10023,
903,
287,
607,
3809,
13,
1026,
10764,
832,
262,
29461,
13,
37,
2132,
3624,
3625,
7331,
290,
1115,
3094,
379,
262,
12450,
11,
262,
9234,
9660,
2934,
15175,
306,
284,
262,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
1735,
13,
32,
3236,
582,
11,
340,
3947,
11,
290,
5600,
262,
18731,
550,
973,
5207,
286,
1692,
5920,
329,
867,
286,
663,
3354,
13,
33,
482,
373,
5749,
290,
517,
6616,
621,
597,
582,
2877,
11,
3016,
262,
2546,
286,
257,
6175,
11,
290,
550,
587,
34850,
29669,
351,
4202,
3675,
262,
5260,
286,
262,
3288,
995,
13,
447,
250,
32,
467,
10671,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
23017,
4893,
13,
447
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1639,
1283,
517,
18235,
284,
257,
1492,
290,
257,
6915,
11,
18731,
13,
447,
251,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
8970,
281,
555,
2436,
8040,
36785,
319,
262,
28868,
31120,
13,
447,
250,
40,
19832,
345,
326,
314,
460,
651,
14530,
314,
6227,
517,
6840,
621,
345,
1683,
714,
5967,
11,
447,
251,
339,
1663,
992,
13,
1544,
1309,
467,
286,
465,
8993,
2952,
11,
996,
11,
852,
517,
4609,
287,
14339,
1597,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
314,
2236,
3520,
994,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
481,
467,
287,
616,
7978,
11,
290,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
262,
10686,
11,
481,
307,
607,
27675,
13,
447,
251,
14539,
260,
380,
750,
407,
588,
262,
2126,
286,
11300,
351,
449,
959,
25604,
11,
475,
339,
3066,
407,
284,
1803,
262,
966,
13,
1026,
1244,
307,
3499,
11,
290,
7613,
11,
287,
7373,
262,
12601,
351,
262,
14504,
36170,
286,
262,
26475,
13,
1544,
4987,
7873,
8275,
1462,
262,
2846,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
607,
30,
447,
251,
11852,
1965,
11,
10609,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
13,
447,
250,
3347,
2925,
351,
502,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
373,
2068,
284,
3280,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
4987,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
2949,
4007,
287,
24430,
884,
257,
8119,
23229,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
1115,
1028,
1936,
11,
447,
251,
11852,
37857,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
1243,
466,
407,
670,
503,
355,
3538,
355,
262,
734,
286,
345,
1283,
284,
1607,
11,
262,
2576,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
674,
38041,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3347,
2925,
0,
447,
251,
12284,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
262,
4610,
1541,
3111,
503,
13,
1544,
2900,
257,
266,
563,
8212,
379,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
12322,
47390,
11,
447,
251,
258,
39889,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
3102,
19458,
11,
379,
262,
13052,
11,
355,
996,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
3141,
550,
9909,
607,
6227,
329,
262,
12601,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
1654,
611,
339,
8288,
428,
649,
2478,
393,
407,
13,
50,
26426,
262,
31120,
447,
253,
82,
23597,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
6268,
276,
11852,
284,
257,
1090,
4644,
21615,
379,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
2119,
13,
447,
250,
33,
482,
11,
447,
251,
673,
1444,
26625,
618,
673,
1392,
612,
11,
262,
9254,
286,
257,
10023,
903,
287,
607,
3809,
13,
1026,
10764,
832,
262,
29461,
13,
37,
2132,
3624,
3625,
7331,
290,
1115,
3094,
379,
262,
12450,
11,
262,
9234,
9660,
2934,
15175,
306,
284,
262,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
1735,
13,
32,
3236,
582,
11,
340,
3947,
11,
290,
5600,
262,
18731,
550,
973,
5207,
286,
1692,
5920,
329,
867,
286,
663,
3354,
13,
33,
482,
373,
5749,
290,
517,
6616,
621,
597,
582,
2877,
11,
3016,
262,
2546,
286,
257,
6175,
11,
290,
550,
587,
34850,
29669,
351,
4202,
3675,
262,
5260,
286,
262,
3288,
995,
13,
447,
250,
32,
467,
10671,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
23017,
4893,
13,
447
] |
dnd588
|
The golem answers to my commands, or to Sydney‟s, and would walk into a fire to be consumed if we merely asked it to do so!”“I have business to finish in the city,” Entreri said, not doubting Dendybar‟s words and having little desire to hear any more about the golem.“When do we depart?”“Night would be best,” reasoned Dendybar.“Come back to the green outside the Hosttower when the sun is down.We shall meet there and get you on your way.”Alone in his chamber, save for Bok, Dendybar stroked the golem‟s muscled shoulders with deep affection.Bok was his hidden trump, his protection against the resistance of the companions, or the treachery of Artemis Entreri.But Dendybar did not part with the monster easily, for it played a powerful role, as well, in protecting him from would-be successors in the Hosttower.Dendybar had subtly but definitely passed along the warning to other wizards that any of them striking against him would have to deal with Bok, even if Dendybar were dead.But the road ahead might be long, and the Master of the North Spire could not forsake his duties and expect to hold his title.Especially not with the Archmage just looking for any excuse to be rid of him, understanding the dangers of Dendybar‟s outspoken aspirations to the central tower.“Nothing can stop you, my pet,” Dendybar told the monster.In truth, he was simply reaffirming his own fears about his choice to send the inexperienced mage in his stead.He didn‟t doubt her loyalty, nor Jierdan‟s, but Entreri and the heroes from Icewind Dale were not to be taken lightly.“I have given you the hunting power,” Dendybar explained, as he tossed the scroll tube and the now-useless parchment to the floor.“The drow is your purpose and you can now sense his Page 68presence from any distance.Find him!Do not return to me without Drizzt Do‟Urden!”A guttural roar issued from Bok‟s blue lips, the only sound the unthinking instrument was capable of uttering.Entreri and Catti-brie found the wizard‟s party already assembled when they arrived at the Hosttower later that night.Jierdan stood alone, off to the side, apparently none too thrilled about partaking in the adventure, but having little choice.The soldier feared the golem, and had no love, or trust, for Entreri.He feared Dendybar more, though, and his uneasiness about the potential dangers on the road did not measure up against the certain dangers he would face at the hands of the mottled wizard if he refused to go.Sydney broke away from Bok and Dendybar and walked across the way to meet her companions.“Greetings,” she offered, more interested in appeasement now than competition with her formidable partner.“Dendybar prepares our mounts.The ride to Silverymoon shall be swift indeed!”Entreri and Catti-brie looked to the mottled wizard.Bok stood beside him, holding an unrolled parchment out in view while Dendybar poured a smoky liquid from a beaker over a white feather and chanted the runes of the spell.A mist grew at the wizard‟s feet, swirling and thickening into something with a definite shape.Dendybar left it to its transformation and moved to repeat the ritual a short way off.By the time the first magical horse had appeared, the wizard was creating the fourth and final one.Entreri raised his brow.
|
The golem answers to my commands, or to Sydney‟s, and would walk into a fire to be consumed if we merely asked it to do so!”“I have business to finish in the city,” Entreri said, not doubting Dendybar‟s words and having little desire to hear any more about the golem.“When do we depart?”“Night would be best,” reasoned Dendybar.“Come back to the green outside the Hosttower when the sun is down.We shall meet there and get you on your way.”Alone in his chamber, save for Bok, Dendybar stroked the golem‟s muscled shoulders with deep affection.Bok was his hidden trump, his protection against the resistance of the companions, or the treachery of Artemis Entreri.But Dendybar did not part with the monster easily, for it played a powerful role, as well, in protecting him from would-be successors in the Hosttower.Dendybar had subtly but definitely passed along the warning to other wizards that any of them striking against him would have to deal with Bok, even if Dendybar were dead.But the road ahead might be long, and the Master of the North Spire could not forsake his duties and expect to hold his title.Especially not with the Archmage just looking for any excuse to be rid of him, understanding the dangers of Dendybar‟s outspoken aspirations to the central tower.“Nothing can stop you, my pet,” Dendybar told the monster.In truth, he was simply reaffirming his own fears about his choice to send the inexperienced mage in his stead.He didn‟t doubt her loyalty, nor Jierdan‟s, but Entreri and the heroes from Icewind Dale were not to be taken lightly.“I have given you the hunting power,” Dendybar explained, as he tossed the scroll tube and the now-useless parchment to the floor.“The drow is your purpose and you can now sense his Page 68presence from any distance.Find him!Do not return to me without Drizzt Do‟Urden!”A guttural roar issued from Bok‟s blue lips, the only sound the unthinking instrument was capable of uttering.Entreri and Catti-brie found the wizard‟s party already assembled when they arrived at the Hosttower later that night.Jierdan stood alone, off to the side, apparently none too thrilled about partaking in the adventure, but having little choice.The soldier feared the golem, and had no love, or trust, for Entreri.He feared Dendybar more, though, and his uneasiness about the potential dangers on the road did not measure up against the certain dangers he would face at the hands of the mottled wizard if he refused to go.Sydney broke away from Bok and Dendybar and walked across the way to meet her companions.“Greetings,” she offered, more interested in appeasement now than competition with her formidable partner.“Dendybar prepares our mounts.The ride to Silverymoon shall be swift indeed!”Entreri and Catti-brie looked to the mottled wizard.Bok stood beside him, holding an unrolled parchment out in view while Dendybar poured a smoky liquid from a beaker over a white feather and chanted the runes of the spell.A mist grew at the wizard‟s feet, swirling and thickening into something with a definite shape.Dendybar left it to its transformation and moved to repeat the ritual a short way off.By the time the first magical horse had appeared, the wizard was creating the fourth and final one.Entreri raised his brow.
|
[
464,
467,
10671,
7429,
284,
616,
9729,
11,
393,
284,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
11,
290,
561,
2513,
656,
257,
2046,
284,
307,
13529,
611,
356,
6974,
1965,
340,
284,
466,
523,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1597,
284,
5461,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
11,
407,
3385,
889,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2456,
290,
1719,
1310,
6227,
284,
3285,
597,
517,
546,
262,
467,
10671,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
466,
356,
6313,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
24732,
561,
307,
1266,
11,
447,
251,
37857,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
736,
284,
262,
4077,
2354,
262,
14504,
36170,
618,
262,
4252,
318,
866,
13,
1135,
2236,
1826,
612,
290,
651,
345,
319,
534,
835,
13,
447,
251,
2348,
505,
287,
465,
11847,
11,
3613,
329,
47390,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
9660,
9091,
262,
467,
10671,
447,
253,
82,
1928,
20095,
12450,
351,
2769,
17696,
13,
33,
482,
373,
465,
7104,
19997,
11,
465,
4800,
1028,
262,
6625,
286,
262,
19429,
11,
393,
262,
32550,
88,
286,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
1537,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
750,
407,
636,
351,
262,
9234,
3538,
11,
329,
340,
2826,
257,
3665,
2597,
11,
355,
880,
11,
287,
10192,
683,
422,
561,
12,
1350,
41491,
287,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
37847,
475,
4753,
3804,
1863,
262,
6509,
284,
584,
34836,
326,
597,
286,
606,
8871,
1028,
683,
561,
423,
284,
1730,
351,
47390,
11,
772,
611,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
547,
2636,
13,
1537,
262,
2975,
4058,
1244,
307,
890,
11,
290,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
714,
407,
46931,
539,
465,
10741,
290,
1607,
284,
1745,
465,
3670,
13,
48464,
407,
351,
262,
5579,
25561,
655,
2045,
329,
597,
12226,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
683,
11,
4547,
262,
16169,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
27687,
27337,
284,
262,
4318,
10580,
13,
447,
250,
18465,
460,
2245,
345,
11,
616,
4273,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1297,
262,
9234,
13,
818,
3872,
11,
339,
373,
2391,
30384,
29808,
465,
898,
10251,
546,
465,
3572,
284,
3758,
262,
38003,
29241,
287,
465,
7978,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
4719,
607,
15843,
11,
4249,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
262,
10281,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
547,
407,
284,
307,
2077,
15376,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1813,
345,
262,
10988,
1176,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
4893,
11,
355,
339,
22591,
262,
10743,
12403,
290,
262,
783,
12,
84,
10950,
38414,
284,
262,
4314,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
808,
318,
534,
4007,
290,
345,
460,
783,
2565,
465,
7873,
8257,
18302,
594,
422,
597,
5253,
13,
16742,
683,
0,
5211,
407,
1441,
284,
502,
1231,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
0,
447,
251,
32,
12500,
83,
1523,
34532,
4884,
422,
47390,
447,
253,
82,
4171,
11914,
11,
262,
691,
2128,
262,
555,
28973,
8875,
373,
6007,
286,
10517,
278,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
290,
327
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
467,
10671,
7429,
284,
616,
9729,
11,
393,
284,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
11,
290,
561,
2513,
656,
257,
2046,
284,
307,
13529,
611,
356,
6974,
1965,
340,
284,
466,
523,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1597,
284,
5461,
287,
262,
1748,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
531,
11,
407,
3385,
889,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
2456,
290,
1719,
1310,
6227,
284,
3285,
597,
517,
546,
262,
467,
10671,
13,
447,
250,
2215,
466,
356,
6313,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
24732,
561,
307,
1266,
11,
447,
251,
37857,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
736,
284,
262,
4077,
2354,
262,
14504,
36170,
618,
262,
4252,
318,
866,
13,
1135,
2236,
1826,
612,
290,
651,
345,
319,
534,
835,
13,
447,
251,
2348,
505,
287,
465,
11847,
11,
3613,
329,
47390,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
9660,
9091,
262,
467,
10671,
447,
253,
82,
1928,
20095,
12450,
351,
2769,
17696,
13,
33,
482,
373,
465,
7104,
19997,
11,
465,
4800,
1028,
262,
6625,
286,
262,
19429,
11,
393,
262,
32550,
88,
286,
36137,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
1537,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
750,
407,
636,
351,
262,
9234,
3538,
11,
329,
340,
2826,
257,
3665,
2597,
11,
355,
880,
11,
287,
10192,
683,
422,
561,
12,
1350,
41491,
287,
262,
14504,
36170,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
37847,
475,
4753,
3804,
1863,
262,
6509,
284,
584,
34836,
326,
597,
286,
606,
8871,
1028,
683,
561,
423,
284,
1730,
351,
47390,
11,
772,
611,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
547,
2636,
13,
1537,
262,
2975,
4058,
1244,
307,
890,
11,
290,
262,
5599,
286,
262,
2258,
1338,
557,
714,
407,
46931,
539,
465,
10741,
290,
1607,
284,
1745,
465,
3670,
13,
48464,
407,
351,
262,
5579,
25561,
655,
2045,
329,
597,
12226,
284,
307,
5755,
286,
683,
11,
4547,
262,
16169,
286,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
27687,
27337,
284,
262,
4318,
10580,
13,
447,
250,
18465,
460,
2245,
345,
11,
616,
4273,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1297,
262,
9234,
13,
818,
3872,
11,
339,
373,
2391,
30384,
29808,
465,
898,
10251,
546,
465,
3572,
284,
3758,
262,
38003,
29241,
287,
465,
7978,
13,
1544,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
4719,
607,
15843,
11,
4249,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
11,
475,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
262,
10281,
422,
6663,
7972,
20412,
547,
407,
284,
307,
2077,
15376,
13,
447,
250,
40,
423,
1813,
345,
262,
10988,
1176,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
4893,
11,
355,
339,
22591,
262,
10743,
12403,
290,
262,
783,
12,
84,
10950,
38414,
284,
262,
4314,
13,
447,
250,
464,
288,
808,
318,
534,
4007,
290,
345,
460,
783,
2565,
465,
7873,
8257,
18302,
594,
422,
597,
5253,
13,
16742,
683,
0,
5211,
407,
1441,
284,
502,
1231,
5809,
3019,
83,
2141,
447,
253,
52,
4372,
268,
0,
447,
251,
32,
12500,
83,
1523,
34532,
4884,
422,
47390,
447,
253,
82,
4171,
11914,
11,
262,
691,
2128,
262,
555,
28973,
8875,
373,
6007,
286,
10517,
278,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
290,
327
] |
dnd589
|
“Four?” he asked Sydney.“We are now five.”“Bok could not ride,” she replied, amused at the notion.“It will run.” She turned and headed back toward Dendybar, leaving Entreri with the thought.“Of course,” Entreri muttered to himself, somehow less thrilled than ever about the presence of the unnatural thing.But Catti-brie had begun to view things a bit differently.Dendybar had obviously sent Bok along more to gain an advantage over Entreri than to ensure victory over her friends.Entreri must have known it, too.Without realizing it, the wizard had set up just the type of nervous environment that Catti-brie hoped for, a tense situation that she might find a way to exploit.10.Bonds of ReputationThe sun beamed brightly on the morning of the first day out from Longsaddle.The companions, refreshed by their visit with the Harpells, rode at a strong pace, but still managed to enjoy the clear weather and the clear road.The land was flat and unmarked, not a tree or hill anywhere near.“Three days to Nesme, maybe four,” Regis told them.“More to three if the weather holds,” said Wulfgar.Drizzt shifted under his cowl.However pleasant the morning might seem to them, he knew they were still in the wilds.Three days could prove to be a long ride indeed.“What do ye know of this place, Nesme?” Bruenor asked Regis.“Just what Harkle told us,” Regis replied.“A fair-sized city, trading folk.But a careful place.I have never been there, but tales of the brave people living on the edge of the Evermoors reach far across the northland.”“I am intrigued by the Evermoors,” said Wulfgar.“Harkle would say little of the place, just shake his head and shiver whenever I asked of it.”“Not to doubt, a place with a name beyond truth,” Bruenor said, laughing, unimpressed by reputations.“Could it be worse than the dale?”Regis shrugged, not fully convinced by the dwarf‟s argument.“The tales of the Trollmoors, for that is the name given to those lands, may be exaggerated, but they are always foreboding.Every city in the north salutes the bravery of the people of Nesme for keeping the trading route Page 69along the Surbrin open in the face of such trials.”Bruenor laughed again.“Might it be that the tales be coming from Nesme, to paint them stronger than what they are?”Regis did not argue.By the time they broke for lunch, a high haze veiled the sunshine.Away to the north, a black line of clouds had appeared, rushing their way.Drizzt had expected as much.In the wild, even the weather proved an enemy.That afternoon the squall line rolled over them, carrying sheets of rain and hailstones that clinked off of Bruenor‟s dented helm.Sudden cuts of lightning sliced the darkened sky and the thunder nearly knocked them from their mounts.
