Call of the Night
Chapter 2 - The Bonds of Blood
"So, Master Gramstin, where is our current destination?" Noldor and Andrew had caught up to Aswane as they were just heading through the gate. Aswane looked back at the two and answered, "Before we can find the Time Master, we'll need to make a stop in the town of Avgard. If we can proceed with haste, we should be able to make it there in two days." Andrew looked over at the old man and asked, "Avgard is quite far away, and it will be a hard ride to make it in two days. I know this may sound stupid...But why don't we just teleport there?" Noldor wasn't sure of what to think of this question and wondered just how ignorant the paladin was. Thankfully, Aswane spoke up first.
The old man chuckled a bit and answered, "Despite what most normal folks think, a wizard doesn't just teleport everywhere he needs to go. The concentration and skill required to teleport can be quite taxing on even the best of wizards, and that is simply to teleport oneself. Teleporting a group requires several wizards, and the location has to be known quite well to all involved, or you risk teleporting people to the wrong destination or in the middle of objects." Sir Andrew's eyes lit up at the final bit that Aswane said, and it almost looked like he would inquire further. However, the thought seemed to quickly pass as he simply replied, "Well, if that's the case, I guess we should hurry on now." Aswane nodded at the paladin, and the group continued onward.
As they turned to head on, Aswane continued to inform the two of the journey they'd be taking. "As you know, we'll have to cross the Florian Plains to the south first. From there, we'll weave through the Larren Hills. After that, we'll simply have to pass through the Yvelten Woods, and beyond the woods lies Avgard. We will rest for the night once we reach the Yvelten Woods, but we'll have to move quickly to complete the first half of the journey before nightfall." Andrew nodded his head and replied, "It would be best if we left the Larren Hills before nightfall. That area can be quite dangerous what with all of the warring goblin tribes."
Noldor seemed puzzled by what Sir Andrew had said though. "I thought there were treaties set up with the goblin tribes to keep them from attacking travellers." Andrew looked over at him and shook his head in dismay. "True, there are treaties in place to pacify the goblins, but the evil creatures can't be completely stopped by promises on paper. As long as they don't leave any proof of their misdeeds, nobody can prove their guilty actions. Of course, there are other monsters in the Larren Hills to worry about... However, we should be safe as long as we make it through before night comes." Aswane shook his head in agreement and added, "We are more than prepared for anything that should come. However, it is still in our best interest to avoid any trouble until we reach the unavoidable. Now, we have a long ways to go, so we'd best pick up the pace." The three spurred their horses into action, and they quickly galloped towards the Florian Plains.
Noldor was unfamiliar to most of the regions surrounding Mesnonia. He and his family had come from the elven forests of the West, but that was quite some time ago. He had never traveled further south than the Florian Plains, so much of this journey would be new to him. The Florian Plains would be simple enough to travel over though. The wide flat plains combined with the nearby Nervua River made for a fertile and productive farmland, and being right next to Mesnonia, the area had little trouble with monsters or bandits. Noldor had come here many times to explore the plains and collect seeds and herbs for his studies. Normally, he would have enjoyed his ride through here, but with so much distance to cover, they weren't going to waste any time to take in the scenery.
The group rode on in silence for the span of several hours. There wasn't much to say, and they had much ground to cover anyways. Unfortunately for Noldor, this silence really only gave him time to think. Would the goblins or any other monsters be a problem? Why were they going to Avgard? Would they actually be able to find this Time Master? Would he even help them? The more he thought on it, the more depressed he felt about the whole ordeal. He finally had to push the questions to the back of his mind and decided that he would ask Aswane later. After what felt like an eternity to him, the group was finally about to leave the Florian Plains behind. In the distance, Noldor could already see the massive Larren Hills. Despite being called hills, they appeared almost like small mountains from here. Noldor moved closer to Aswane and asked about the region in front of them.
"Ah, yes, those are the Larren Hills that lie ahead. The entire area is just a sea of hills, but we won't be travelling them like you might think. The constant up and down of the hills would be too much of a strain on our horses. We'll have to follow the path at the bottom of the hills and weave in and out of them. It might seem like that would take longer, but I can assure you that it isn't." Andrew overheard this and commented on it as well. "Another plus of riding the bottom path is that we should avoid any goblin encounters. During the day, they tend to stay in their villages scattered throughout and avoid the main trails. However, I'd highly advise that you all keep an eye out because the little devils aren't really known for their predictability."