|
“Four?” he asked Sydney.“We are now five.”“Bok could not ride,” she replied, amused at the notion.“It will run.” She turned and headed back toward Dendybar, leaving Entreri with the thought.“Of course,” Entreri muttered to himself, somehow less thrilled than ever about the presence of the unnatural thing.But Catti-brie had begun to view things a bit differently.Dendybar had obviously sent Bok along more to gain an advantage over Entreri than to ensure victory over her friends.Entreri must have known it, too.Without realizing it, the wizard had set up just the type of nervous environment that Catti-brie hoped for, a tense situation that she might find a way to exploit.10.Bonds of ReputationThe sun beamed brightly on the morning of the first day out from Longsaddle.The companions, refreshed by their visit with the Harpells, rode at a strong pace, but still managed to enjoy the clear weather and the clear road.The land was flat and unmarked, not a tree or hill anywhere near.“Three days to Nesme, maybe four,” Regis told them.“More to three if the weather holds,” said Wulfgar.Drizzt shifted under his cowl.However pleasant the morning might seem to them, he knew they were still in the wilds.Three days could prove to be a long ride indeed.“What do ye know of this place, Nesme?” Bruenor asked Regis.“Just what Harkle told us,” Regis replied.“A fair-sized city, trading folk.But a careful place.I have never been there, but tales of the brave people living on the edge of the Evermoors reach far across the northland.”“I am intrigued by the Evermoors,” said Wulfgar.“Harkle would say little of the place, just shake his head and shiver whenever I asked of it.”“Not to doubt, a place with a name beyond truth,” Bruenor said, laughing, unimpressed by reputations.“Could it be worse than the dale?”Regis shrugged, not fully convinced by the dwarf‟s argument.“The tales of the Trollmoors, for that is the name given to those lands, may be exaggerated, but they are always foreboding.Every city in the north salutes the bravery of the people of Nesme for keeping the trading route Page 69along the Surbrin open in the face of such trials.”Bruenor laughed again.“Might it be that the tales be coming from Nesme, to paint them stronger than what they are?”Regis did not argue.By the time they broke for lunch, a high haze veiled the sunshine.Away to the north, a black line of clouds had appeared, rushing their way.Drizzt had expected as much.In the wild, even the weather proved an enemy.That afternoon the squall line rolled over them, carrying sheets of rain and hailstones that clinked off of Bruenor‟s dented helm.Sudden cuts of lightning sliced the darkened sky and the thunder nearly knocked them from their mounts.
|
[
447,
250,
15137,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
783,
1936,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
33,
482,
714,
407,
6594,
11,
447,
251,
673,
8712,
11,
36979,
379,
262,
9495,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
481,
1057,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
2900,
290,
9153,
736,
3812,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
4305,
7232,
260,
380,
351,
262,
1807,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
34042,
284,
2241,
11,
7599,
1342,
20536,
621,
1683,
546,
262,
4931,
286,
262,
33975,
1517,
13,
1537,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
9258,
284,
1570,
1243,
257,
1643,
10338,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
6189,
1908,
47390,
1863,
517,
284,
4461,
281,
4621,
625,
7232,
260,
380,
621,
284,
4155,
5373,
625,
607,
2460,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
1276,
423,
1900,
340,
11,
1165,
13,
16249,
20060,
340,
11,
262,
18731,
550,
900,
510,
655,
262,
2099,
286,
10927,
2858,
326,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
10719,
329,
11,
257,
20170,
3074,
326,
673,
1244,
1064,
257,
835,
284,
14561,
13,
940,
13,
33,
24764,
286,
1432,
7094,
464,
4252,
307,
2434,
35254,
319,
262,
3329,
286,
262,
717,
1110,
503,
422,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
464,
19429,
11,
47193,
416,
511,
3187,
351,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
22075,
379,
257,
1913,
8761,
11,
475,
991,
5257,
284,
2883,
262,
1598,
6193,
290,
262,
1598,
2975,
13,
464,
1956,
373,
6228,
290,
46791,
11,
407,
257,
5509,
393,
12788,
6609,
1474,
13,
447,
250,
12510,
1528,
284,
399,
274,
1326,
11,
3863,
1440,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1297,
606,
13,
447,
250,
5167,
284,
1115,
611,
262,
6193,
6622,
11,
447,
251,
531,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
14869,
739,
465,
269,
4883,
13,
4864,
15497,
262,
3329,
1244,
1283,
284,
606,
11,
339,
2993,
484,
547,
991,
287,
262,
4295,
82,
13,
12510,
1528,
714,
5879,
284,
307,
257,
890,
6594,
5600,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
9838,
760,
286,
428,
1295,
11,
399,
274,
1326,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
644,
367,
668,
293,
1297,
514,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
32,
3148,
12,
13982,
1748,
11,
7313,
15504,
13,
1537,
257,
8161,
1295,
13,
40,
423,
1239,
587,
612,
11,
475,
19490,
286,
262,
14802,
661,
2877,
319,
262,
5743,
286,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
3151,
1290,
1973,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
716,
33720,
416,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
11,
447,
251,
531,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
39,
668,
293,
561,
910,
1310,
286,
262,
1295,
11,
655,
13279,
465,
1182,
290,
427,
1428,
8797,
314,
1965,
286,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3673,
284,
4719,
11,
257,
1295,
351,
257,
1438,
3675,
3872,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
531,
11,
14376,
11,
555,
11011,
2790,
416,
1128,
32855,
13,
447,
250,
23722,
340,
307,
4785,
621,
262,
288,
1000,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
28271,
11,
407,
3938,
9431,
416,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4578
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
15137,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
11852,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
783,
1936,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
33,
482,
714,
407,
6594,
11,
447,
251,
673,
8712,
11,
36979,
379,
262,
9495,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
481,
1057,
13,
447,
251,
1375,
2900,
290,
9153,
736,
3812,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
11,
4305,
7232,
260,
380,
351,
262,
1807,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
7232,
260,
380,
34042,
284,
2241,
11,
7599,
1342,
20536,
621,
1683,
546,
262,
4931,
286,
262,
33975,
1517,
13,
1537,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
9258,
284,
1570,
1243,
257,
1643,
10338,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
550,
6189,
1908,
47390,
1863,
517,
284,
4461,
281,
4621,
625,
7232,
260,
380,
621,
284,
4155,
5373,
625,
607,
2460,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
1276,
423,
1900,
340,
11,
1165,
13,
16249,
20060,
340,
11,
262,
18731,
550,
900,
510,
655,
262,
2099,
286,
10927,
2858,
326,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
10719,
329,
11,
257,
20170,
3074,
326,
673,
1244,
1064,
257,
835,
284,
14561,
13,
940,
13,
33,
24764,
286,
1432,
7094,
464,
4252,
307,
2434,
35254,
319,
262,
3329,
286,
262,
717,
1110,
503,
422,
5882,
82,
37382,
13,
464,
19429,
11,
47193,
416,
511,
3187,
351,
262,
2113,
23506,
82,
11,
22075,
379,
257,
1913,
8761,
11,
475,
991,
5257,
284,
2883,
262,
1598,
6193,
290,
262,
1598,
2975,
13,
464,
1956,
373,
6228,
290,
46791,
11,
407,
257,
5509,
393,
12788,
6609,
1474,
13,
447,
250,
12510,
1528,
284,
399,
274,
1326,
11,
3863,
1440,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
1297,
606,
13,
447,
250,
5167,
284,
1115,
611,
262,
6193,
6622,
11,
447,
251,
531,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
14869,
739,
465,
269,
4883,
13,
4864,
15497,
262,
3329,
1244,
1283,
284,
606,
11,
339,
2993,
484,
547,
991,
287,
262,
4295,
82,
13,
12510,
1528,
714,
5879,
284,
307,
257,
890,
6594,
5600,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
466,
9838,
760,
286,
428,
1295,
11,
399,
274,
1326,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1965,
3310,
271,
13,
447,
250,
5703,
644,
367,
668,
293,
1297,
514,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
32,
3148,
12,
13982,
1748,
11,
7313,
15504,
13,
1537,
257,
8161,
1295,
13,
40,
423,
1239,
587,
612,
11,
475,
19490,
286,
262,
14802,
661,
2877,
319,
262,
5743,
286,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
3151,
1290,
1973,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
40,
716,
33720,
416,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
11,
447,
251,
531,
370,
4754,
4563,
13,
447,
250,
39,
668,
293,
561,
910,
1310,
286,
262,
1295,
11,
655,
13279,
465,
1182,
290,
427,
1428,
8797,
314,
1965,
286,
340,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
3673,
284,
4719,
11,
257,
1295,
351,
257,
1438,
3675,
3872,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
531,
11,
14376,
11,
555,
11011,
2790,
416,
1128,
32855,
13,
447,
250,
23722,
340,
307,
4785,
621,
262,
288,
1000,
30,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
28271,
11,
407,
3938,
9431,
416,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
4578
] |
dnd590
|
But they plodded on through the deepening mud.“This is the true test of the road!” Drizzt yelled to them through the howling wind.“Many more travelers are defeated by storms than by orcs, because they do not anticipate the dangers when they begin their journey!”“Bah!A summer rain is all!” Bruenor snorted defiantly.As if in prideful reply, a lightning bolt exploded just a few yards to the side of the riders.The horses jumped and kicked.Bruenor‟s pony went down, stumbling split-legged into the mud and nearly crushing the stunned dwarf in its scramble.His own mount out of control, Regis managed to dive from the saddle and roll away.Bruenor got to his knees and wiped the mud from his eyes, cursing all the while.“Damn!” he spat, studying the pony‟s movements.“The thing‟s lame!”Wulfgar steadied his own horse and tried to start after Regis‟s bolting pony, but the hailstones, driven by the wind, pelted him, blinded him, and stung his horse, and again he found himself fighting to hold his seat.Another lightning bolt thundered in.And another.Drizzt, whispering softly and covering his horse‟s head with his cloak to calm it, moved slowly beside the dwarf.“Lame!” Bruenor shouted again, although Drizzt could barely hear him.Drizzt only shook his head helplessly and pointed to Bruenor‟s axe.More lightning came, and another blast of wind.Drizzt rolled to the side of his mount to shield himself, aware that he could not keep the beast calm much longer.The hailstones began to come larger, striking with the force of slung bullets.Drizzt‟s terrified horse jerked him to the ground and, bucked away, trying to flee beyond the reach of the punishing storm.Drizzt was up quickly beside Bruenor, but any emergency plans the two might have had were immediately deterred, for then Wulfgar stumbled back toward them.He was walking–barely–leaning against the wind‟s push, using it to hold him upright.His eyes seemed droopy, his jaw twitched, and blood mixed with the rain on his cheek.He looked at his friends blankly, as if he had no comprehension of what had happened to him.Then he fell, face down, into the mud at their feet.A shrill whistle cut through the blunt wall of wind, a singular point of hope against the storm‟s mounting power.Drizzt‟s keen ears caught it as he and Bruenor hoisted their young friend‟s face from the muck.So far away the whistle seemed, but Drizzt understood how storms could distort one‟s perceptions.“What?” Bruenor asked of the noise, noticing the drow‟s sudden reaction, for Bruenor had not heard the call.“Regis!” Drizzt answered.He started dragging Wulfgar in the direction of the whistle, Bruenor following his lead.They didn‟t have time to discern if the young man was even alive.The quick-thinking halfling saved them that day.Fully aware of the killing potential of squalls rolling down from the Spine of the World, Regis had crawled around in search of some shelter in the empty land.He stumbled across a hole in the side of a small ridge, an old wolf den perhaps, empty now.Following the beacon of his whistles, Drizzt and Bruenor soon found him.“It‟ll fill with the rain and we‟ll be drowned!” Bruenor yelled, but he helped Drizzt drag Page 70Wulfgar inside and prop him up against the rear wall of the cave, then took his place beside his friends as they worked to build a barrier of dirt and their remaining packs against the feared flood.A groan from Wulfgar sent Regis scurrying to his side.“He‟s alive!” the halfling proclaimed.“And his wounds don‟t seem too bad!”“Tougher‟n a badger in a corner,” Bruenor remarked.Soon they had their den tolerable, if not comfortable, and even Bruenor stopped his complaining.“The true test of the road,” Drizzt said again to Regis, trying to cheer up his thoroughly miserable friend as they sat in the mud and rode out the night, the incessant booming of the thunder and pounding of the hail a constant reminder of the small margin of safety.In reply, Regis poured a stream of water out of his boot.“How many miles do ye reckon we made?” Bruenor grumbled at Drizzt.“Ten, perhaps,” the drow answered.“Two weeks to Nesme, at this rate!” Bruenor muttered, folding his arms across his chest.“The storm will pass,” Drizzt offered hopefully, but the dwarf was no longer listening.The next day began without rain, though thick gray clouds hung low in the sky.Wulfgar was fine by morning, but he still did not understand what had happened to him.
|
But they plodded on through the deepening mud.“This is the true test of the road!” Drizzt yelled to them through the howling wind.“Many more travelers are defeated by storms than by orcs, because they do not anticipate the dangers when they begin their journey!”“Bah!A summer rain is all!” Bruenor snorted defiantly.As if in prideful reply, a lightning bolt exploded just a few yards to the side of the riders.The horses jumped and kicked.Bruenor‟s pony went down, stumbling split-legged into the mud and nearly crushing the stunned dwarf in its scramble.His own mount out of control, Regis managed to dive from the saddle and roll away.Bruenor got to his knees and wiped the mud from his eyes, cursing all the while.“Damn!” he spat, studying the pony‟s movements.“The thing‟s lame!”Wulfgar steadied his own horse and tried to start after Regis‟s bolting pony, but the hailstones, driven by the wind, pelted him, blinded him, and stung his horse, and again he found himself fighting to hold his seat.Another lightning bolt thundered in.And another.Drizzt, whispering softly and covering his horse‟s head with his cloak to calm it, moved slowly beside the dwarf.“Lame!” Bruenor shouted again, although Drizzt could barely hear him.Drizzt only shook his head helplessly and pointed to Bruenor‟s axe.More lightning came, and another blast of wind.Drizzt rolled to the side of his mount to shield himself, aware that he could not keep the beast calm much longer.The hailstones began to come larger, striking with the force of slung bullets.Drizzt‟s terrified horse jerked him to the ground and, bucked away, trying to flee beyond the reach of the punishing storm.Drizzt was up quickly beside Bruenor, but any emergency plans the two might have had were immediately deterred, for then Wulfgar stumbled back toward them.He was walking–barely–leaning against the wind‟s push, using it to hold him upright.His eyes seemed droopy, his jaw twitched, and blood mixed with the rain on his cheek.He looked at his friends blankly, as if he had no comprehension of what had happened to him.Then he fell, face down, into the mud at their feet.A shrill whistle cut through the blunt wall of wind, a singular point of hope against the storm‟s mounting power.Drizzt‟s keen ears caught it as he and Bruenor hoisted their young friend‟s face from the muck.So far away the whistle seemed, but Drizzt understood how storms could distort one‟s perceptions.“What?” Bruenor asked of the noise, noticing the drow‟s sudden reaction, for Bruenor had not heard the call.“Regis!” Drizzt answered.He started dragging Wulfgar in the direction of the whistle, Bruenor following his lead.They didn‟t have time to discern if the young man was even alive.The quick-thinking halfling saved them that day.Fully aware of the killing potential of squalls rolling down from the Spine of the World, Regis had crawled around in search of some shelter in the empty land.He stumbled across a hole in the side of a small ridge, an old wolf den perhaps, empty now.Following the beacon of his whistles, Drizzt and Bruenor soon found him.“It‟ll fill with the rain and we‟ll be drowned!” Bruenor yelled, but he helped Drizzt drag Page 70Wulfgar inside and prop him up against the rear wall of the cave, then took his place beside his friends as they worked to build a barrier of dirt and their remaining packs against the feared flood.A groan from Wulfgar sent Regis scurrying to his side.“He‟s alive!” the halfling proclaimed.“And his wounds don‟t seem too bad!”“Tougher‟n a badger in a corner,” Bruenor remarked.Soon they had their den tolerable, if not comfortable, and even Bruenor stopped his complaining.“The true test of the road,” Drizzt said again to Regis, trying to cheer up his thoroughly miserable friend as they sat in the mud and rode out the night, the incessant booming of the thunder and pounding of the hail a constant reminder of the small margin of safety.In reply, Regis poured a stream of water out of his boot.“How many miles do ye reckon we made?” Bruenor grumbled at Drizzt.“Ten, perhaps,” the drow answered.“Two weeks to Nesme, at this rate!” Bruenor muttered, folding his arms across his chest.“The storm will pass,” Drizzt offered hopefully, but the dwarf was no longer listening.The next day began without rain, though thick gray clouds hung low in the sky.Wulfgar was fine by morning, but he still did not understand what had happened to him.