When they finally came upon the hills, Noldor saw that they were quite a sight to behold. The hills were like small green mountains that blanketed the area as far as he could see. He could definitely see why it was easier to ride between the hills rather than over them. When they finally reached the bottom of the first hill, Andrew sped up and took lead of the group. If they were to encounter any trouble, he would be the first to greet it head on. Aswane followed after Andrew, and Noldor took up the rear. Their trip through the Larren Hills went quite well at first. They had been riding since early this morning, and it was just now midday. This hilly area was known for being quite serene most of the time. The wild animals that lived around here tended to keep to themselves, so anything they did come across moved about its way. The group was making fairly good time, and it seemed that they would pass through without any trouble. However, as soon as the thought passed, Noldor realized that something was wrong.
Noldor began to yell something at Aswane and Andrew, but they seemed to have already sensed the same thing. The three of them brought their horses to a stop and started looking around. They noticed that the animals that were around earlier had all disappeared. They weren't seeing much wildlife before, but now the area was void of life. As they were looking around, Noldor felt his ears perk up and could hear something approaching from the West. He whistled over to the other two and pointed towards the large hill to the West. Just as they all looked over, some dark figures were coming over the hilltop. They all got off of their horses and drew their weapons in preparation.
Sir Andrew pulled out a large double-headed Axe. It was a massive weapon to behold and decorated with a large sun emblem in between the axe heads. Glowing runes decorated the hilt, and as he drew it, he yelled out "Burn through Shadows!" The large axe was fully aflame from handle to the blades, and he was ready to fight. Aswane reached inside the arm of his robe and pulled out a small, blue glowing orb. The orb was just barely bigger than the palm of his hand, but it was swirling with magical power. The old wizard started chanting something and magical energies began to swirl about him. Noldor got his longbow prepared and notched an arrow. He took aim at the dark figures coming down the hill and waited. As the figures were approaching, it was quickly becoming apparent what they were.
The creatures that were coming down the hill appeared to be small humanoids, but they were nothing even remotely human. They were slightly larger than a small child, had sickly green skin, and wore strange, unidentifiable fur for clothing. Their faces were a strange cross between a bat, a pig, and a very ugly human. They were all squealing and barking as they charged down the hill. Each one of them was holding some sort of crude blunt object, and the group knew without a doubt that this angry mob of goblins was heading straight for them.
Noldor waited just long enough for the monsters to get in range before he let the first arrow fly. Noldor, like most elves, was a good shot, and this arrow was no exception. It flew straight towards and went straight through one of the charging goblin's skull. The creature immediately went down and tripped up a few of the others. However, it barely phased the majority of the horde as they charged onward. As they were getting closer, Aswane finally stopped chanting and thrust his hand with the orb forward. The orb changed from blue to yellow, and a bolt of lightning shot out towards the goblins. It hit the ground in front of them and caused a massive blast. It took out a good five or six goblins in the group, but they didn't seem phased at all by this and charged on regardless. Sir Andrew looked over at Aswane and said, "Well, they are definitely determined... I will give them that. I'll going to go and meet the foul beasts head on. I should be able to handle what's left of them, but feel free to watch my back." Sir Andrew began to run straight at the charging group.
Noldor wasn't sure of what to think of this. The number of goblins easily numbered a dozen if not double that. Noldor yelled out, "What is that fool thinking? He can't possibly take them all on by himself! Aswane, I'm going to go help him." Noldor dropped his bow, got out his rapier, and followed after the crazy paladin. As he was chasing after Sir Andrew, he was surprised how fast the human could move in his heavy full plate armor. At this point, the goblins were only a couple hundred feet away, but Sir Andrew was already upon them. His large flaming axe burned brightly and hacked through the remaining goblins. Every swing of the axe spilled more goblin blood onto the hillside. The axe easily sliced through their flesh, and those that weren't cut were quickly set ablaze.
The screams of agony coming from the goblins was almost too much for Noldor to hear. Sir Andrew cut down one after another, and it was clear that the paladin wasn't going to hold back. He cut one Goblin clear in half and then turned around to immediately bash another goblin to the side. As their numbers quickly dwindled, it seemed that the creatures were just now starting to realize how much they underestimated their targets. Even with their combined numbers, the goblins clearly stood no chance against the paladin's strength and speed. He was fighting through the goblins quite easily, and after just a few minutes, the handful of goblins that were left had decided that this wasn't their fight.
They turned to run away, but strangely, Sir Andrew chased after them. The elf had only caught a glimpse, but he swore that the paladin's eyes were burning red with rage. Despite the goblin's retreating surrender, it appeared as if Sir Andrew wasn't going to let them go. Noldor wasn't sure why the human was continuing with his slaughter, but he suddenly felt the need to intervene. Even these creatures didn't deserve to be maimed beyond comprehension. The crazed paladin yelled out as he cut the closest goblin's legs off and then spun around to sever off its head as well. A few of the goblins saw this act and made an awful screeching noise. It seems they weren't even remotely prepared for anyone or anything like this. Noldor started chanting something as he rushed towards the currently preoccupied paladin. Sir Andrew was just about to slice another goblin's head down the middle when suddenly...he couldn't move. He slowly fall over and noticed Noldor had struck him from behind with his palm.