|
[
1537,
484,
458,
5088,
276,
319,
832,
262,
46539,
17492,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
318,
262,
2081,
1332,
286,
262,
2975,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
22760,
284,
606,
832,
262,
703,
1359,
2344,
13,
447,
250,
7085,
517,
23325,
389,
9772,
416,
20228,
621,
416,
46448,
11,
780,
484,
466,
407,
23794,
262,
16169,
618,
484,
2221,
511,
7002,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
32,
3931,
6290,
318,
477,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
9741,
36219,
306,
13,
1722,
611,
287,
11293,
913,
10971,
11,
257,
14357,
18100,
18750,
655,
257,
1178,
5695,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
13750,
13,
464,
14260,
11687,
290,
12165,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
1816,
866,
11,
37829,
6626,
12,
40898,
656,
262,
17492,
290,
3016,
24949,
262,
19987,
24603,
287,
663,
36755,
13,
6653,
898,
3817,
503,
286,
1630,
11,
3310,
271,
5257,
284,
15647,
422,
262,
33083,
290,
4836,
1497,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1392,
284,
465,
14475,
290,
21122,
262,
17492,
422,
465,
2951,
11,
49766,
477,
262,
981,
13,
447,
250,
43343,
0,
447,
251,
339,
15246,
11,
11065,
262,
26902,
447,
253,
82,
8650,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1517,
447,
253,
82,
30248,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
7978,
798,
465,
898,
8223,
290,
3088,
284,
923,
706,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
11572,
889,
26902,
11,
475,
262,
387,
11750,
1952,
11,
7986,
416,
262,
2344,
11,
16176,
1513,
683,
11,
38497,
683,
11,
290,
336,
2150,
465,
8223,
11,
290,
757,
339,
1043,
2241,
4330,
284,
1745,
465,
5852,
13,
6610,
14357,
18100,
294,
917,
1068,
287,
13,
1870,
1194,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
48508,
26625,
290,
9505,
465,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
351,
465,
24117,
284,
9480,
340,
11,
3888,
6364,
13970,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
43,
480,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
17293,
757,
11,
3584,
5809,
3019,
83,
714,
8523,
3285,
683,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
691,
14682,
465,
1182,
21144,
306,
290,
6235,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
13,
5167,
14357,
1625,
11,
290,
1194,
11975,
286,
2344,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11686,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
465,
3817,
284,
7614,
2241,
11,
3910,
326,
339,
714,
407,
1394,
262,
13824,
9480,
881,
2392,
13,
464,
387,
11750,
1952,
2540,
284,
1282,
4025,
11,
8871,
351,
262,
2700,
286,
1017,
2150,
16043,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
22144,
8223,
13665,
9091,
683,
284,
262,
2323,
290,
11,
10230,
276,
1497,
11,
2111,
284,
11562,
3675,
262,
3151,
286,
262,
28641,
6388,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
510,
2952,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
597,
6334,
3352,
262,
734,
1244,
423,
550,
547,
3393,
2206,
445,
11,
329,
788,
370,
4754,
4563,
24241,
736,
3812,
606,
13,
1544,
373,
6155,
1906,
49382,
306,
1906,
25909,
1028,
262,
2344,
447,
253,
82,
4574,
11,
1262,
340,
284,
1745,
683,
24826,
13,
6653,
2951,
3947,
3102,
11081,
11,
465,
19218,
665,
10981,
11,
290,
2910,
7668,
351,
262,
6290,
319,
465,
19353,
13,
1544,
3114,
379
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
484,
458,
5088,
276,
319,
832,
262,
46539,
17492,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
318,
262,
2081,
1332,
286,
262,
2975,
0,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
22760,
284,
606,
832,
262,
703,
1359,
2344,
13,
447,
250,
7085,
517,
23325,
389,
9772,
416,
20228,
621,
416,
46448,
11,
780,
484,
466,
407,
23794,
262,
16169,
618,
484,
2221,
511,
7002,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
32,
3931,
6290,
318,
477,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
9741,
36219,
306,
13,
1722,
611,
287,
11293,
913,
10971,
11,
257,
14357,
18100,
18750,
655,
257,
1178,
5695,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
262,
13750,
13,
464,
14260,
11687,
290,
12165,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
26902,
1816,
866,
11,
37829,
6626,
12,
40898,
656,
262,
17492,
290,
3016,
24949,
262,
19987,
24603,
287,
663,
36755,
13,
6653,
898,
3817,
503,
286,
1630,
11,
3310,
271,
5257,
284,
15647,
422,
262,
33083,
290,
4836,
1497,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
1392,
284,
465,
14475,
290,
21122,
262,
17492,
422,
465,
2951,
11,
49766,
477,
262,
981,
13,
447,
250,
43343,
0,
447,
251,
339,
15246,
11,
11065,
262,
26902,
447,
253,
82,
8650,
13,
447,
250,
464,
1517,
447,
253,
82,
30248,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
7978,
798,
465,
898,
8223,
290,
3088,
284,
923,
706,
3310,
271,
447,
253,
82,
11572,
889,
26902,
11,
475,
262,
387,
11750,
1952,
11,
7986,
416,
262,
2344,
11,
16176,
1513,
683,
11,
38497,
683,
11,
290,
336,
2150,
465,
8223,
11,
290,
757,
339,
1043,
2241,
4330,
284,
1745,
465,
5852,
13,
6610,
14357,
18100,
294,
917,
1068,
287,
13,
1870,
1194,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11,
48508,
26625,
290,
9505,
465,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
1182,
351,
465,
24117,
284,
9480,
340,
11,
3888,
6364,
13970,
262,
24603,
13,
447,
250,
43,
480,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
17293,
757,
11,
3584,
5809,
3019,
83,
714,
8523,
3285,
683,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
691,
14682,
465,
1182,
21144,
306,
290,
6235,
284,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
23272,
13,
5167,
14357,
1625,
11,
290,
1194,
11975,
286,
2344,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
11686,
284,
262,
1735,
286,
465,
3817,
284,
7614,
2241,
11,
3910,
326,
339,
714,
407,
1394,
262,
13824,
9480,
881,
2392,
13,
464,
387,
11750,
1952,
2540,
284,
1282,
4025,
11,
8871,
351,
262,
2700,
286,
1017,
2150,
16043,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
447,
253,
82,
22144,
8223,
13665,
9091,
683,
284,
262,
2323,
290,
11,
10230,
276,
1497,
11,
2111,
284,
11562,
3675,
262,
3151,
286,
262,
28641,
6388,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
510,
2952,
13970,
8274,
268,
273,
11,
475,
597,
6334,
3352,
262,
734,
1244,
423,
550,
547,
3393,
2206,
445,
11,
329,
788,
370,
4754,
4563,
24241,
736,
3812,
606,
13,
1544,
373,
6155,
1906,
49382,
306,
1906,
25909,
1028,
262,
2344,
447,
253,
82,
4574,
11,
1262,
340,
284,
1745,
683,
24826,
13,
6653,
2951,
3947,
3102,
11081,
11,
465,
19218,
665,
10981,
11,
290,
2910,
7668,
351,
262,
6290,
319,
465,
19353,
13,
1544,
3114,
379
] |
dnd591
|
Bruenor insisted that they start out at once, though Regis would have preferred that they remain in their hole until they were certain the storm had passed.“Most of the provisions are lost,” Drizzt reminded the halfling.“You might not find another meal beyond a pittance of dried bread until we reach Nesme.”Regis was the first one out of the hole.Unbearable humidity and muddy ground kept the pace slow, and the friends soon found their knees aching from the constant twisting and sloshing.Their sodden clothes clung to them uncomfortably and weighed on their every step.They came upon Wulfgar‟s horse, a burned and smoking form half-buried in the mud.“Lightning,” Regis observed.The three looked at their barbarian friend, amazed that he could have survived such a hit.Wulfgar, too, stared in shock, realizing what had dropped him from his mount in the night.“Tougher‟n a badger!” Bruenor hailed again to Drizzt.Sunshine teasingly found a crack in the overcast now and then.The sunlight was nothing substantial, though, and by noon, the day had actually grown darker.Distant thunder foretold a dismal afternoon.The storm had already spent its killing might, but that night they found no shelter beyond their wet clothes, and whenever the crackle of lightning lit up the sky, four hunched forms could be seen sitting in the mud, their heads downcast as they accepted their fate in helpless resignation.For two more days they lumbered on through the rain and wind, having little choice and nowhere to go but forward.Wulfgar proved to be the savior of the party‟s morale at this low time.He scooped Regis up from the sodden ground, tossing the halfling easily onto his back, and explaining that he needed the extra weight for balance.By sparing the halfling‟s pride this way, the barbarian even managed to convince the surly dwarf to ride for a short time.And always, Wulfgar was indomitable.“A blessing, I tell you,” he kept crying at the gray heavens.“The storm keeps the insects and the orcs out of our faces!And how many months shall it be before we want for water?”He worked hard to keep their spirits high.At one point, he watched the lightning closely, timing the delay between the flash and the ensuing thunder.As they neared the blackened skeleton of a long-dead tree, the lightning flashed and Wulfgar pulled his trick.Yelling “Tempus!” he heaved his warhammer so that it smashed into, and leveled, the trunk at precisely the moment the thunder exploded around them.His amused friends looked back to him only to find him standing proud, arms and eyes uplifted to the gods as though they had personally answered his call.Drizzt, accepting this whole ordeal with his customary stoicism, silently applauded his young friend and knew again, even more than before, that they had made a wise decision in bringing him along.The drow understood that his own duty in these rough times was to continue his role as Page 71sentry, keeping his diligent guard despite the barbarian‟s proclamation of safety.Finally, the storm was blown away by the same brisk wind that had ushered it in.The bright sunshine and clear blue skies of the subsequent dawn lightened the companions‟ mood immeasurably and allowed them to think again of what lay ahead.Especially Bruenor.The dwarf leaned forward in his pressing march, just as he had when they had first begun their journey back in Icewind Dale.Red beard wagging with the intensity of his pumping stride, Bruenor found his narrow focus once again.He fell back into the dreams of his homeland, seeing the flickering shadows of the torchlight against the silver-streamed walls and the wondrous artifacts of his people‟s meticulous labors.His heightened concentration on Mithril Hall over the last few months had sparked clearer, and new, memories in him, and on the road now he remembered, for the first time in more than a century, the Hall of Dumathoin.The dwarves of Mithril Hall had made a fine living in the trade of their crafted items, but they always kept their very finest pieces, and the most precious gifts bestowed upon them from outsiders, to themselves.
|
Bruenor insisted that they start out at once, though Regis would have preferred that they remain in their hole until they were certain the storm had passed.“Most of the provisions are lost,” Drizzt reminded the halfling.“You might not find another meal beyond a pittance of dried bread until we reach Nesme.”Regis was the first one out of the hole.Unbearable humidity and muddy ground kept the pace slow, and the friends soon found their knees aching from the constant twisting and sloshing.Their sodden clothes clung to them uncomfortably and weighed on their every step.They came upon Wulfgar‟s horse, a burned and smoking form half-buried in the mud.“Lightning,” Regis observed.The three looked at their barbarian friend, amazed that he could have survived such a hit.Wulfgar, too, stared in shock, realizing what had dropped him from his mount in the night.“Tougher‟n a badger!” Bruenor hailed again to Drizzt.Sunshine teasingly found a crack in the overcast now and then.The sunlight was nothing substantial, though, and by noon, the day had actually grown darker.Distant thunder foretold a dismal afternoon.The storm had already spent its killing might, but that night they found no shelter beyond their wet clothes, and whenever the crackle of lightning lit up the sky, four hunched forms could be seen sitting in the mud, their heads downcast as they accepted their fate in helpless resignation.For two more days they lumbered on through the rain and wind, having little choice and nowhere to go but forward.Wulfgar proved to be the savior of the party‟s morale at this low time.He scooped Regis up from the sodden ground, tossing the halfling easily onto his back, and explaining that he needed the extra weight for balance.By sparing the halfling‟s pride this way, the barbarian even managed to convince the surly dwarf to ride for a short time.And always, Wulfgar was indomitable.“A blessing, I tell you,” he kept crying at the gray heavens.“The storm keeps the insects and the orcs out of our faces!And how many months shall it be before we want for water?”He worked hard to keep their spirits high.At one point, he watched the lightning closely, timing the delay between the flash and the ensuing thunder.As they neared the blackened skeleton of a long-dead tree, the lightning flashed and Wulfgar pulled his trick.Yelling “Tempus!” he heaved his warhammer so that it smashed into, and leveled, the trunk at precisely the moment the thunder exploded around them.His amused friends looked back to him only to find him standing proud, arms and eyes uplifted to the gods as though they had personally answered his call.Drizzt, accepting this whole ordeal with his customary stoicism, silently applauded his young friend and knew again, even more than before, that they had made a wise decision in bringing him along.The drow understood that his own duty in these rough times was to continue his role as Page 71sentry, keeping his diligent guard despite the barbarian‟s proclamation of safety.Finally, the storm was blown away by the same brisk wind that had ushered it in.The bright sunshine and clear blue skies of the subsequent dawn lightened the companions‟ mood immeasurably and allowed them to think again of what lay ahead.Especially Bruenor.The dwarf leaned forward in his pressing march, just as he had when they had first begun their journey back in Icewind Dale.Red beard wagging with the intensity of his pumping stride, Bruenor found his narrow focus once again.He fell back into the dreams of his homeland, seeing the flickering shadows of the torchlight against the silver-streamed walls and the wondrous artifacts of his people‟s meticulous labors.His heightened concentration on Mithril Hall over the last few months had sparked clearer, and new, memories in him, and on the road now he remembered, for the first time in more than a century, the Hall of Dumathoin.The dwarves of Mithril Hall had made a fine living in the trade of their crafted items, but they always kept their very finest pieces, and the most precious gifts bestowed upon them from outsiders, to themselves.
|
[
33,
622,
268,
273,
11189,
326,
484,
923,
503,
379,
1752,
11,
996,
3310,
271,
561,
423,
9871,
326,
484,
3520,
287,
511,
7604,
1566,
484,
547,
1728,
262,
6388,
550,
3804,
13,
447,
250,
6943,
286,
262,
8617,
389,
2626,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
14516,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
1244,
407,
1064,
1194,
9799,
3675,
257,
279,
47912,
286,
16577,
8509,
1566,
356,
3151,
399,
274,
1326,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
373,
262,
717,
530,
503,
286,
262,
7604,
13,
3118,
33227,
540,
27716,
290,
39085,
2323,
4030,
262,
8761,
3105,
11,
290,
262,
2460,
2582,
1043,
511,
14475,
257,
10813,
422,
262,
6937,
36373,
290,
1017,
418,
722,
13,
14574,
264,
5088,
268,
8242,
537,
2150,
284,
606,
8820,
3319,
1346,
290,
20261,
319,
511,
790,
2239,
13,
2990,
1625,
2402,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
8223,
11,
257,
11544,
290,
9216,
1296,
2063,
12,
6236,
798,
287,
262,
17492,
13,
447,
250,
15047,
768,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
6515,
13,
464,
1115,
3114,
379,
511,
42577,
3699,
1545,
11,
24562,
326,
339,
714,
423,
11803,
884,
257,
2277,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
11,
18484,
287,
6380,
11,
20060,
644,
550,
5710,
683,
422,
465,
3817,
287,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
250,
51,
20805,
372,
447,
253,
77,
257,
2089,
1362,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
27052,
757,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
16012,
19489,
34417,
306,
1043,
257,
8469,
287,
262,
625,
2701,
783,
290,
788,
13,
464,
19606,
373,
2147,
8904,
11,
996,
11,
290,
416,
19613,
11,
262,
1110,
550,
1682,
7334,
18646,
13,
35,
10167,
18355,
1674,
44040,
257,
39656,
6672,
13,
464,
6388,
550,
1541,
3377,
663,
5170,
1244,
11,
475,
326,
1755,
484,
1043,
645,
11772,
3675,
511,
9583,
8242,
11,
290,
8797,
262,
8469,
293,
286,
14357,
6578,
510,
262,
6766,
11,
1440,
5494,
1740,
5107,
714,
307,
1775,
5586,
287,
262,
17492,
11,
511,
6665,
866,
2701,
355,
484,
6292,
511,
10030,
287,
21144,
18525,
13,
1890,
734,
517,
1528,
484,
300,
26584,
319,
832,
262,
6290,
290,
2344,
11,
1719,
1310,
3572,
290,
12062,
284,
467,
475,
2651,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
8302,
284,
307,
262,
47921,
286,
262,
2151,
447,
253,
82,
29651,
379,
428,
1877,
640,
13,
1544,
23529,
276,
3310,
271,
510,
422,
262,
264,
5088,
268,
2323,
11,
37432,
262,
2063,
1359,
3538,
4291,
465,
736,
11,
290,
11170,
326,
339,
2622,
262,
3131,
3463,
329,
5236,
13,
3886,
43110,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
11293,
428,
835,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
772,
5257,
284,
11508,
262,
969,
306,
24603,
284,
6594,
329,
257,
1790,
640,
13,
1870,
1464,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
373,
773,
296,
4674,
13,
447,
250,
32,
20027,
11,
314,
1560,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4030,
13774,
379,
262,
12768,
27636,
13,
447,
250,
464,
6388,
7622,
262,
19435,
290,
262,
46448,
503,
286,
674,
6698,
0,
1870,
703,
867,
1933,
2236,
340,
307,
878,
356,
765,
329,
1660,
30,
447,
251,
1544,
3111,
1327,
284,
1394,
511,
13747,
1029
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
33,
622,
268,
273,
11189,
326,
484,
923,
503,
379,
1752,
11,
996,
3310,
271,
561,
423,
9871,
326,
484,
3520,
287,
511,
7604,
1566,
484,
547,
1728,
262,
6388,
550,
3804,
13,
447,
250,
6943,
286,
262,
8617,
389,
2626,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
14516,
262,
2063,
1359,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
1244,
407,
1064,
1194,
9799,
3675,
257,
279,
47912,
286,
16577,
8509,
1566,
356,
3151,
399,
274,
1326,
13,
447,
251,
8081,
271,
373,
262,
717,
530,
503,
286,
262,
7604,
13,
3118,
33227,
540,
27716,
290,
39085,
2323,
4030,
262,
8761,
3105,
11,
290,
262,
2460,
2582,
1043,
511,
14475,
257,
10813,
422,
262,
6937,
36373,
290,
1017,
418,
722,
13,
14574,
264,
5088,
268,
8242,
537,
2150,
284,
606,
8820,
3319,
1346,
290,
20261,
319,
511,
790,
2239,
13,
2990,
1625,
2402,
370,
4754,
4563,
447,
253,
82,
8223,
11,
257,
11544,
290,
9216,
1296,
2063,
12,
6236,
798,
287,
262,
17492,
13,
447,
250,
15047,
768,
11,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
6515,
13,
464,
1115,
3114,
379,
511,
42577,
3699,
1545,
11,
24562,
326,
339,
714,
423,
11803,
884,
257,
2277,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
11,
1165,
11,
18484,
287,
6380,
11,
20060,
644,
550,
5710,
683,
422,
465,
3817,
287,
262,
1755,
13,
447,
250,
51,
20805,
372,
447,
253,
77,
257,
2089,
1362,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
27052,
757,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
16012,
19489,
34417,
306,
1043,
257,
8469,
287,
262,
625,
2701,
783,
290,
788,
13,
464,
19606,
373,
2147,
8904,
11,
996,
11,
290,
416,
19613,
11,
262,
1110,
550,
1682,
7334,
18646,
13,
35,
10167,
18355,
1674,
44040,
257,
39656,
6672,
13,
464,
6388,
550,
1541,
3377,
663,
5170,
1244,
11,
475,
326,
1755,
484,
1043,
645,
11772,
3675,
511,
9583,
8242,
11,
290,
8797,
262,
8469,
293,
286,
14357,
6578,
510,
262,
6766,
11,
1440,
5494,
1740,
5107,
714,
307,
1775,
5586,
287,
262,
17492,
11,
511,
6665,
866,
2701,
355,
484,
6292,
511,
10030,
287,
21144,
18525,
13,
1890,
734,
517,
1528,
484,
300,
26584,
319,
832,
262,
6290,
290,
2344,
11,
1719,
1310,
3572,
290,
12062,
284,
467,
475,
2651,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
8302,
284,
307,
262,
47921,
286,
262,
2151,
447,
253,
82,
29651,
379,
428,
1877,
640,
13,
1544,
23529,
276,
3310,
271,
510,
422,
262,
264,
5088,
268,
2323,
11,
37432,
262,
2063,
1359,
3538,
4291,
465,
736,
11,
290,
11170,
326,
339,
2622,
262,
3131,
3463,
329,
5236,
13,
3886,
43110,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
11293,
428,
835,
11,
262,
42577,
3699,
772,
5257,
284,
11508,
262,
969,
306,
24603,
284,
6594,
329,
257,
1790,
640,
13,
1870,
1464,
11,
370,
4754,
4563,
373,
773,
296,
4674,
13,
447,
250,
32,
20027,
11,
314,
1560,
345,
11,
447,
251,
339,
4030,
13774,
379,
262,
12768,
27636,
13,
447,
250,
464,
6388,
7622,
262,
19435,
290,
262,
46448,
503,
286,
674,
6698,
0,
1870,
703,
867,
1933,
2236,
340,
307,
878,
356,
765,
329,
1660,
30,
447,
251,
1544,
3111,
1327,
284,
1394,
511,
13747,
1029
] |
dnd592
|
In a large and decorated chamber that opened wide the eyes of every visitor, the legacy of Bruenor‟s ancestors sat in open display, serving as inspiration for the clan‟s future artists.Bruenor chuckled softly at the memory of the wondrous hall and the marvelous pieces, mostly weapons and armor.He looked at Wulfgar striding beside him, and at the mighty warhammer he had crafted the year before.Aegis-fang might have hung in the Hall of Dumathoin if Bruenor‟s clan still ruled Mithril Hall, sealing Bruenor‟s immortality in the legacy of his people.But watching Wulfgar handling the hammer, swinging it as easily as he would swing his own arm, Bruenor had no regrets.The next day brought more good news.Shortly after they broke camp, the friends discovered that they had traveled farther than they had anticipated during the trials of the storm, for as they marched, the landscape around them went through subtle but definite transformations.Where before the ground had been sparsely overgrown with thin patches of scraggly weeds, a virtual sea of mud under the torrent of rain, they now found lush grasses and scattered copses of tall elms.Cresting a final ridge confirmed their suspicions, for before them lay the Dessarin Valley.A few miles ahead, swollen from the spring melt and the recent storm, and clearly visible from their high perch, the arm of the great river rolled steadily along its southbound trek.The long winter dominated this land, but when they finally bloomed, the plants here made up for their short season with a vibrancy unmatched in all the world.Rich colors of spring surrounded the friends as they made their way down the slope to the river.The carpet of grass was so thick that they took off their boots and walked barefoot through the spongy softness.The vitality here was truly obvious, and contagious.“Ye should see the halls,” Bruenor remarked on sudden impulse.“Veins of purest mithril wider than yer hand!Streams of silver, they be, and bested in beauty only by what a dwarf‟s hand makes of „em.”“The want of such a sight keeps our path running straight through the hardships,” Drizzt replied.“Bah!” Bruenor snorted good-heartedly.“Ye‟re here because I tricked ye into being here, elf.Ye had run outa reasons for holding back me adventure anymore!”Wulfgar had to chuckle.He had been in on the deception that had duped Drizzt into agreeing to make this journey.After the great battle in Ten-Towns with Akar Kessell, Bruenor had feigned mortal injury, and on his apparent deathbed had begged the drow to journey with him to his ancient homeland.Thinking the dwarf about to expire, Drizzt could not refuse.“And yerself!” Bruenor roared at Wulfgar.“I see why ye‟ve come, even if ye‟re skull‟s too thick for ye to know!”“Pray tell me,” Wulfgar replied with a smile.“Ye‟re running!But ye can‟t get away!” the dwarf cried.Wulfgar‟s mirth shifted to confusion.Page 72“The girl‟s spooked him, elf,” Bruenor explained to Drizzt.“Catti-brie‟s caught him in a net his muscles can no‟ break!”Wulfgar laughed along with Bruenor‟s blunt conclusions, taking no offense.
|
In a large and decorated chamber that opened wide the eyes of every visitor, the legacy of Bruenor‟s ancestors sat in open display, serving as inspiration for the clan‟s future artists.Bruenor chuckled softly at the memory of the wondrous hall and the marvelous pieces, mostly weapons and armor.He looked at Wulfgar striding beside him, and at the mighty warhammer he had crafted the year before.Aegis-fang might have hung in the Hall of Dumathoin if Bruenor‟s clan still ruled Mithril Hall, sealing Bruenor‟s immortality in the legacy of his people.But watching Wulfgar handling the hammer, swinging it as easily as he would swing his own arm, Bruenor had no regrets.The next day brought more good news.Shortly after they broke camp, the friends discovered that they had traveled farther than they had anticipated during the trials of the storm, for as they marched, the landscape around them went through subtle but definite transformations.Where before the ground had been sparsely overgrown with thin patches of scraggly weeds, a virtual sea of mud under the torrent of rain, they now found lush grasses and scattered copses of tall elms.Cresting a final ridge confirmed their suspicions, for before them lay the Dessarin Valley.A few miles ahead, swollen from the spring melt and the recent storm, and clearly visible from their high perch, the arm of the great river rolled steadily along its southbound trek.The long winter dominated this land, but when they finally bloomed, the plants here made up for their short season with a vibrancy unmatched in all the world.Rich colors of spring surrounded the friends as they made their way down the slope to the river.The carpet of grass was so thick that they took off their boots and walked barefoot through the spongy softness.The vitality here was truly obvious, and contagious.“Ye should see the halls,” Bruenor remarked on sudden impulse.“Veins of purest mithril wider than yer hand!Streams of silver, they be, and bested in beauty only by what a dwarf‟s hand makes of „em.”“The want of such a sight keeps our path running straight through the hardships,” Drizzt replied.“Bah!” Bruenor snorted good-heartedly.“Ye‟re here because I tricked ye into being here, elf.Ye had run outa reasons for holding back me adventure anymore!”Wulfgar had to chuckle.He had been in on the deception that had duped Drizzt into agreeing to make this journey.After the great battle in Ten-Towns with Akar Kessell, Bruenor had feigned mortal injury, and on his apparent deathbed had begged the drow to journey with him to his ancient homeland.Thinking the dwarf about to expire, Drizzt could not refuse.“And yerself!” Bruenor roared at Wulfgar.“I see why ye‟ve come, even if ye‟re skull‟s too thick for ye to know!”“Pray tell me,” Wulfgar replied with a smile.“Ye‟re running!But ye can‟t get away!” the dwarf cried.Wulfgar‟s mirth shifted to confusion.Page 72“The girl‟s spooked him, elf,” Bruenor explained to Drizzt.“Catti-brie‟s caught him in a net his muscles can no‟ break!”Wulfgar laughed along with Bruenor‟s blunt conclusions, taking no offense.
|
[
818,
257,
1588,
290,
24789,
11847,
326,
4721,
3094,
262,
2951,
286,
790,
21493,
11,
262,
10655,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
18668,
3332,
287,
1280,
3359,
11,
7351,
355,
12141,
329,
262,
19065,
447,
253,
82,
2003,
7912,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
39889,
26625,
379,
262,
4088,
286,
262,
3135,
7596,
6899,
290,
262,
43937,
5207,
11,
4632,
3777,
290,
8328,
13,
1544,
3114,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
965,
2530,
13970,
683,
11,
290,
379,
262,
18680,
1175,
17980,
339,
550,
18025,
262,
614,
878,
13,
32,
1533,
271,
12,
69,
648,
1244,
423,
9174,
287,
262,
4789,
286,
30933,
776,
36743,
611,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
19065,
991,
8879,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
38689,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
40079,
287,
262,
10655,
286,
465,
661,
13,
1537,
4964,
370,
4754,
4563,
9041,
262,
15554,
11,
25635,
340,
355,
3538,
355,
339,
561,
9628,
465,
898,
3211,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
645,
30090,
13,
464,
1306,
1110,
3181,
517,
922,
1705,
13,
30513,
706,
484,
6265,
1413,
11,
262,
2460,
5071,
326,
484,
550,
14113,
18485,
621,
484,
550,
14486,
1141,
262,
9867,
286,
262,
6388,
11,
329,
355,
484,
23558,
11,
262,
10747,
1088,
606,
1816,
832,
11800,
475,
21892,
38226,
13,
8496,
878,
262,
2323,
550,
587,
29877,
306,
625,
22377,
351,
7888,
16082,
286,
6040,
9460,
306,
36708,
11,
257,
7166,
5417,
286,
17492,
739,
262,
24458,
286,
6290,
11,
484,
783,
1043,
37408,
8701,
274,
290,
16830,
2243,
8448,
286,
7331,
1288,
907,
13,
34,
2118,
278,
257,
2457,
32525,
4999,
511,
30508,
11,
329,
878,
606,
3830,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
6916,
13,
32,
1178,
4608,
4058,
11,
37327,
422,
262,
6076,
16867,
290,
262,
2274,
6388,
11,
290,
4084,
7424,
422,
511,
1029,
583,
354,
11,
262,
3211,
286,
262,
1049,
7850,
11686,
18434,
1863,
663,
5366,
7784,
30784,
13,
464,
890,
7374,
13354,
428,
1956,
11,
475,
618,
484,
3443,
29955,
276,
11,
262,
6134,
994,
925,
510,
329,
511,
1790,
1622,
351,
257,
16081,
2596,
948,
48621,
287,
477,
262,
995,
13,
14868,
7577,
286,
6076,
11191,
262,
2460,
355,
484,
925,
511,
835,
866,
262,
22638,
284,
262,
7850,
13,
464,
20710,
286,
8701,
373,
523,
6546,
326,
484,
1718,
572,
511,
14412,
290,
6807,
6247,
5898,
832,
262,
599,
506,
88,
2705,
1108,
13,
464,
41687,
994,
373,
4988,
3489,
11,
290,
43944,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
815,
766,
262,
24350,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
24998,
319,
4802,
25278,
13,
447,
250,
26979,
1040,
286,
5899,
301,
285,
342,
22379,
10595,
621,
331,
263,
1021,
0,
12124,
82,
286,
8465,
11,
484,
307,
11,
290,
1266,
276,
287,
8737,
691,
416,
644,
257,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
1021,
1838,
286,
564,
252,
368,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
765,
286,
884,
257,
6504,
7622,
674,
3108,
2491,
3892,
832,
262,
44618,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
9741,
922,
12,
44407,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
260
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
818,
257,
1588,
290,
24789,
11847,
326,
4721,
3094,
262,
2951,
286,
790,
21493,
11,
262,
10655,
286,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
18668,
3332,
287,
1280,
3359,
11,
7351,
355,
12141,
329,
262,
19065,
447,
253,
82,
2003,
7912,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
39889,
26625,
379,
262,
4088,
286,
262,
3135,
7596,
6899,
290,
262,
43937,
5207,
11,
4632,
3777,
290,
8328,
13,
1544,
3114,
379,
370,
4754,
4563,
965,
2530,
13970,
683,
11,
290,
379,
262,
18680,
1175,
17980,
339,
550,
18025,
262,
614,
878,
13,
32,
1533,
271,
12,
69,
648,
1244,
423,
9174,
287,
262,
4789,
286,
30933,
776,
36743,
611,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
19065,
991,
8879,
44137,
22379,
4789,
11,
38689,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
40079,
287,
262,
10655,
286,
465,
661,
13,
1537,
4964,
370,
4754,
4563,
9041,
262,
15554,
11,
25635,
340,
355,
3538,
355,
339,
561,
9628,
465,
898,
3211,
11,
8274,
268,
273,
550,
645,
30090,
13,
464,
1306,
1110,
3181,
517,
922,
1705,
13,
30513,
706,
484,
6265,
1413,
11,
262,
2460,
5071,
326,
484,
550,
14113,
18485,
621,
484,
550,
14486,
1141,
262,
9867,
286,
262,
6388,
11,
329,
355,
484,
23558,
11,
262,
10747,
1088,
606,
1816,
832,
11800,
475,
21892,
38226,
13,
8496,
878,
262,
2323,
550,
587,
29877,
306,
625,
22377,
351,
7888,
16082,
286,
6040,
9460,
306,
36708,
11,
257,
7166,
5417,
286,
17492,
739,
262,
24458,
286,
6290,
11,
484,
783,
1043,
37408,
8701,
274,
290,
16830,
2243,
8448,
286,
7331,
1288,
907,
13,
34,
2118,
278,
257,
2457,
32525,
4999,
511,
30508,
11,
329,
878,
606,
3830,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
6916,
13,
32,
1178,
4608,
4058,
11,
37327,
422,
262,
6076,
16867,
290,
262,
2274,
6388,
11,
290,
4084,
7424,
422,
511,
1029,
583,
354,
11,
262,
3211,
286,
262,
1049,
7850,
11686,
18434,
1863,
663,
5366,
7784,
30784,
13,
464,
890,
7374,
13354,
428,
1956,
11,
475,
618,
484,
3443,
29955,
276,
11,
262,
6134,
994,
925,
510,
329,
511,
1790,
1622,
351,
257,
16081,
2596,
948,
48621,
287,
477,
262,
995,
13,
14868,
7577,
286,
6076,
11191,
262,
2460,
355,
484,
925,
511,
835,
866,
262,
22638,
284,
262,
7850,
13,
464,
20710,
286,
8701,
373,
523,
6546,
326,
484,
1718,
572,
511,
14412,
290,
6807,
6247,
5898,
832,
262,
599,
506,
88,
2705,
1108,
13,
464,
41687,
994,
373,
4988,
3489,
11,
290,
43944,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
815,
766,
262,
24350,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
24998,
319,
4802,
25278,
13,
447,
250,
26979,
1040,
286,
5899,
301,
285,
342,
22379,
10595,
621,
331,
263,
1021,
0,
12124,
82,
286,
8465,
11,
484,
307,
11,
290,
1266,
276,
287,
8737,
691,
416,
644,
257,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
1021,
1838,
286,
564,
252,
368,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
464,
765,
286,
884,
257,
6504,
7622,
674,
3108,
2491,
3892,
832,
262,
44618,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
47514,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
3013,
9741,
922,
12,
44407,
13,
447,
250,
35543,
447,
253,
260
] |
dnd593
|
But in the images triggered by Bruenor‟s allusions to Catti-brie, memories of a sunset view on the face of Kelvin‟s Cairn, or of hours spent talking on the rise of rocks called Bruenor‟s Climb, the young barbarian found a disturbing element of truth in the dwarf‟s observations.“And what of Regis?” Drizzt asked Bruenor.“Have you discerned his motive for coming along?Might it be his love of ankle-deep mud that sucks his little legs in to the knees?”Bruenor stopped laughing and studied the halfling‟s reaction to the drow‟s questions.“Nay, I have not,” he replied seriously after a few unrevealing moments.“This alone I know: If Rumblebelly chooses the road, it means only that the mud and the orcs measure up better than what he‟s leaving behind.” Bruenor kept his eyes upon his little friend, again seeking some revelations in the halfling‟s response.Regis kept his head bowed, watching his furry feet, visible below the diminishing roll of his belly for the first times in many months, as they plowed through the thick waves of green.The assassin, Entreri, was a world away, he thought.And he had no intention of dwelling on a danger that had been avoided.A few miles up the bank they came upon the first major fork in the river, where the Surbrin, from the northeast, emptied into the main flow of the northern arm of the great river network.The friends looked for a way to cross the larger river, the Dessarin, and get into the small valley between it and the Surbrin.Nesme, their next, and final stopover before Silverymoon, was farther up the Surbrin, and though the city was actually on the east bank of the river, the friends, taking the advice of Harkle Harpell, had decided to travel up the west bank and avoid the lurking dangers of the Evermoors.They crossed the Dessarin without too much trouble, thanks to the incredible agility of the drow, who ran out over the river along an overhanging tree limb and leaped to a similar perch on the branch of a tree on the opposite bank.Soon after, they were all easily plodding along the Surbrin, enjoying the sunshine, the warm breeze, and the endless song of the river.Drizzt even managed to fell a deer with his bow, promising a fine supper of venison and restocked packs for the road ahead.They camped right down by the water, under starshine for the first time in four nights, sitting around a fire and listening to Bruenor‟s tales of the silvery halls and the wonders they would find at the end of their road.The serenity of the night did not carry over into the morning, though, for the friends were awakened by the sounds of battle.Wulfgar immediately scrambled up a nearby tree to learn who the combatants were.“Riders!” he yelled, leaping and drawing out his warhammer even before he hit the ground.“Some are down!They do battle with monsters I do not know!” He was off and running to the north, Bruenor on his heels, and Drizzt circling to their flank down along the river.Less enthusiastic, Regis hung back, pulling out his small mace but hardly preparing for open battle.Wulfgar was first on the scene.Seven riders were still up, trying vainly to maneuver their mounts into some form of a defensive line.The creatures they battled were quick and had no fear of running under stamping legs to trip up the horses.The monsters were only about three feet high, with arms twice that length.They resembled little trees, though undeniably animated, running about wildly, whacking with their clublike arms or, as another unfortunate rider discovered just as Wulfgar entered the fray, winding their pliable limbs around their foes to pull them from their mounts.Wulfgar barreled between two creatures, knocking them aside, and bore down on the one that had just taken down the rider.The barbarian underestimated the monsters, though, for their rootlike toes found balance quickly and their long arms caught him from behind before he had gone two steps, grappling him on either side and stopping him in his tracks.Bruenor charged in right behind.The dwarf‟s axe chopped through one of the monsters, Page 73splitting it down the middle like firewood, and then cut in wickedly on the other, sending a great chunk of its torso flying away.Drizzt came up even with the battle, anxious but tempered, as always, by the overruling sensibility that had kept him alive through hundreds of encounters.He moved down to the side, below the drop of the bank, where he discovered a ramshackle bridge of logs spanning the Surbrin.The monsters had built it, Drizzt knew; apparently they weren‟t unthinking beasts.Drizzt peered over the bank.
|
But in the images triggered by Bruenor‟s allusions to Catti-brie, memories of a sunset view on the face of Kelvin‟s Cairn, or of hours spent talking on the rise of rocks called Bruenor‟s Climb, the young barbarian found a disturbing element of truth in the dwarf‟s observations.“And what of Regis?” Drizzt asked Bruenor.“Have you discerned his motive for coming along?Might it be his love of ankle-deep mud that sucks his little legs in to the knees?”Bruenor stopped laughing and studied the halfling‟s reaction to the drow‟s questions.“Nay, I have not,” he replied seriously after a few unrevealing moments.“This alone I know: If Rumblebelly chooses the road, it means only that the mud and the orcs measure up better than what he‟s leaving behind.” Bruenor kept his eyes upon his little friend, again seeking some revelations in the halfling‟s response.Regis kept his head bowed, watching his furry feet, visible below the diminishing roll of his belly for the first times in many months, as they plowed through the thick waves of green.The assassin, Entreri, was a world away, he thought.And he had no intention of dwelling on a danger that had been avoided.A few miles up the bank they came upon the first major fork in the river, where the Surbrin, from the northeast, emptied into the main flow of the northern arm of the great river network.The friends looked for a way to cross the larger river, the Dessarin, and get into the small valley between it and the Surbrin.Nesme, their next, and final stopover before Silverymoon, was farther up the Surbrin, and though the city was actually on the east bank of the river, the friends, taking the advice of Harkle Harpell, had decided to travel up the west bank and avoid the lurking dangers of the Evermoors.They crossed the Dessarin without too much trouble, thanks to the incredible agility of the drow, who ran out over the river along an overhanging tree limb and leaped to a similar perch on the branch of a tree on the opposite bank.Soon after, they were all easily plodding along the Surbrin, enjoying the sunshine, the warm breeze, and the endless song of the river.Drizzt even managed to fell a deer with his bow, promising a fine supper of venison and restocked packs for the road ahead.They camped right down by the water, under starshine for the first time in four nights, sitting around a fire and listening to Bruenor‟s tales of the silvery halls and the wonders they would find at the end of their road.The serenity of the night did not carry over into the morning, though, for the friends were awakened by the sounds of battle.Wulfgar immediately scrambled up a nearby tree to learn who the combatants were.“Riders!” he yelled, leaping and drawing out his warhammer even before he hit the ground.“Some are down!They do battle with monsters I do not know!” He was off and running to the north, Bruenor on his heels, and Drizzt circling to their flank down along the river.Less enthusiastic, Regis hung back, pulling out his small mace but hardly preparing for open battle.Wulfgar was first on the scene.Seven riders were still up, trying vainly to maneuver their mounts into some form of a defensive line.The creatures they battled were quick and had no fear of running under stamping legs to trip up the horses.The monsters were only about three feet high, with arms twice that length.They resembled little trees, though undeniably animated, running about wildly, whacking with their clublike arms or, as another unfortunate rider discovered just as Wulfgar entered the fray, winding their pliable limbs around their foes to pull them from their mounts.Wulfgar barreled between two creatures, knocking them aside, and bore down on the one that had just taken down the rider.The barbarian underestimated the monsters, though, for their rootlike toes found balance quickly and their long arms caught him from behind before he had gone two steps, grappling him on either side and stopping him in his tracks.Bruenor charged in right behind.The dwarf‟s axe chopped through one of the monsters, Page 73splitting it down the middle like firewood, and then cut in wickedly on the other, sending a great chunk of its torso flying away.Drizzt came up even with the battle, anxious but tempered, as always, by the overruling sensibility that had kept him alive through hundreds of encounters.He moved down to the side, below the drop of the bank, where he discovered a ramshackle bridge of logs spanning the Surbrin.The monsters had built it, Drizzt knew; apparently they weren‟t unthinking beasts.Drizzt peered over the bank.