Noldor had cast a paralyzation spell and managed to stop the raging paladin just in time. The goblins didn't think twice about this opportunity and what few were left scampered away up the hill. Noldor looked around and almost couldn't bear what he saw. The area was now littered with the bodies and blood of dead goblins. He wasn't a friend of these awful beasts, but many of them were horribly maimed and never deserved a death like this. He noticed a nearby goblin who was trying to crawl away despite his lack of an arm and leg. Noldor couldn't bear to see it suffer though and used his rapier to end the creature's misery. The rest of the goblins seemed to have already bled out, so Noldor went over to check on Sir Andrew. His spell over the paladin was still holding though, and he was still paralyzed there.
Noldor approached the stunned human and knelt down next to him. "I apologize for doing that to you, but you were going beyond your duty. These monsters might have tried to attack us, but you slaughtered them without a second thought." Sir Andrew was staring right at the elf despite his stunned state. His eyes were glowing before, but the rage and angry energy was slowly subsiding. The elf continued as he saw this, "When you started chasing the fleeing ones, I felt that I should step in. Now, I'm going to release the spell's hold on you, and I'm going to ask that you don't turn whatever rage you had on me. My next spell will not be as kind." Noldor chanted a few phrases and then touched the spot on Sir Andrew's back that he had struck before. A mystical rune appeared briefly and then shattered into thin air. The paladin could move again, and the first thing he did was gasp for air.
The winded paladin slowly got around and up onto his feet. He looked over at the elf and said, "I... I do apologize for my actions. I would tell you more now, but I believe it would be in our best interest to hurry on now. We might have defeated this group, but they'll most likely be back and with reinforcements. I'd be happy to not repeat this experience today." Noldor nodded at what the paladin said. Then two of them turned around and quickly returned to where Aswane and their horses stood. The old wizard looked at the two and decided to save any talking for later. Like the other two, he figured the goblins would return soon and had already gotten back on his horse The two rejoined him and also got back on their horses. Once remounted, they quickly rode onward.
After the brief encounter, the next part of their journey went by slowly, quietly, and uneventful. If there were any other creatures watching them, it seems they had taken the goblin's defeat as an example and left them alone. To Noldor's surprise, Sir Andrew had recovered quite quickly from the paralyzation spell. Either Noldor wasn't that effective, or the paladin had an incredible fortitude and willpower. Either way, Noldor was glad he hadn't harmed the human in any way. He was also interested to learn more about what actually happened and looked forward to some answers when they stopped for the night.
The remainder of the Larren Hills went by without any major problems. As they reached the final group of hills, Noldor could spot the Yvelten Woods in the distance, and they had arrived not a moment too soon. Night was starting to set in, and they were all quite tired from the rough ride and brief fight earlier. As they left the hills behind, Aswane stopped and looked over at the two. "Despite our goblin ordeal, we've arrived almost right on time. We'll go a small ways into the woods and find a good campsite. Best to have a bit of cover during the night if our goblin friends decide to pursue us." Nobody was going to disagree with Aswane's statement, and the group slowly approached the woods.
The Yvelten Woods is a well known forest that stretches from the Nervua River to the surrounding mountain regions. It's a well known area for a couple of reasons. The trees in the woods here are well known for the curative sap that seeps from them. Many healers and wizards come from far to collect the sap for common use. There's also a common myth that the trees of the Yvelten Woods are alive somehow. It is said that they used to be an ancient race that surpassed life and death by turning into trees. Nobody has ever proven it, but those who travel through the forest always feel as if the trees are watching them. Aswane considered having them go around, but he knew time was of the essence here. He knew that Noldor would have pushed for them to go through the Yvelten Woods to save time. Anyways, the woods shouldn't be a very dangerous place as long as the three of them stayed together.
Apart from the trees, the Yvelten Woods are home to an indigenous tribe of wood elves. Very few people have ever met them though. The wood elves tend to keep to themselves, and they only reveal themselves to those they would consider great enemies to the woods or someone who has shown the woods great honor and respect. Most people avoid the woods purely out of fear of these dangerous and mysterious creatures. However, the group had a goal in mind, and Noldor wasn't going to let anything, even a group of mystical beings, keep him from getting through the woods. Despite the dangers that lurk ahead, they continued into the woods.