|
[
1537,
287,
262,
4263,
13973,
416,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
477,
15880,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
9846,
286,
257,
26428,
1570,
319,
262,
1986,
286,
46577,
447,
253,
82,
327,
958,
77,
11,
393,
286,
2250,
3377,
3375,
319,
262,
4485,
286,
12586,
1444,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
1012,
14107,
11,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
1043,
257,
14851,
5002,
286,
3872,
287,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
13050,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
3310,
271,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
22024,
276,
465,
20289,
329,
2406,
1863,
30,
44,
432,
340,
307,
465,
1842,
286,
19847,
12,
22089,
17492,
326,
22523,
465,
1310,
7405,
287,
284,
262,
14475,
30,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
5025,
14376,
290,
9713,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
6317,
284,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2683,
13,
447,
250,
45,
323,
11,
314,
423,
407,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
6411,
706,
257,
1178,
14880,
303,
4272,
7188,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
3436,
314,
760,
25,
1002,
42888,
65,
6148,
19769,
262,
2975,
11,
340,
1724,
691,
326,
262,
17492,
290,
262,
46448,
3953,
510,
1365,
621,
644,
339,
447,
253,
82,
4305,
2157,
13,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4030,
465,
2951,
2402,
465,
1310,
1545,
11,
757,
6095,
617,
19111,
287,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2882,
13,
8081,
271,
4030,
465,
1182,
35737,
11,
4964,
465,
40857,
3625,
11,
7424,
2174,
262,
35197,
4836,
286,
465,
19921,
329,
262,
717,
1661,
287,
867,
1933,
11,
355,
484,
458,
6972,
832,
262,
6546,
9813,
286,
4077,
13,
464,
31120,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
373,
257,
995,
1497,
11,
339,
1807,
13,
1870,
339,
550,
645,
6778,
286,
26765,
319,
257,
3514,
326,
550,
587,
13941,
13,
32,
1178,
4608,
510,
262,
3331,
484,
1625,
2402,
262,
717,
1688,
15563,
287,
262,
7850,
11,
810,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
11,
422,
262,
24287,
11,
46705,
656,
262,
1388,
5202,
286,
262,
7840,
3211,
286,
262,
1049,
7850,
3127,
13,
464,
2460,
3114,
329,
257,
835,
284,
3272,
262,
4025,
7850,
11,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
11,
290,
651,
656,
262,
1402,
19272,
1022,
340,
290,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
13,
45,
274,
1326,
11,
511,
1306,
11,
290,
2457,
2245,
2502,
878,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
373,
18485,
510,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
11,
290,
996,
262,
1748,
373,
1682,
319,
262,
7627,
3331,
286,
262,
7850,
11,
262,
2460,
11,
2263,
262,
5608,
286,
367,
668,
293,
2113,
23506,
11,
550,
3066,
284,
3067,
510,
262,
7421,
3331,
290,
3368,
262,
36105,
16169,
286,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
13,
2990,
12606,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
1231,
1165,
881,
5876,
11,
5176,
284,
262,
8082,
33546,
286,
262,
288,
808,
11,
508,
4966,
503,
625,
262,
7850,
1863,
281,
625,
71,
4924,
5509,
25035,
290,
443,
5813,
284,
257,
2092,
583,
354,
319,
262,
8478,
286,
257,
5509,
319,
262,
6697,
3331,
13,
28093,
706,
11,
484,
547,
477,
3538,
458,
5088,
278
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1537,
287,
262,
4263,
13973,
416,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
477,
15880,
284,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
11,
9846,
286,
257,
26428,
1570,
319,
262,
1986,
286,
46577,
447,
253,
82,
327,
958,
77,
11,
393,
286,
2250,
3377,
3375,
319,
262,
4485,
286,
12586,
1444,
8274,
268,
273,
447,
253,
82,
1012,
14107,
11,
262,
1862,
42577,
3699,
1043,
257,
14851,
5002,
286,
3872,
287,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
13050,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
644,
286,
3310,
271,
30,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
1965,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
11980,
345,
22024,
276,
465,
20289,
329,
2406,
1863,
30,
44,
432,
340,
307,
465,
1842,
286,
19847,
12,
22089,
17492,
326,
22523,
465,
1310,
7405,
287,
284,
262,
14475,
30,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
5025,
14376,
290,
9713,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
6317,
284,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2683,
13,
447,
250,
45,
323,
11,
314,
423,
407,
11,
447,
251,
339,
8712,
6411,
706,
257,
1178,
14880,
303,
4272,
7188,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
3436,
314,
760,
25,
1002,
42888,
65,
6148,
19769,
262,
2975,
11,
340,
1724,
691,
326,
262,
17492,
290,
262,
46448,
3953,
510,
1365,
621,
644,
339,
447,
253,
82,
4305,
2157,
13,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
4030,
465,
2951,
2402,
465,
1310,
1545,
11,
757,
6095,
617,
19111,
287,
262,
2063,
1359,
447,
253,
82,
2882,
13,
8081,
271,
4030,
465,
1182,
35737,
11,
4964,
465,
40857,
3625,
11,
7424,
2174,
262,
35197,
4836,
286,
465,
19921,
329,
262,
717,
1661,
287,
867,
1933,
11,
355,
484,
458,
6972,
832,
262,
6546,
9813,
286,
4077,
13,
464,
31120,
11,
7232,
260,
380,
11,
373,
257,
995,
1497,
11,
339,
1807,
13,
1870,
339,
550,
645,
6778,
286,
26765,
319,
257,
3514,
326,
550,
587,
13941,
13,
32,
1178,
4608,
510,
262,
3331,
484,
1625,
2402,
262,
717,
1688,
15563,
287,
262,
7850,
11,
810,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
11,
422,
262,
24287,
11,
46705,
656,
262,
1388,
5202,
286,
262,
7840,
3211,
286,
262,
1049,
7850,
3127,
13,
464,
2460,
3114,
329,
257,
835,
284,
3272,
262,
4025,
7850,
11,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
11,
290,
651,
656,
262,
1402,
19272,
1022,
340,
290,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
13,
45,
274,
1326,
11,
511,
1306,
11,
290,
2457,
2245,
2502,
878,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
373,
18485,
510,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
11,
290,
996,
262,
1748,
373,
1682,
319,
262,
7627,
3331,
286,
262,
7850,
11,
262,
2460,
11,
2263,
262,
5608,
286,
367,
668,
293,
2113,
23506,
11,
550,
3066,
284,
3067,
510,
262,
7421,
3331,
290,
3368,
262,
36105,
16169,
286,
262,
10776,
5908,
669,
13,
2990,
12606,
262,
360,
408,
17714,
1231,
1165,
881,
5876,
11,
5176,
284,
262,
8082,
33546,
286,
262,
288,
808,
11,
508,
4966,
503,
625,
262,
7850,
1863,
281,
625,
71,
4924,
5509,
25035,
290,
443,
5813,
284,
257,
2092,
583,
354,
319,
262,
8478,
286,
257,
5509,
319,
262,
6697,
3331,
13,
28093,
706,
11,
484,
547,
477,
3538,
458,
5088,
278
] |
dnd594
|
The riders had rallied around the unexpected reinforcements, but one right before him had been wrapped by a monster and was being dragged from his horse.Seeing the treelike nature of their weird foes, Drizzt understood why the riders all wielded axes, and wondered how effective his slender scimitars would prove.But he had to act.Springing from his concealment, he thrust both his scimitars at the creature.They nicked into the mark, having no more effect than if Drizzt had stabbed a tree.Even so, the drow‟s attempt had saved the rider.The monster clubbed its victim one last time to keep him dazed, then released its hold to face Drizzt.Thinking quickly, the drow went to an alternate attack, using his ineffective blades to parry the clubbing limbs.Then, as the creature rushed in on him, he dove at its feet, uprooting it, and rolled it back over him toward the riverbank.He poked his scimitars into the barklike skin and pushed off, sending the monster tumbling toward the Surbrin.It caught a hold before it went into the water, but Drizzt was on it again.A flurry of well-placed kicks put the monster into the flow and the river carried it away.The rider, by this time, had regained his seat and his wits.He stepped his horse to the bank to thank his rescuer.Then he saw the black skin.“Drow!” he screamed, and his axeblade cut down.Drizzt was caught off guard.His keen reflexes got one blade up enough to deflect the edge of the axe, but the flat of the weapon struck his head and sent him reeling.He dove with the momentum of the hit and rolled, trying to put as much ground between himself and the rider as he could, realizing that the man would kill him before he could recover.“Wulfgar!” Regis screamed from his own concealment a short way back on the bank.The barbarian finished off one of the monsters with a thunderous smack that sent cracks all along its length, and turned just as the rider was bringing his horse about to get at Drizzt.Wulfgar roared in rage and bolted from his own fight, grabbing the horse‟s bridle while it was still in its turn and heaving with all his strength.Horse and rider toppled to the ground.The horse was up again at once, shaking its head and nervously trotting about, but the rider stayed down, his leg crushed under his mount‟s weight in the fall.The remaining five riders worked in unison now, charging into groups of monsters and scattering them.Bruenor‟s wicked axe cut away, the dwarf all the while singing a woodchopper‟s song that he had learned as a boy.“Go split the wood for the fire, me son,Heat up the kettle and the meal‟s begun!”he sang out as he methodically cut down one monster after another.Wulfgar defensively straddled Drizzt‟s form, his mighty hammer shattering, with a single strike, any of the monsters that ventured too near.The rout was on, and in seconds the few surviving creatures scampered in terror across the bridge over the Surbrin.Three riders were down and dead, a fourth leaned heavily against his horse, nearly overcome by his wounds, and the one Wulfgar had dropped had fainted away for his agony.But the five remaining astride did not go to their wounded.They formed a semi-circle around Wulfgar and Drizzt, who was just now getting back to his feet, and kept the two pinned against the riverbank with axes ready.“This is how ye welcome yer rescuers?” Bruenor barked at them, slapping aside one horse so that he could join his friends.“Me bet‟s that the same folk don‟t come to yer aid twice!”“Foul company you keep, dwarf!” one of the riders retorted.Page 74“Your friend would be dead if it were not for that foul company!” Wulfgar replied, indicating the rider lying off to the side.“And he repays the drow with a blade!”“We are the Riders of Nesme,” the rider explained.“Our lot is to die on the field, protecting our kin.
|
The riders had rallied around the unexpected reinforcements, but one right before him had been wrapped by a monster and was being dragged from his horse.Seeing the treelike nature of their weird foes, Drizzt understood why the riders all wielded axes, and wondered how effective his slender scimitars would prove.But he had to act.Springing from his concealment, he thrust both his scimitars at the creature.They nicked into the mark, having no more effect than if Drizzt had stabbed a tree.Even so, the drow‟s attempt had saved the rider.The monster clubbed its victim one last time to keep him dazed, then released its hold to face Drizzt.Thinking quickly, the drow went to an alternate attack, using his ineffective blades to parry the clubbing limbs.Then, as the creature rushed in on him, he dove at its feet, uprooting it, and rolled it back over him toward the riverbank.He poked his scimitars into the barklike skin and pushed off, sending the monster tumbling toward the Surbrin.It caught a hold before it went into the water, but Drizzt was on it again.A flurry of well-placed kicks put the monster into the flow and the river carried it away.The rider, by this time, had regained his seat and his wits.He stepped his horse to the bank to thank his rescuer.Then he saw the black skin.“Drow!” he screamed, and his axeblade cut down.Drizzt was caught off guard.His keen reflexes got one blade up enough to deflect the edge of the axe, but the flat of the weapon struck his head and sent him reeling.He dove with the momentum of the hit and rolled, trying to put as much ground between himself and the rider as he could, realizing that the man would kill him before he could recover.“Wulfgar!” Regis screamed from his own concealment a short way back on the bank.The barbarian finished off one of the monsters with a thunderous smack that sent cracks all along its length, and turned just as the rider was bringing his horse about to get at Drizzt.Wulfgar roared in rage and bolted from his own fight, grabbing the horse‟s bridle while it was still in its turn and heaving with all his strength.Horse and rider toppled to the ground.The horse was up again at once, shaking its head and nervously trotting about, but the rider stayed down, his leg crushed under his mount‟s weight in the fall.The remaining five riders worked in unison now, charging into groups of monsters and scattering them.Bruenor‟s wicked axe cut away, the dwarf all the while singing a woodchopper‟s song that he had learned as a boy.“Go split the wood for the fire, me son,Heat up the kettle and the meal‟s begun!”he sang out as he methodically cut down one monster after another.Wulfgar defensively straddled Drizzt‟s form, his mighty hammer shattering, with a single strike, any of the monsters that ventured too near.The rout was on, and in seconds the few surviving creatures scampered in terror across the bridge over the Surbrin.Three riders were down and dead, a fourth leaned heavily against his horse, nearly overcome by his wounds, and the one Wulfgar had dropped had fainted away for his agony.But the five remaining astride did not go to their wounded.They formed a semi-circle around Wulfgar and Drizzt, who was just now getting back to his feet, and kept the two pinned against the riverbank with axes ready.“This is how ye welcome yer rescuers?” Bruenor barked at them, slapping aside one horse so that he could join his friends.“Me bet‟s that the same folk don‟t come to yer aid twice!”“Foul company you keep, dwarf!” one of the riders retorted.Page 74“Your friend would be dead if it were not for that foul company!” Wulfgar replied, indicating the rider lying off to the side.“And he repays the drow with a blade!”“We are the Riders of Nesme,” the rider explained.“Our lot is to die on the field, protecting our kin.
|
[
464,
13750,
550,
32537,
1088,
262,
10059,
38578,
11,
475,
530,
826,
878,
683,
550,
587,
12908,
416,
257,
9234,
290,
373,
852,
17901,
422,
465,
8223,
13,
36314,
262,
2054,
417,
522,
3450,
286,
511,
7650,
20822,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
7247,
1521,
262,
13750,
477,
42459,
34197,
11,
290,
14028,
703,
4050,
465,
36808,
629,
320,
27745,
561,
5879,
13,
1537,
339,
550,
284,
719,
13,
30387,
278,
422,
465,
21363,
434,
11,
339,
14613,
1111,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
379,
262,
7185,
13,
2990,
299,
9484,
656,
262,
1317,
11,
1719,
645,
517,
1245,
621,
611,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
21512,
257,
5509,
13,
6104,
523,
11,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2230,
550,
7448,
262,
17876,
13,
464,
9234,
3430,
3077,
663,
3117,
530,
938,
640,
284,
1394,
683,
288,
13865,
11,
788,
2716,
663,
1745,
284,
1986,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
817,
8040,
2952,
11,
262,
288,
808,
1816,
284,
281,
13527,
1368,
11,
1262,
465,
23693,
20784,
284,
1582,
563,
262,
3430,
4623,
21755,
13,
6423,
11,
355,
262,
7185,
13999,
287,
319,
683,
11,
339,
38862,
379,
663,
3625,
11,
31921,
10720,
340,
11,
290,
11686,
340,
736,
625,
683,
3812,
262,
7850,
17796,
13,
1544,
47320,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
656,
262,
21405,
2339,
4168,
290,
7121,
572,
11,
7216,
262,
9234,
256,
14739,
3812,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
13,
1026,
4978,
257,
1745,
878,
340,
1816,
656,
262,
1660,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
319,
340,
757,
13,
32,
36418,
286,
880,
12,
21820,
17364,
1234,
262,
9234,
656,
262,
5202,
290,
262,
7850,
5281,
340,
1497,
13,
464,
17876,
11,
416,
428,
640,
11,
550,
35049,
465,
5852,
290,
465,
266,
896,
13,
1544,
10764,
465,
8223,
284,
262,
3331,
284,
5875,
465,
6811,
15573,
13,
6423,
339,
2497,
262,
2042,
4168,
13,
447,
250,
35,
808,
0,
447,
251,
339,
25421,
11,
290,
465,
7877,
1765,
75,
671,
2005,
866,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
4978,
572,
4860,
13,
6653,
13795,
24133,
274,
1392,
530,
11865,
510,
1576,
284,
31685,
262,
5743,
286,
262,
23272,
11,
475,
262,
6228,
286,
262,
4282,
7425,
465,
1182,
290,
1908,
683,
45341,
13,
1544,
38862,
351,
262,
12858,
286,
262,
2277,
290,
11686,
11,
2111,
284,
1234,
355,
881,
2323,
1022,
2241,
290,
262,
17876,
355,
339,
714,
11,
20060,
326,
262,
582,
561,
1494,
683,
878,
339,
714,
8551,
13,
447,
250,
54,
4754,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
25421,
422,
465,
898,
21363,
434,
257,
1790,
835,
736,
319,
262,
3331,
13,
464,
42577,
3699,
5201,
572,
530,
286,
262,
10963,
351,
257,
18355,
516,
41014,
326,
1908,
23217,
477,
1863,
663,
4129,
11,
290,
2900,
655,
355,
262,
17876,
373,
6079,
465,
8223,
546,
284,
651,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
45615,
287,
14404,
290,
49647,
422,
465,
898,
1907,
11,
23256,
262,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
38265,
293,
981,
340,
373,
991,
287,
663,
1210,
290,
339,
2703,
351,
477,
465,
4202,
13,
39,
7615,
290,
17876,
48757,
284,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
8223
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
464,
13750,
550,
32537,
1088,
262,
10059,
38578,
11,
475,
530,
826,
878,
683,
550,
587,
12908,
416,
257,
9234,
290,
373,
852,
17901,
422,
465,
8223,
13,
36314,
262,
2054,
417,
522,
3450,
286,
511,
7650,
20822,
11,
5809,
3019,
83,
7247,
1521,
262,
13750,
477,
42459,
34197,
11,
290,
14028,
703,
4050,
465,
36808,
629,
320,
27745,
561,
5879,
13,
1537,
339,
550,
284,
719,
13,
30387,
278,
422,
465,
21363,
434,
11,
339,
14613,
1111,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
379,
262,
7185,
13,
2990,
299,
9484,
656,
262,
1317,
11,
1719,
645,
517,
1245,
621,
611,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
21512,
257,
5509,
13,
6104,
523,
11,
262,
288,
808,
447,
253,
82,
2230,
550,
7448,
262,
17876,
13,
464,
9234,
3430,
3077,
663,
3117,
530,
938,
640,
284,
1394,
683,
288,
13865,
11,
788,
2716,
663,
1745,
284,
1986,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
817,
8040,
2952,
11,
262,
288,
808,
1816,
284,
281,
13527,
1368,
11,
1262,
465,
23693,
20784,
284,
1582,
563,
262,
3430,
4623,
21755,
13,
6423,
11,
355,
262,
7185,
13999,
287,
319,
683,
11,
339,
38862,
379,
663,
3625,
11,
31921,
10720,
340,
11,
290,
11686,
340,
736,
625,
683,
3812,
262,
7850,
17796,
13,
1544,
47320,
465,
629,
320,
27745,
656,
262,
21405,
2339,
4168,
290,
7121,
572,
11,
7216,
262,
9234,
256,
14739,
3812,
262,
4198,
1671,
259,
13,
1026,
4978,
257,
1745,
878,
340,
1816,
656,
262,
1660,
11,
475,
5809,
3019,
83,
373,
319,
340,
757,
13,
32,
36418,
286,
880,
12,
21820,
17364,
1234,
262,
9234,
656,
262,
5202,
290,
262,
7850,
5281,
340,
1497,
13,
464,
17876,
11,
416,
428,
640,
11,
550,
35049,
465,
5852,
290,
465,
266,
896,
13,
1544,
10764,
465,
8223,
284,
262,
3331,
284,
5875,
465,
6811,
15573,
13,
6423,
339,
2497,
262,
2042,
4168,
13,
447,
250,
35,
808,
0,
447,
251,
339,
25421,
11,
290,
465,
7877,
1765,
75,
671,
2005,
866,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
373,
4978,
572,
4860,
13,
6653,
13795,
24133,
274,
1392,
530,
11865,
510,
1576,
284,
31685,
262,
5743,
286,
262,
23272,
11,
475,
262,
6228,
286,
262,
4282,
7425,
465,
1182,
290,
1908,
683,
45341,
13,
1544,
38862,
351,
262,
12858,
286,
262,
2277,
290,
11686,
11,
2111,
284,
1234,
355,
881,
2323,
1022,
2241,
290,
262,
17876,
355,
339,
714,
11,
20060,
326,
262,
582,
561,
1494,
683,
878,
339,
714,
8551,
13,
447,
250,
54,
4754,
4563,
0,
447,
251,
3310,
271,
25421,
422,
465,
898,
21363,
434,
257,
1790,
835,
736,
319,
262,
3331,
13,
464,
42577,
3699,
5201,
572,
530,
286,
262,
10963,
351,
257,
18355,
516,
41014,
326,
1908,
23217,
477,
1863,
663,
4129,
11,
290,
2900,
655,
355,
262,
17876,
373,
6079,
465,
8223,
546,
284,
651,
379,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
45615,
287,
14404,
290,
49647,
422,
465,
898,
1907,
11,
23256,
262,
8223,
447,
253,
82,
38265,
293,
981,
340,
373,
991,
287,
663,
1210,
290,
339,
2703,
351,
477,
465,
4202,
13,
39,
7615,
290,
17876,
48757,
284,
262,
2323,
13,
464,
8223
] |
dnd595
|
We accept this fate willingly.”“Step yer horse one more foot and ye‟ll get yer wish,” Bruenor warned.“But you judge us unfairly,” Wulfgar argued.“Nesme is our destination.We come in peace and friendship.”“You‟ll not get in–not with him!” spat the rider.“The ways of the foul drow elves are known to all.You ask us to welcome him?”“Bah, yer a fool and so‟s yer mother,” Bruenor growled.“Ware your words, dwarf,” the rider warned.“We are five to three, and mounted.”“Try yer threat, then,” Bruenor shot back.“The buzzards won‟t get much eatin‟ with those dancing trees.” He ran his finger along the edge of his axe.“Let‟s give „em something better to peck at.”Wulfgar swung Aegis-fang easily, back and forth at the end of one arm.Drizzt made no move toward his weapons, and his steady calm was perhaps the most unnerving action of all to the riders.Their speaker seemed less cocksure after the failure of his threat, but he held to a facade of advantage.“But we are not ungrateful for your assistance.We shall allow you to walk away.Be gone and never return to our lands.”“We go where we choose,” snarled Bruenor.“And we choose not to fight,” Drizzt added.“It is not our purpose, nor our desire, to lay injury to you or to your town, Riders of Nesme.We shall pass, keeping our own business to ourselves and leaving yours to you.”“You shan‟t go anywhere near my town, black elf!” another rider cried.“You may cut us down on the field, but there are a hundred more behind us, and thrice that behind them!Now be gone!” His companions seemed to regain their courage at his bold words, their horses stepping nervously at the sudden tensing of the bridles.“We have our course,” Wulfgar insisted.“Damn „em!” Bruenor roared suddenly.“I‟ve seen too much of this band already!Damn their town.May the river wash it away!” He turned to his friends.“They do us a favor.
|
We accept this fate willingly.”“Step yer horse one more foot and ye‟ll get yer wish,” Bruenor warned.“But you judge us unfairly,” Wulfgar argued.“Nesme is our destination.We come in peace and friendship.”“You‟ll not get in–not with him!” spat the rider.“The ways of the foul drow elves are known to all.You ask us to welcome him?”“Bah, yer a fool and so‟s yer mother,” Bruenor growled.“Ware your words, dwarf,” the rider warned.“We are five to three, and mounted.”“Try yer threat, then,” Bruenor shot back.“The buzzards won‟t get much eatin‟ with those dancing trees.” He ran his finger along the edge of his axe.“Let‟s give „em something better to peck at.”Wulfgar swung Aegis-fang easily, back and forth at the end of one arm.Drizzt made no move toward his weapons, and his steady calm was perhaps the most unnerving action of all to the riders.Their speaker seemed less cocksure after the failure of his threat, but he held to a facade of advantage.“But we are not ungrateful for your assistance.We shall allow you to walk away.Be gone and never return to our lands.”“We go where we choose,” snarled Bruenor.“And we choose not to fight,” Drizzt added.“It is not our purpose, nor our desire, to lay injury to you or to your town, Riders of Nesme.We shall pass, keeping our own business to ourselves and leaving yours to you.”“You shan‟t go anywhere near my town, black elf!” another rider cried.“You may cut us down on the field, but there are a hundred more behind us, and thrice that behind them!Now be gone!” His companions seemed to regain their courage at his bold words, their horses stepping nervously at the sudden tensing of the bridles.“We have our course,” Wulfgar insisted.“Damn „em!” Bruenor roared suddenly.“I‟ve seen too much of this band already!Damn their town.May the river wash it away!” He turned to his friends.“They do us a favor.
|
[
1135,
2453,
428,
10030,
30981,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8600,
331,
263,
8223,
530,
517,
2366,
290,
9838,
447,
253,
297,
651,
331,
263,
4601,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
345,
5052,
514,
30750,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
7189,
13,
447,
250,
45,
274,
1326,
318,
674,
10965,
13,
1135,
1282,
287,
4167,
290,
14738,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
253,
297,
407,
651,
287,
1906,
1662,
351,
683,
0,
447,
251,
15246,
262,
17876,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2842,
286,
262,
15626,
288,
808,
31959,
389,
1900,
284,
477,
13,
1639,
1265,
514,
284,
7062,
683,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
11,
331,
263,
257,
9192,
290,
523,
447,
253,
82,
331,
263,
2802,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
38824,
534,
2456,
11,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
1936,
284,
1115,
11,
290,
12623,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
23433,
331,
263,
2372,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
464,
14713,
1371,
1839,
447,
253,
83,
651,
881,
4483,
259,
447,
253,
351,
883,
15360,
7150,
13,
447,
251,
679,
4966,
465,
7660,
1863,
262,
5743,
286,
465,
23272,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
447,
253,
82,
1577,
564,
252,
368,
1223,
1365,
284,
613,
694,
379,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
28507,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
3538,
11,
736,
290,
6071,
379,
262,
886,
286,
530,
3211,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
925,
645,
1445,
3812,
465,
3777,
11,
290,
465,
11831,
9480,
373,
3737,
262,
749,
41231,
14344,
2223,
286,
477,
284,
262,
13750,
13,
14574,
10834,
3947,
1342,
269,
3320,
495,
706,
262,
5287,
286,
465,
2372,
11,
475,
339,
2714,
284,
257,
43562,
286,
4621,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
389,
407,
555,
2164,
11850,
329,
534,
6829,
13,
1135,
2236,
1249,
345,
284,
2513,
1497,
13,
3856,
3750,
290,
1239,
1441,
284,
674,
8604,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
467,
810,
356,
3853,
11,
447,
251,
3013,
283,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
356,
3853,
407,
284,
1907,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
407,
674,
4007,
11,
4249,
674,
6227,
11,
284,
3830,
5095,
284,
345,
393,
284,
534,
3240,
11,
34854,
286,
399,
274,
1326,
13,
1135,
2236,
1208,
11,
5291,
674,
898,
1597,
284,
6731,
290,
4305,
12431,
284,
345,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
467,
6609,
1474,
616,
3240,
11,
2042,
23878,
0,
447,
251,
1194,
17876,
16896,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
2005,
514,
866,
319,
262,
2214,
11,
475,
612,
389,
257,
3470,
517,
2157,
514,
11,
290,
5636,
501,
326,
2157,
606,
0,
3844,
307,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
2399,
19429,
3947,
284,
21509,
511,
11917,
379,
465,
10758,
2456,
11,
511,
14260,
17413,
43324,
379,
262,
4802,
11192,
278,
286,
262,
38265,
829,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
674,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
11189,
13,
447,
250
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1135,
2453,
428,
10030,
30981,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
8600,
331,
263,
8223,
530,
517,
2366,
290,
9838,
447,
253,
297,
651,
331,
263,
4601,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
345,
5052,
514,
30750,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
7189,
13,
447,
250,
45,
274,
1326,
318,
674,
10965,
13,
1135,
1282,
287,
4167,
290,
14738,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
447,
253,
297,
407,
651,
287,
1906,
1662,
351,
683,
0,
447,
251,
15246,
262,
17876,
13,
447,
250,
464,
2842,
286,
262,
15626,
288,
808,
31959,
389,
1900,
284,
477,
13,
1639,
1265,
514,
284,
7062,
683,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
47514,
11,
331,
263,
257,
9192,
290,
523,
447,
253,
82,
331,
263,
2802,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
1663,
992,
13,
447,
250,
38824,
534,
2456,
11,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
389,
1936,
284,
1115,
11,
290,
12623,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
23433,
331,
263,
2372,
11,
788,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
2823,
736,
13,
447,
250,
464,
14713,
1371,
1839,
447,
253,
83,
651,
881,
4483,
259,
447,
253,
351,
883,
15360,
7150,
13,
447,
251,
679,
4966,
465,
7660,
1863,
262,
5743,
286,
465,
23272,
13,
447,
250,
5756,
447,
253,
82,
1577,
564,
252,
368,
1223,
1365,
284,
613,
694,
379,
13,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
28507,
33821,
271,
12,
69,
648,
3538,
11,
736,
290,
6071,
379,
262,
886,
286,
530,
3211,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
925,
645,
1445,
3812,
465,
3777,
11,
290,
465,
11831,
9480,
373,
3737,
262,
749,
41231,
14344,
2223,
286,
477,
284,
262,
13750,
13,
14574,
10834,
3947,
1342,
269,
3320,
495,
706,
262,
5287,
286,
465,
2372,
11,
475,
339,
2714,
284,
257,
43562,
286,
4621,
13,
447,
250,
1537,
356,
389,
407,
555,
2164,
11850,
329,
534,
6829,
13,
1135,
2236,
1249,
345,
284,
2513,
1497,
13,
3856,
3750,
290,
1239,
1441,
284,
674,
8604,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1135,
467,
810,
356,
3853,
11,
447,
251,
3013,
283,
992,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
447,
250,
1870,
356,
3853,
407,
284,
1907,
11,
447,
251,
5809,
3019,
83,
2087,
13,
447,
250,
1026,
318,
407,
674,
4007,
11,
4249,
674,
6227,
11,
284,
3830,
5095,
284,
345,
393,
284,
534,
3240,
11,
34854,
286,
399,
274,
1326,
13,
1135,
2236,
1208,
11,
5291,
674,
898,
1597,
284,
6731,
290,
4305,
12431,
284,
345,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1639,
427,
272,
447,
253,
83,
467,
6609,
1474,
616,
3240,
11,
2042,
23878,
0,
447,
251,
1194,
17876,
16896,
13,
447,
250,
1639,
743,
2005,
514,
866,
319,
262,
2214,
11,
475,
612,
389,
257,
3470,
517,
2157,
514,
11,
290,
5636,
501,
326,
2157,
606,
0,
3844,
307,
3750,
0,
447,
251,
2399,
19429,
3947,
284,
21509,
511,
11917,
379,
465,
10758,
2456,
11,
511,
14260,
17413,
43324,
379,
262,
4802,
11192,
278,
286,
262,
38265,
829,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
674,
1781,
11,
447,
251,
370,
4754,
4563,
11189,
13,
447,
250
] |
dnd596
|
A day and more wèll save by going straight through to Silverymoon, instead of around with the river.”“Straight through?” questioned Drizzt.“The Evermoors?”“Can it be worse than the dale?” Bruenor replied.He spun back on the riders.“Keep yer town, and yer heads, for now,” he said.“We‟re to cross the bridge here and be rid of yerselves and all of Nesme!”“Fouler things than bog blokes roam the Trollmoors, foolish dwarf,” the rider replied with a grin.“We have come to destroy this bridge.It will be burned behind you.”Bruenor nodded and returned the grin.“Keep your course to the east,” the rider warned.“Word will go out to all the riders.If you are sighted near Nesme, you will be killed.”“Take your vile friend and be gone,” another rider taunted, “before my axe bathes in the blood of a black elf!Although I would then have to throw the tainted weapon away!” All the riders joined in the ensuing laughter.Drizzt hadn‟t even heard it.He was concentrating on a rider in the back of the group, a quiet one who could use his obscurity in the conversation to gain an unnoticed advantage.The rider had slipped a bow off of his shoulder and was inching his hand, ever so slowly, toward his quiver.Bruenor was done talking.He and Wulfgar turned away from the riders and started to the bridge.“Come on, elf,” he said to Drizzt as he passed.“Me sleep‟ll come better when we‟re far away from these orc-sired dogs.”But Drizzt had one more message to send before he would turn his back on the riders.In one blinding movement, he spun the bow from his back, pulled an arrow from his quiver, and sent it whistling through the air.It knocked into the would-be bowman‟s leather cap, parting his hair down Page 75the middle, and stuck in a tree immediately behind, its shaft quivering a clear warning.“Your misguided insults, I accept, even expect,” Drizzt explained to the horrified horsemen.“But I‟ll brook no attempts to injure my friends, and I will defend myself.Be warned, and only once warned: If you make another move against us, you will die.” He turned abruptly and moved down to the bridge without looking back.The stunned riders certainly had no intention of hindering the drow‟s party any further.The would-be bowman hadn‟t even looked for his cap.Drizzt smiled at the irony of his inability to clear himself of the legends of his heritage.Though he was shunned and threatened on the one hand, the mysterious aura surrounding the black elves also gave him a bluff powerful enough to dissuade most potential enemies.Regis joined them at the bridge, bouncing a small rock in his hand.“Had them lined up,” he explained of his impromptu weapon.
|
A day and more wèll save by going straight through to Silverymoon, instead of around with the river.”“Straight through?” questioned Drizzt.“The Evermoors?”“Can it be worse than the dale?” Bruenor replied.He spun back on the riders.“Keep yer town, and yer heads, for now,” he said.“We‟re to cross the bridge here and be rid of yerselves and all of Nesme!”“Fouler things than bog blokes roam the Trollmoors, foolish dwarf,” the rider replied with a grin.“We have come to destroy this bridge.It will be burned behind you.”Bruenor nodded and returned the grin.“Keep your course to the east,” the rider warned.“Word will go out to all the riders.If you are sighted near Nesme, you will be killed.”“Take your vile friend and be gone,” another rider taunted, “before my axe bathes in the blood of a black elf!Although I would then have to throw the tainted weapon away!” All the riders joined in the ensuing laughter.Drizzt hadn‟t even heard it.He was concentrating on a rider in the back of the group, a quiet one who could use his obscurity in the conversation to gain an unnoticed advantage.The rider had slipped a bow off of his shoulder and was inching his hand, ever so slowly, toward his quiver.Bruenor was done talking.He and Wulfgar turned away from the riders and started to the bridge.“Come on, elf,” he said to Drizzt as he passed.“Me sleep‟ll come better when we‟re far away from these orc-sired dogs.”But Drizzt had one more message to send before he would turn his back on the riders.In one blinding movement, he spun the bow from his back, pulled an arrow from his quiver, and sent it whistling through the air.It knocked into the would-be bowman‟s leather cap, parting his hair down Page 75the middle, and stuck in a tree immediately behind, its shaft quivering a clear warning.“Your misguided insults, I accept, even expect,” Drizzt explained to the horrified horsemen.“But I‟ll brook no attempts to injure my friends, and I will defend myself.Be warned, and only once warned: If you make another move against us, you will die.” He turned abruptly and moved down to the bridge without looking back.The stunned riders certainly had no intention of hindering the drow‟s party any further.The would-be bowman hadn‟t even looked for his cap.Drizzt smiled at the irony of his inability to clear himself of the legends of his heritage.Though he was shunned and threatened on the one hand, the mysterious aura surrounding the black elves also gave him a bluff powerful enough to dissuade most potential enemies.Regis joined them at the bridge, bouncing a small rock in his hand.“Had them lined up,” he explained of his impromptu weapon.
|
[
32,
1110,
290,
517,
266,
14064,
297,
3613,
416,
1016,
3892,
832,
284,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
2427,
286,
1088,
351,
262,
7850,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
41347,
432,
832,
30,
447,
251,
11434,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
464,
10776,
5908,
669,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6090,
340,
307,
4785,
621,
262,
288,
1000,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
8712,
13,
1544,
26843,
736,
319,
262,
13750,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
331,
263,
3240,
11,
290,
331,
263,
6665,
11,
329,
783,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
3272,
262,
7696,
994,
290,
307,
5755,
286,
331,
263,
2020,
290,
477,
286,
399,
274,
1326,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
37,
280,
1754,
1243,
621,
22922,
698,
3369,
35563,
262,
28037,
5908,
669,
11,
19538,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
8712,
351,
257,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
1282,
284,
4117,
428,
7696,
13,
1026,
481,
307,
11544,
2157,
345,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
14464,
290,
4504,
262,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
534,
1781,
284,
262,
7627,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
26449,
481,
467,
503,
284,
477,
262,
13750,
13,
1532,
345,
389,
6504,
276,
1474,
399,
274,
1326,
11,
345,
481,
307,
2923,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12322,
534,
34942,
1545,
290,
307,
3750,
11,
447,
251,
1194,
17876,
256,
20227,
11,
564,
250,
19052,
616,
23272,
7365,
956,
287,
262,
2910,
286,
257,
2042,
23878,
0,
7003,
314,
561,
788,
423,
284,
3714,
262,
36912,
4282,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
1439,
262,
13750,
5399,
287,
262,
29543,
20263,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
772,
2982,
340,
13,
1544,
373,
37367,
319,
257,
17876,
287,
262,
736,
286,
262,
1448,
11,
257,
5897,
530,
508,
714,
779,
465,
48326,
287,
262,
5273,
284,
4461,
281,
33755,
4621,
13,
464,
17876,
550,
18859,
257,
9563,
572,
286,
465,
8163,
290,
373,
287,
10813,
465,
1021,
11,
1683,
523,
6364,
11,
3812,
465,
627,
1428,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
373,
1760,
3375,
13,
1544,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
2900,
1497,
422,
262,
13750,
290,
2067,
284,
262,
7696,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
355,
339,
3804,
13,
447,
250,
5308,
3993,
447,
253,
297,
1282,
1365,
618,
356,
447,
253,
260,
1290,
1497,
422,
777,
26393,
12,
82,
1202,
6844,
13,
447,
251,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
530,
517,
3275,
284,
3758,
878,
339,
561,
1210,
465,
736,
319,
262,
13750,
13,
818,
530,
46573,
3356,
11,
339,
26843,
262,
9563,
422,
465,
736,
11,
5954,
281,
15452,
422,
465,
627,
1428,
11,
290,
1908,
340,
32262,
1359,
832,
262,
1633,
13,
1026,
13642,
656,
262,
561,
12,
1350,
9563,
805,
447,
253,
82,
11620,
1451,
11,
44823,
465,
4190,
866,
7873,
5441,
1169,
3504,
11,
290,
7819,
287,
257,
5509,
3393,
2157,
11,
663,
18619,
627,
35598,
257,
1598,
6509,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
30168,
27819,
11,
314,
2453,
11,
772,
1607
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
32,
1110,
290,
517,
266,
14064,
297,
3613,
416,
1016,
3892,
832,
284,
4243,
548,
22977,
11,
2427,
286,
1088,
351,
262,
7850,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
41347,
432,
832,
30,
447,
251,
11434,
5809,
3019,
83,
13,
447,
250,
464,
10776,
5908,
669,
30,
447,
251,
447,
250,
6090,
340,
307,
4785,
621,
262,
288,
1000,
30,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
8712,
13,
1544,
26843,
736,
319,
262,
13750,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
331,
263,
3240,
11,
290,
331,
263,
6665,
11,
329,
783,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
447,
253,
260,
284,
3272,
262,
7696,
994,
290,
307,
5755,
286,
331,
263,
2020,
290,
477,
286,
399,
274,
1326,
0,
447,
251,
447,
250,
37,
280,
1754,
1243,
621,
22922,
698,
3369,
35563,
262,
28037,
5908,
669,
11,
19538,
24603,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
8712,
351,
257,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
1135,
423,
1282,
284,
4117,
428,
7696,
13,
1026,
481,
307,
11544,
2157,
345,
13,
447,
251,
33,
622,
268,
273,
14464,
290,
4504,
262,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
15597,
534,
1781,
284,
262,
7627,
11,
447,
251,
262,
17876,
7728,
13,
447,
250,
26449,
481,
467,
503,
284,
477,
262,
13750,
13,
1532,
345,
389,
6504,
276,
1474,
399,
274,
1326,
11,
345,
481,
307,
2923,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
12322,
534,
34942,
1545,
290,
307,
3750,
11,
447,
251,
1194,
17876,
256,
20227,
11,
564,
250,
19052,
616,
23272,
7365,
956,
287,
262,
2910,
286,
257,
2042,
23878,
0,
7003,
314,
561,
788,
423,
284,
3714,
262,
36912,
4282,
1497,
0,
447,
251,
1439,
262,
13750,
5399,
287,
262,
29543,
20263,
13,
20564,
3019,
83,
8020,
447,
253,
83,
772,
2982,
340,
13,
1544,
373,
37367,
319,
257,
17876,
287,
262,
736,
286,
262,
1448,
11,
257,
5897,
530,
508,
714,
779,
465,
48326,
287,
262,
5273,
284,
4461,
281,
33755,
4621,
13,
464,
17876,
550,
18859,
257,
9563,
572,
286,
465,
8163,
290,
373,
287,
10813,
465,
1021,
11,
1683,
523,
6364,
11,
3812,
465,
627,
1428,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
373,
1760,
3375,
13,
1544,
290,
370,
4754,
4563,
2900,
1497,
422,
262,
13750,
290,
2067,
284,
262,
7696,
13,
447,
250,
16773,
319,
11,
23878,
11,
447,
251,
339,
531,
284,
5809,
3019,
83,
355,
339,
3804,
13,
447,
250,
5308,
3993,
447,
253,
297,
1282,
1365,
618,
356,
447,
253,
260,
1290,
1497,
422,
777,
26393,
12,
82,
1202,
6844,
13,
447,
251,
1537,
5809,
3019,
83,
550,
530,
517,
3275,
284,
3758,
878,
339,
561,
1210,
465,
736,
319,
262,
13750,
13,
818,
530,
46573,
3356,
11,
339,
26843,
262,
9563,
422,
465,
736,
11,
5954,
281,
15452,
422,
465,
627,
1428,
11,
290,
1908,
340,
32262,
1359,
832,
262,
1633,
13,
1026,
13642,
656,
262,
561,
12,
1350,
9563,
805,
447,
253,
82,
11620,
1451,
11,
44823,
465,
4190,
866,
7873,
5441,
1169,
3504,
11,
290,
7819,
287,
257,
5509,
3393,
2157,
11,
663,
18619,
627,
35598,
257,
1598,
6509,
13,
447,
250,
7120,
30168,
27819,
11,
314,
2453,
11,
772,
1607
] |
dnd597
|
He flicked the stone into the river.“If it began, I would have had the first shot.”“If it began,” Bruenor corrected, “ye‟d have soiled the hole ye hid in!”Wulfgar considered the rider‟s warning of their path.“Trollmoors,” he echoed somberly, looking up the slope across the way to the blasted land before them.Harkle had told them of the place.The burned-out land and bottomless bogs.The trolls and even worse horrors that had no names.“Save us a day and more!” Bruenor repeated stubbornly.Wulfgar wasn‟t convinced.* * *“You are dismissed,” Dendybar told the specter.As the flames reformed in the brazier, stripping him of his material form, Morkai considered this second meeting.How often would Dendybar be calling upon him?He wondered.The mottled wizard had not yet fully recovered from their last encounter, but had dared to summon him again so soon.Dendybar‟s business with the dwarf‟s party must be urgent indeed!That assumption only made Morkai despise his role as the mottled wizard‟s spy even more.Alone in the room again, Dendybar stretched out from his meditative position and grinned wickedly as he considered the image Morkai had shown him.The companions had lost their mounts.and were marching into the foulest area in all the North.Another day or so would put his own party, flying on the hooves of his magical steeds, even with them, though thirty miles to the north.Sydney would get to Silverymoon long before the Drow.11.SilverymoonThe ride from Luskan was swift indeed.Entreri and his cohorts appeared to any curious onlookers as no more than a shimmering blur in the night wind.The magical mounts left no trail of their passing, and no living creature could have overtaken them.The golem, as always, lumbered tirelessly behind with great stiff-legged strides.So smooth and easy were the seats atop Dendybar‟s conjured steeds that the party was able to keep up its run past the dawn and throughout the entire next day with only short rests for food.Thus, when they set their camp after the sunset of the first full day on the road, they had already put the crags behind them.Catti-brie fought an inner battle that first day.
|
He flicked the stone into the river.“If it began, I would have had the first shot.”“If it began,” Bruenor corrected, “ye‟d have soiled the hole ye hid in!”Wulfgar considered the rider‟s warning of their path.“Trollmoors,” he echoed somberly, looking up the slope across the way to the blasted land before them.Harkle had told them of the place.The burned-out land and bottomless bogs.The trolls and even worse horrors that had no names.“Save us a day and more!” Bruenor repeated stubbornly.Wulfgar wasn‟t convinced.* * *“You are dismissed,” Dendybar told the specter.As the flames reformed in the brazier, stripping him of his material form, Morkai considered this second meeting.How often would Dendybar be calling upon him?He wondered.The mottled wizard had not yet fully recovered from their last encounter, but had dared to summon him again so soon.Dendybar‟s business with the dwarf‟s party must be urgent indeed!That assumption only made Morkai despise his role as the mottled wizard‟s spy even more.Alone in the room again, Dendybar stretched out from his meditative position and grinned wickedly as he considered the image Morkai had shown him.The companions had lost their mounts.and were marching into the foulest area in all the North.Another day or so would put his own party, flying on the hooves of his magical steeds, even with them, though thirty miles to the north.Sydney would get to Silverymoon long before the Drow.11.SilverymoonThe ride from Luskan was swift indeed.Entreri and his cohorts appeared to any curious onlookers as no more than a shimmering blur in the night wind.The magical mounts left no trail of their passing, and no living creature could have overtaken them.The golem, as always, lumbered tirelessly behind with great stiff-legged strides.So smooth and easy were the seats atop Dendybar‟s conjured steeds that the party was able to keep up its run past the dawn and throughout the entire next day with only short rests for food.Thus, when they set their camp after the sunset of the first full day on the road, they had already put the crags behind them.Catti-brie fought an inner battle that first day.
|
[
1544,
781,
9484,
262,
7815,
656,
262,
7850,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
2540,
11,
314,
561,
423,
550,
262,
717,
2823,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
2540,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
19267,
11,
564,
250,
5948,
447,
253,
67,
423,
523,
3902,
262,
7604,
9838,
24519,
287,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3177,
262,
17876,
447,
253,
82,
6509,
286,
511,
3108,
13,
447,
250,
51,
2487,
5908,
669,
11,
447,
251,
339,
22211,
3870,
527,
306,
11,
2045,
510,
262,
22638,
1973,
262,
835,
284,
262,
26044,
1956,
878,
606,
13,
39,
668,
293,
550,
1297,
606,
286,
262,
1295,
13,
464,
11544,
12,
448,
1956,
290,
4220,
1203,
275,
18463,
13,
464,
24727,
290,
772,
4785,
26611,
326,
550,
645,
3891,
13,
447,
250,
16928,
514,
257,
1110,
290,
517,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5100,
24444,
306,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
9431,
15885,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
11126,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1297,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
1722,
262,
16209,
42878,
287,
262,
275,
3247,
959,
11,
37727,
683,
286,
465,
2587,
1296,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
3177,
428,
1218,
3249,
13,
2437,
1690,
561,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
307,
4585,
2402,
683,
30,
1544,
14028,
13,
464,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
550,
407,
1865,
3938,
11911,
422,
511,
938,
8791,
11,
475,
550,
28765,
284,
11457,
683,
757,
523,
2582,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
1597,
351,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
1276,
307,
18039,
5600,
0,
2504,
13196,
691,
925,
337,
967,
1872,
44351,
465,
2597,
355,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
13997,
772,
517,
13,
2348,
505,
287,
262,
2119,
757,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
19110,
503,
422,
465,
1117,
12464,
2292,
290,
36268,
20589,
306,
355,
339,
3177,
262,
2939,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
3402,
683,
13,
464,
19429,
550,
2626,
511,
30790,
13,
392,
547,
26409,
656,
262,
15626,
395,
1989,
287,
477,
262,
2258,
13,
6610,
1110,
393,
523,
561,
1234,
465,
898,
2151,
11,
7348,
319,
262,
8169,
5241,
286,
465,
10883,
336,
39642,
11,
772,
351,
606,
11,
996,
12277,
4608,
284,
262,
5093,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
561,
651,
284,
4243,
548,
22977,
890,
878,
262,
360,
808,
13,
1157,
13,
15086,
548,
22977,
464,
6594,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
373,
14622,
5600,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
290,
465,
40182,
4120,
284,
597,
11040,
47747,
364,
355,
645,
517,
621,
257,
34493,
278,
23671,
287,
262,
1755,
2344,
13,
464,
10883,
30790,
1364,
645,
8025,
286,
511,
6427,
11,
290,
645,
2877,
7185,
714,
423,
9929,
1685,
606,
13,
464,
467,
10671,
11,
355,
1464,
11,
300,
26584,
47905,
2157,
351,
1049,
15175,
12,
40898,
35002,
13,
2396,
7209,
290,
2562,
547,
262,
8632,
20156,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
11644,
1522,
336,
39642,
326,
262,
2151,
373,
1498,
284,
1394,
510,
663,
1057,
1613,
262,
17577,
290,
3690,
262,
2104,
1306,
1110,
351,
691,
1790,
24013,
329,
2057,
13,
19093,
11,
618,
484
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
1544,
781,
9484,
262,
7815,
656,
262,
7850,
13,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
2540,
11,
314,
561,
423,
550,
262,
717,
2823,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
1532,
340,
2540,
11,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
19267,
11,
564,
250,
5948,
447,
253,
67,
423,
523,
3902,
262,
7604,
9838,
24519,
287,
0,
447,
251,
54,
4754,
4563,
3177,
262,
17876,
447,
253,
82,
6509,
286,
511,
3108,
13,
447,
250,
51,
2487,
5908,
669,
11,
447,
251,
339,
22211,
3870,
527,
306,
11,
2045,
510,
262,
22638,
1973,
262,
835,
284,
262,
26044,
1956,
878,
606,
13,
39,
668,
293,
550,
1297,
606,
286,
262,
1295,
13,
464,
11544,
12,
448,
1956,
290,
4220,
1203,
275,
18463,
13,
464,
24727,
290,
772,
4785,
26611,
326,
550,
645,
3891,
13,
447,
250,
16928,
514,
257,
1110,
290,
517,
0,
447,
251,
8274,
268,
273,
5100,
24444,
306,
13,
54,
4754,
4563,
2492,
447,
253,
83,
9431,
15885,
1635,
1635,
447,
250,
1639,
389,
11126,
11,
447,
251,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
1297,
262,
5444,
263,
13,
1722,
262,
16209,
42878,
287,
262,
275,
3247,
959,
11,
37727,
683,
286,
465,
2587,
1296,
11,
337,
967,
1872,
3177,
428,
1218,
3249,
13,
2437,
1690,
561,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
307,
4585,
2402,
683,
30,
1544,
14028,
13,
464,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
550,
407,
1865,
3938,
11911,
422,
511,
938,
8791,
11,
475,
550,
28765,
284,
11457,
683,
757,
523,
2582,
13,
35,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
1597,
351,
262,
24603,
447,
253,
82,
2151,
1276,
307,
18039,
5600,
0,
2504,
13196,
691,
925,
337,
967,
1872,
44351,
465,
2597,
355,
262,
285,
1252,
992,
18731,
447,
253,
82,
13997,
772,
517,
13,
2348,
505,
287,
262,
2119,
757,
11,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
19110,
503,
422,
465,
1117,
12464,
2292,
290,
36268,
20589,
306,
355,
339,
3177,
262,
2939,
337,
967,
1872,
550,
3402,
683,
13,
464,
19429,
550,
2626,
511,
30790,
13,
392,
547,
26409,
656,
262,
15626,
395,
1989,
287,
477,
262,
2258,
13,
6610,
1110,
393,
523,
561,
1234,
465,
898,
2151,
11,
7348,
319,
262,
8169,
5241,
286,
465,
10883,
336,
39642,
11,
772,
351,
606,
11,
996,
12277,
4608,
284,
262,
5093,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
561,
651,
284,
4243,
548,
22977,
890,
878,
262,
360,
808,
13,
1157,
13,
15086,
548,
22977,
464,
6594,
422,
406,
17990,
272,
373,
14622,
5600,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
290,
465,
40182,
4120,
284,
597,
11040,
47747,
364,
355,
645,
517,
621,
257,
34493,
278,
23671,
287,
262,
1755,
2344,
13,
464,
10883,
30790,
1364,
645,
8025,
286,
511,
6427,
11,
290,
645,
2877,
7185,
714,
423,
9929,
1685,
606,
13,
464,
467,
10671,
11,
355,
1464,
11,
300,
26584,
47905,
2157,
351,
1049,
15175,
12,
40898,
35002,
13,
2396,
7209,
290,
2562,
547,
262,
8632,
20156,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
447,
253,
82,
11644,
1522,
336,
39642,
326,
262,
2151,
373,
1498,
284,
1394,
510,
663,
1057,
1613,
262,
17577,
290,
3690,
262,
2104,
1306,
1110,
351,
691,
1790,
24013,
329,
2057,
13,
19093,
11,
618,
484
] |
dnd598
|
She had no doubt that Entreri and the new alliance would overtake Bruenor.As the situation stood now, Catti-brie would be only a detriment to her friends, a pawn for Entreri to play at his convenience.She could do little to remedy the problem, unless she found some way to diminish, if not overcome, the grip of terror that the assassin held on her.That first day she spent in concentration, blocking out her surroundings as much as she could and searching her inner spirit for the strength Page 76and courage she would need.Bruenor had given her many tools over the years to wage such a battle, skills of discipline and self-confidence that had seen her through many difficult situations.On the second day of the ride, then, more confident and comfortable with her situation, Catti-brie was able to focus on her captors.Most interesting were the glares that Jierdan and Entreri shot each other.The proud soldier had obviously not forgotten the humiliation he had suffered the night of their first meeting on the field outside of Luskan.Entreri, keenly aware of the grudge, even fueling it in his willingness to bring the issue to confrontation, kept an untrusting eye on the man.This growing rivalry may prove to be her most promising–perhaps her only–hope of escaping, Catti-brie thought.She conceded that Bok was an indestructible, mindless destroying machine, beyond any manipulation she might try to lay upon it, and she learned quickly that Sydney offered nothing.Catti-brie had tried to engage the young mage in conversation that second day, but Sydney‟s focus was too narrow for any diversions.She would be neither side-tracked nor persuaded from her obsession in any way.She didn‟t even acknowledge Catti-brie‟s greeting when they sat down for their midday meal.And when Catti-brie pestered her further, Sydney instructed Entreri to “keep the whore away.”Even in the failed attempt, though, the aloof mage had aided Catti-brie in a way that neither of them could foresee.Sydney‟s open contempt and insults came as a slap in Catti-brie‟s face and instilled in her another tool that would help to overcome the paralysis of her terror: anger.They passed the halfway point of their journey on the second day, the landscape rolling surrealistically by them as they sped along, and camped in the small hills northeast of Nesme, with the city of Luskan now fully two hundred miles behind them.Campfires twinkled in the distance, a patrol from Nesme, Sydney theorized.“We should go there and learn what we may,” Entreri suggested, anxious for news of his target.“You and I,” Sydney agreed.“We can get there and back before half the night is through.”Entreri looked at Catti-brie.“What of her?” he asked the mage.“I would not leave her with Jierdan.”“You think that the soldier would take advantage of the girl?” Sydney replied.“I assure you that he is honorable.”“That is not my concern,” Entreri smirked.“I fear not for the daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer.She would dispose of your honorable soldier and be gone into the night before we ever returned.”Catti-brie didn‟t welcome the compliment.She understood that Entreri‟s comment was more of an insult to Jierdan, who was off gathering firewood, than any recognition of her own prowess, but the assassin‟s unexpected respect for her would make her task doubly difficult.She didn‟t want Entreri thinking of her as dangerous, even resourceful, for that would keep him too alert for her to move.Sydney looked to Bok.“I go,” she told the golem, purposely loud enough for Catti-brie to easily hear.
|
She had no doubt that Entreri and the new alliance would overtake Bruenor.As the situation stood now, Catti-brie would be only a detriment to her friends, a pawn for Entreri to play at his convenience.She could do little to remedy the problem, unless she found some way to diminish, if not overcome, the grip of terror that the assassin held on her.That first day she spent in concentration, blocking out her surroundings as much as she could and searching her inner spirit for the strength Page 76and courage she would need.Bruenor had given her many tools over the years to wage such a battle, skills of discipline and self-confidence that had seen her through many difficult situations.On the second day of the ride, then, more confident and comfortable with her situation, Catti-brie was able to focus on her captors.Most interesting were the glares that Jierdan and Entreri shot each other.The proud soldier had obviously not forgotten the humiliation he had suffered the night of their first meeting on the field outside of Luskan.Entreri, keenly aware of the grudge, even fueling it in his willingness to bring the issue to confrontation, kept an untrusting eye on the man.This growing rivalry may prove to be her most promising–perhaps her only–hope of escaping, Catti-brie thought.She conceded that Bok was an indestructible, mindless destroying machine, beyond any manipulation she might try to lay upon it, and she learned quickly that Sydney offered nothing.Catti-brie had tried to engage the young mage in conversation that second day, but Sydney‟s focus was too narrow for any diversions.She would be neither side-tracked nor persuaded from her obsession in any way.She didn‟t even acknowledge Catti-brie‟s greeting when they sat down for their midday meal.And when Catti-brie pestered her further, Sydney instructed Entreri to “keep the whore away.”Even in the failed attempt, though, the aloof mage had aided Catti-brie in a way that neither of them could foresee.Sydney‟s open contempt and insults came as a slap in Catti-brie‟s face and instilled in her another tool that would help to overcome the paralysis of her terror: anger.They passed the halfway point of their journey on the second day, the landscape rolling surrealistically by them as they sped along, and camped in the small hills northeast of Nesme, with the city of Luskan now fully two hundred miles behind them.Campfires twinkled in the distance, a patrol from Nesme, Sydney theorized.“We should go there and learn what we may,” Entreri suggested, anxious for news of his target.“You and I,” Sydney agreed.“We can get there and back before half the night is through.”Entreri looked at Catti-brie.“What of her?” he asked the mage.“I would not leave her with Jierdan.”“You think that the soldier would take advantage of the girl?” Sydney replied.“I assure you that he is honorable.”“That is not my concern,” Entreri smirked.“I fear not for the daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer.She would dispose of your honorable soldier and be gone into the night before we ever returned.”Catti-brie didn‟t welcome the compliment.She understood that Entreri‟s comment was more of an insult to Jierdan, who was off gathering firewood, than any recognition of her own prowess, but the assassin‟s unexpected respect for her would make her task doubly difficult.She didn‟t want Entreri thinking of her as dangerous, even resourceful, for that would keep him too alert for her to move.Sydney looked to Bok.“I go,” she told the golem, purposely loud enough for Catti-brie to easily hear.
|
[
3347,
550,
645,
4719,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
262,
649,
12801,
561,
48155,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
1722,
262,
3074,
6204,
783,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
561,
307,
691,
257,
42959,
284,
607,
2460,
11,
257,
29649,
329,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
711,
379,
465,
15607,
13,
3347,
714,
466,
1310,
284,
21210,
262,
1917,
11,
4556,
673,
1043,
617,
835,
284,
29889,
11,
611,
407,
10980,
11,
262,
11762,
286,
3246,
326,
262,
31120,
2714,
319,
607,
13,
2504,
717,
1110,
673,
3377,
287,
10368,
11,
12013,
503,
607,
21334,
355,
881,
355,
673,
714,
290,
10342,
607,
8434,
4437,
329,
262,
4202,
7873,
8684,
392,
11917,
673,
561,
761,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
550,
1813,
607,
867,
4899,
625,
262,
812,
284,
7699,
884,
257,
3344,
11,
4678,
286,
12883,
290,
2116,
12,
39745,
326,
550,
1775,
607,
832,
867,
2408,
7445,
13,
2202,
262,
1218,
1110,
286,
262,
6594,
11,
788,
11,
517,
6563,
290,
6792,
351,
607,
3074,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
1498,
284,
2962,
319,
607,
3144,
669,
13,
6943,
3499,
547,
262,
1278,
3565,
326,
449,
959,
25604,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2823,
1123,
584,
13,
464,
6613,
10686,
550,
6189,
407,
11564,
262,
32415,
339,
550,
6989,
262,
1755,
286,
511,
717,
3249,
319,
262,
2214,
2354,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
11,
13795,
306,
3910,
286,
262,
1036,
12587,
11,
772,
43881,
340,
287,
465,
16826,
284,
2222,
262,
2071,
284,
19207,
11,
4030,
281,
1418,
11469,
278,
4151,
319,
262,
582,
13,
1212,
3957,
26390,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
607,
749,
11781,
1906,
28998,
607,
691,
1906,
71,
3008,
286,
25071,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1807,
13,
3347,
24684,
326,
47390,
373,
281,
773,
395,
1356,
856,
11,
46560,
13897,
4572,
11,
3675,
597,
17512,
673,
1244,
1949,
284,
3830,
2402,
340,
11,
290,
673,
4499,
2952,
326,
11852,
4438,
2147,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
3088,
284,
8209,
262,
1862,
29241,
287,
5273,
326,
1218,
1110,
11,
475,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
2962,
373,
1165,
7135,
329,
597,
15070,
507,
13,
3347,
561,
307,
6159,
1735,
12,
2213,
6021,
4249,
25562,
422,
607,
22286,
287,
597,
835,
13,
3347,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
12127,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
447,
253,
82,
31933,
618,
484,
3332,
866,
329,
511,
47168,
9799,
13,
1870,
618,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
28064,
1068,
607,
2252,
11,
11852,
17767,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
564,
250,
14894,
262,
40107,
1497,
13,
447,
251,
6104,
287,
262,
4054,
2230,
11,
996,
11,
262,
435,
37711,
29241,
550,
28310,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
287,
257,
835,
326,
6159,
286,
606,
714,
25511,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
447,
253,
82,
1280,
18035,
290,
27819,
1625,
355,
257,
23905,
287,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
290,
916,
2967,
287,
607,
1194,
2891,
326,
561,
1037,
284,
10980,
262,
35858,
286,
607,
3246,
25,
8993,
13,
2990,
3804,
262,
19487,
966,
286,
511,
7002,
319,
262,
1218,
1110,
11,
262,
10747
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
3347,
550,
645,
4719,
326,
7232,
260,
380,
290,
262,
649,
12801,
561,
48155,
8274,
268,
273,
13,
1722,
262,
3074,
6204,
783,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
561,
307,
691,
257,
42959,
284,
607,
2460,
11,
257,
29649,
329,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
711,
379,
465,
15607,
13,
3347,
714,
466,
1310,
284,
21210,
262,
1917,
11,
4556,
673,
1043,
617,
835,
284,
29889,
11,
611,
407,
10980,
11,
262,
11762,
286,
3246,
326,
262,
31120,
2714,
319,
607,
13,
2504,
717,
1110,
673,
3377,
287,
10368,
11,
12013,
503,
607,
21334,
355,
881,
355,
673,
714,
290,
10342,
607,
8434,
4437,
329,
262,
4202,
7873,
8684,
392,
11917,
673,
561,
761,
13,
33,
622,
268,
273,
550,
1813,
607,
867,
4899,
625,
262,
812,
284,
7699,
884,
257,
3344,
11,
4678,
286,
12883,
290,
2116,
12,
39745,
326,
550,
1775,
607,
832,
867,
2408,
7445,
13,
2202,
262,
1218,
1110,
286,
262,
6594,
11,
788,
11,
517,
6563,
290,
6792,
351,
607,
3074,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
373,
1498,
284,
2962,
319,
607,
3144,
669,
13,
6943,
3499,
547,
262,
1278,
3565,
326,
449,
959,
25604,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2823,
1123,
584,
13,
464,
6613,
10686,
550,
6189,
407,
11564,
262,
32415,
339,
550,
6989,
262,
1755,
286,
511,
717,
3249,
319,
262,
2214,
2354,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
13,
14539,
260,
380,
11,
13795,
306,
3910,
286,
262,
1036,
12587,
11,
772,
43881,
340,
287,
465,
16826,
284,
2222,
262,
2071,
284,
19207,
11,
4030,
281,
1418,
11469,
278,
4151,
319,
262,
582,
13,
1212,
3957,
26390,
743,
5879,
284,
307,
607,
749,
11781,
1906,
28998,
607,
691,
1906,
71,
3008,
286,
25071,
11,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
1807,
13,
3347,
24684,
326,
47390,
373,
281,
773,
395,
1356,
856,
11,
46560,
13897,
4572,
11,
3675,
597,
17512,
673,
1244,
1949,
284,
3830,
2402,
340,
11,
290,
673,
4499,
2952,
326,
11852,
4438,
2147,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
550,
3088,
284,
8209,
262,
1862,
29241,
287,
5273,
326,
1218,
1110,
11,
475,
11852,
447,
253,
82,
2962,
373,
1165,
7135,
329,
597,
15070,
507,
13,
3347,
561,
307,
6159,
1735,
12,
2213,
6021,
4249,
25562,
422,
607,
22286,
287,
597,
835,
13,
3347,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
772,
12127,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
447,
253,
82,
31933,
618,
484,
3332,
866,
329,
511,
47168,
9799,
13,
1870,
618,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
28064,
1068,
607,
2252,
11,
11852,
17767,
7232,
260,
380,
284,
564,
250,
14894,
262,
40107,
1497,
13,
447,
251,
6104,
287,
262,
4054,
2230,
11,
996,
11,
262,
435,
37711,
29241,
550,
28310,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
287,
257,
835,
326,
6159,
286,
606,
714,
25511,
13,
50,
5173,
1681,
447,
253,
82,
1280,
18035,
290,
27819,
1625,
355,
257,
23905,
287,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
447,
253,
82,
1986,
290,
916,
2967,
287,
607,
1194,
2891,
326,
561,
1037,
284,
10980,
262,
35858,
286,
607,
3246,
25,
8993,
13,
2990,
3804,
262,
19487,
966,
286,
511,
7002,
319,
262,
1218,
1110,
11,
262,
10747
] |
dnd599
|
“If the prisoner tries to flee, run her down and kill her!” She shot Entreri an evil grin.“Are you content?”He returned her smile and swung his arm out in the direction of the distant camp.Jierdan returned then, and Sydney told him of their plans.The soldier didn‟t seem overjoyed to have Sydney and Entreri running off together, though he said nothing to dissuade the mage.Catti-brie watched him closely and knew the truth.Being left alone with her and the golem didn‟t bother him, she surmised, but he feared any budding friendship between his two road-mates.Catti-brie understood and even expected this, for Jierdan was in the weakest position of the three–subservient to Sydney and afraid of Entreri.An alliance between those two, perhaps even a pact excluding Dendybar and the Hosttower altogether, would at the least put him out, and more probably spell his end.“Suren the nature of their dark business works against them,” Catti-brie whispered as Sydney Page 77and Entreri left the camp, speaking the words aloud to reinforce her growing confidence.“I could help ye with that,” she offered to Jierdan as he worked to complete the campsite.The soldier glared at her.“Help?” he scoffed.“I should make you do all of it by yourself.”“Yer anger is known to me,” Catti-brie countered sympathetically.“I meself have suffered at Entreri‟s foul hands.”Her pity enraged the proud soldier.He rushed at her threateningly, but she held her composure and did not flinch.“This work is below yer station.”Jierdan stopped suddenly, his anger diffused by his intrigue at the compliment.An obvious ploy, but to Jierdan‟s wounded ego, the young woman‟s respect came as too welcome to be ignored.“What could you know of my station?” he asked.“I know ye are a soldier of Luskan,” Catti-brie replied.“Of a group that‟s feared throughout all the northland.Ye should not do the grovel work while the mage and the shadow-chaser are off playing in the night.”“You‟re making trouble!” Jierdan growled, but he paused to consider the point.“You set the camp,” he ordered at length, regaining a measure of his own selfrespect by displaying his superiority over her.Catti-brie didn‟t mind, though.She went about the work at once, playing her subservient role without complaint.A plan began to take definite shape in her mind now, and this phase demanded that she make an ally among her enemies, or at least put herself in a position to plant the seeds of jealousy in Jierdan‟s mind.She listened, satisfied, as the soldier moved away, muttering under his breath.Before Entreri and Sydney even got close enough for a good view of the encampment, ritualistic chanting told them that this was no caravan from Nesme.They inched in more cautiously to confirm their suspicions.Long-haired barbarians, dark and tall, and dressed in ceremonial feathered garb, danced a circle around a wooden griffon totem.“Uthgardt,” Sydney explained.“The Griffon tribe.We are near to Shining White, their ancestral mound.” She edged away from the glow of the camp.“Come,” she whispered.
|
“If the prisoner tries to flee, run her down and kill her!” She shot Entreri an evil grin.“Are you content?”He returned her smile and swung his arm out in the direction of the distant camp.Jierdan returned then, and Sydney told him of their plans.The soldier didn‟t seem overjoyed to have Sydney and Entreri running off together, though he said nothing to dissuade the mage.Catti-brie watched him closely and knew the truth.Being left alone with her and the golem didn‟t bother him, she surmised, but he feared any budding friendship between his two road-mates.Catti-brie understood and even expected this, for Jierdan was in the weakest position of the three–subservient to Sydney and afraid of Entreri.An alliance between those two, perhaps even a pact excluding Dendybar and the Hosttower altogether, would at the least put him out, and more probably spell his end.“Suren the nature of their dark business works against them,” Catti-brie whispered as Sydney Page 77and Entreri left the camp, speaking the words aloud to reinforce her growing confidence.“I could help ye with that,” she offered to Jierdan as he worked to complete the campsite.The soldier glared at her.“Help?” he scoffed.“I should make you do all of it by yourself.”“Yer anger is known to me,” Catti-brie countered sympathetically.“I meself have suffered at Entreri‟s foul hands.”Her pity enraged the proud soldier.He rushed at her threateningly, but she held her composure and did not flinch.“This work is below yer station.”Jierdan stopped suddenly, his anger diffused by his intrigue at the compliment.An obvious ploy, but to Jierdan‟s wounded ego, the young woman‟s respect came as too welcome to be ignored.“What could you know of my station?” he asked.“I know ye are a soldier of Luskan,” Catti-brie replied.“Of a group that‟s feared throughout all the northland.Ye should not do the grovel work while the mage and the shadow-chaser are off playing in the night.”“You‟re making trouble!” Jierdan growled, but he paused to consider the point.“You set the camp,” he ordered at length, regaining a measure of his own selfrespect by displaying his superiority over her.Catti-brie didn‟t mind, though.She went about the work at once, playing her subservient role without complaint.A plan began to take definite shape in her mind now, and this phase demanded that she make an ally among her enemies, or at least put herself in a position to plant the seeds of jealousy in Jierdan‟s mind.She listened, satisfied, as the soldier moved away, muttering under his breath.Before Entreri and Sydney even got close enough for a good view of the encampment, ritualistic chanting told them that this was no caravan from Nesme.They inched in more cautiously to confirm their suspicions.Long-haired barbarians, dark and tall, and dressed in ceremonial feathered garb, danced a circle around a wooden griffon totem.“Uthgardt,” Sydney explained.“The Griffon tribe.We are near to Shining White, their ancestral mound.” She edged away from the glow of the camp.“Come,” she whispered.
|
[
447,
250,
1532,
262,
17234,
8404,
284,
11562,
11,
1057,
607,
866,
290,
1494,
607,
0,
447,
251,
1375,
2823,
7232,
260,
380,
281,
6181,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
2695,
30,
447,
251,
1544,
4504,
607,
8212,
290,
28507,
465,
3211,
503,
287,
262,
4571,
286,
262,
12899,
1413,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
4504,
788,
11,
290,
11852,
1297,
683,
286,
511,
3352,
13,
464,
10686,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1283,
625,
2633,
276,
284,
423,
11852,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2491,
572,
1978,
11,
996,
339,
531,
2147,
284,
46066,
671,
262,
29241,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7342,
683,
7173,
290,
2993,
262,
3872,
13,
18357,
1364,
3436,
351,
607,
290,
262,
467,
10671,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
11393,
683,
11,
673,
969,
76,
1417,
11,
475,
339,
15240,
597,
44194,
14738,
1022,
465,
734,
2975,
12,
7300,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7247,
290,
772,
2938,
428,
11,
329,
449,
959,
25604,
373,
287,
262,
34968,
2292,
286,
262,
1115,
1906,
7266,
3168,
1153,
284,
11852,
290,
7787,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
2025,
12801,
1022,
883,
734,
11,
3737,
772,
257,
28242,
23494,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
262,
14504,
36170,
13318,
11,
561,
379,
262,
1551,
1234,
683,
503,
11,
290,
517,
2192,
4822,
465,
886,
13,
447,
250,
19457,
77,
262,
3450,
286,
511,
3223,
1597,
2499,
1028,
606,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
25029,
355,
11852,
7873,
8541,
392,
7232,
260,
380,
1364,
262,
1413,
11,
5486,
262,
2456,
32227,
284,
19594,
607,
3957,
6628,
13,
447,
250,
40,
714,
1037,
9838,
351,
326,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4438,
284,
449,
959,
25604,
355,
339,
3111,
284,
1844,
262,
11665,
578,
13,
464,
10686,
50030,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
22087,
30,
447,
251,
339,
39247,
276,
13,
447,
250,
40,
815,
787,
345,
466,
477,
286,
340,
416,
3511,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
56,
263,
8993,
318,
1900,
284,
502,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
32925,
10558,
265,
31786,
13,
447,
250,
40,
18842,
7046,
423,
6989,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
15626,
2832,
13,
447,
251,
9360,
26246,
37530,
262,
6613,
10686,
13,
1544,
13999,
379,
607,
11123,
306,
11,
475,
673,
2714,
607,
49994,
290,
750,
407,
781,
8589,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
670,
318,
2174,
331,
263,
4429,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
5025,
6451,
11,
465,
8993,
814,
1484,
416,
465,
38520,
379,
262,
19370,
13,
2025,
3489,
46945,
11,
475,
284,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
10657,
19225,
11,
262,
1862,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
2461,
1625,
355,
1165,
7062,
284,
307,
9514,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
345,
760,
286,
616,
4429,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
40,
760,
9838,
389,
257,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
257,
1448,
326,
447,
253,
82,
15240,
3690,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
35543,
815,
407,
466,
262,
7128,
626,
670,
981,
262,
29241,
290,
262,
9082,
12,
354,
6005
] |
[
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1,
1
] |
[
447,
250,
1532,
262,
17234,
8404,
284,
11562,
11,
1057,
607,
866,
290,
1494,
607,
0,
447,
251,
1375,
2823,
7232,
260,
380,
281,
6181,
16770,
13,
447,
250,
8491,
345,
2695,
30,
447,
251,
1544,
4504,
607,
8212,
290,
28507,
465,
3211,
503,
287,
262,
4571,
286,
262,
12899,
1413,
13,
41,
959,
25604,
4504,
788,
11,
290,
11852,
1297,
683,
286,
511,
3352,
13,
464,
10686,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
1283,
625,
2633,
276,
284,
423,
11852,
290,
7232,
260,
380,
2491,
572,
1978,
11,
996,
339,
531,
2147,
284,
46066,
671,
262,
29241,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7342,
683,
7173,
290,
2993,
262,
3872,
13,
18357,
1364,
3436,
351,
607,
290,
262,
467,
10671,
1422,
447,
253,
83,
11393,
683,
11,
673,
969,
76,
1417,
11,
475,
339,
15240,
597,
44194,
14738,
1022,
465,
734,
2975,
12,
7300,
13,
34,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
7247,
290,
772,
2938,
428,
11,
329,
449,
959,
25604,
373,
287,
262,
34968,
2292,
286,
262,
1115,
1906,
7266,
3168,
1153,
284,
11852,
290,
7787,
286,
7232,
260,
380,
13,
2025,
12801,
1022,
883,
734,
11,
3737,
772,
257,
28242,
23494,
360,
437,
88,
5657,
290,
262,
14504,
36170,
13318,
11,
561,
379,
262,
1551,
1234,
683,
503,
11,
290,
517,
2192,
4822,
465,
886,
13,
447,
250,
19457,
77,
262,
3450,
286,
511,
3223,
1597,
2499,
1028,
606,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
25029,
355,
11852,
7873,
8541,
392,
7232,
260,
380,
1364,
262,
1413,
11,
5486,
262,
2456,
32227,
284,
19594,
607,
3957,
6628,
13,
447,
250,
40,
714,
1037,
9838,
351,
326,
11,
447,
251,
673,
4438,
284,
449,
959,
25604,
355,
339,
3111,
284,
1844,
262,
11665,
578,
13,
464,
10686,
50030,
379,
607,
13,
447,
250,
22087,
30,
447,
251,
339,
39247,
276,
13,
447,
250,
40,
815,
787,
345,
466,
477,
286,
340,
416,
3511,
13,
447,
251,
447,
250,
56,
263,
8993,
318,
1900,
284,
502,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
32925,
10558,
265,
31786,
13,
447,
250,
40,
18842,
7046,
423,
6989,
379,
7232,
260,
380,
447,
253,
82,
15626,
2832,
13,
447,
251,
9360,
26246,
37530,
262,
6613,
10686,
13,
1544,
13999,
379,
607,
11123,
306,
11,
475,
673,
2714,
607,
49994,
290,
750,
407,
781,
8589,
13,
447,
250,
1212,
670,
318,
2174,
331,
263,
4429,
13,
447,
251,
41,
959,
25604,
5025,
6451,
11,
465,
8993,
814,
1484,
416,
465,
38520,
379,
262,
19370,
13,
2025,
3489,
46945,
11,
475,
284,
449,
959,
25604,
447,
253,
82,
10657,
19225,
11,
262,
1862,
2415,
447,
253,
82,
2461,
1625,
355,
1165,
7062,
284,
307,
9514,
13,
447,
250,
2061,
714,
345,
760,
286,
616,
4429,
30,
447,
251,
339,
1965,
13,
447,
250,
40,
760,
9838,
389,
257,
10686,
286,
406,
17990,
272,
11,
447,
251,
327,
34891,
12,
65,
5034,
8712,
13,
447,
250,
5189,
257,
1448,
326,
447,
253,
82,
15240,
3690,
477,
262,
5093,
1044,
13,
35543,
815,
407,
466,
262,
7128,
626,
670,
981,
262,
29241,
290,
262,
9082,
12,
354,
6005
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.