They needed to distance themselves from the hills without fully entering the woods. The wood elves didn't generally come close to the border of the Yvelten Woods, so they would be safe to sleep for the night. Within just a few minutes, Sir Andrew had located a nice clearing among all of the trees. There was a small spring nearby as well, so they'd have a fresh supply of water to use. He brought his horse to a stop and turned around towards the other two, "This looks to be a good spot. Shall we settle here for the night?" Noldor looked around at the spot and seemed to approve. Aswane had already begun to get off of his horse. "It's been a long day. A good rest would serve us all quite well." Noldor proceeded to get off Swiftwind, and then he went over to get Aswane's horse. He then led the two horses over to the spring so they could get a drink.
Noldor took the saddlebags off both horses and patted his horse briefly on its back. "Thanks again Swiftwind. Please rest up because we have a long ride ahead of us." The horse briefly acknowledged him before going about its own business. Sir Andrew eventually brought his own horse over to join the others. As he was taking care of his own horse, the paladin looked over at Noldor's and commented on it. "You certainly have a fine steed at your side. Where did you get such a magnificent beast?" Noldor hadn't expected the paladin to comment on Swiftwind, and it took him a few moments to respond. "Err, I've always had Swiftwind. He was given to me by my people before I left my homeland long ago." Sir Andrew looked over the majestic animal a bit more before returning to his own a horse. After removing their things from the horses, they left the beasts to graze and drink.
Noldor and Sir Andrew returned to the camping site to find Aswane busy with some scrolls. Noldor moved on past the old wizard and began to set up the site. Sir Andrew was somewhat surprised to see the two wizards do so much by hand. He had always figured that wizards tended to rely on their magical powers too much. However, as he was setting things up, the only magical thing Noldor did was light their fire. Otherwise, the elf quickly and quietly prepared their site. He only stopped briefly during his preparations to put a large pot over the fire. Sir Andrew realized he was staring too much and began to set up his own bedroll.
It didn't take Sir Andrew long to set up what little he had brought with him though. He looked up from what he had unpacked and noticed that Noldor had begun to cook something. Sir Andrew went over and looked at what was inside of the pot. It was filled with various vegetables and some sort of meat. It appeared to be some sort of stew, and regardless of what kind, it smelled quite delicious. As the paladin was looking over the contents of the stew, Noldor looked up and said, "It's Glorian Rabbit Stew. I've mixed in some of the tree sap to help with your wounds and weari-" Sir Andrew seemed quite taken in by the stew at hand, so Noldor decided not to go into anymore detail. He dished up a bowl and handed it to the hungry human. Sir Andrew only briefly said a "Thank you" before he began to inhale the food.
Before getting his own bowl though, Noldor filled one up for Aswane and took it over to him. The old wizard was still hard at work on whatever scrolls he was studying. "Master, the stew is finished." Aswane didn't seem to hear him though, so the elf decided to insist further. Noldor took hold of the scroll Aswane was holding and pushed it downward. "It has been a long day, and you need to eat. There will be plenty of time to look over the scrolls after a good meal." The old wizard snapped out of his studying and gladly took the bowl from him. Then Noldor dished up a bowl of the stew for himself and joined the rest of them in eating.
The group ate in silence mostly, and the stew seemed to do the trick for their hunger and aches. Sir Andrew seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit. He went through four bowls and even started on a fifth one. Aswane ate what Noldor gave him and went straight back to studying his scrolls without a second word. Noldor had to force himself to eat what little stew he had gotten for himself. Even with an empty stomach, he just didn't feel hungry. The weight on his mind was great, and nothing seemed to pull him from it. Noldor couldn't seem to clear his head, so he decided to try and distract himself from his thoughts. He was still curious about the events from earlier, and now was as good as any time to ask.
Noldor looked over at the paladin, who seemed to finally be done eating, and asked him. "Sir Andrew, would you care to explain what happened earlier?" Sir Andrew froze for a moment. He didn't seem ready for the question and ended up sitting there for a moment before he responded. Finally, he looked over at Noldor and sighed. "You did help me out of a situation back there Noldor, so I guess it's only right to explain." The paladin placed his bowl on the ground and started his story.
"When I was only five years old, my home and family was destroyed in a fire. However, it wasn't an ordinary fire nor did it come from normal means. It was the work of a demon. He spared me and forced me to watch as he burned everything. The images still haunt my memories sometimes... Luckily for me, a nearby group of paladins saw the fire and sensed the evil inside. They managed to save me from the demon, but not before he cursed me. Many of the paladins saw my survival as a bad omen and felt to show me mercy by killing me there. Their leader, Sir Harrison Tyfendor, had them spare me. He felt it wrong to blame me for the happenings. Later on in my life, he told me himself that he sensed a greatness in me, and that is why he spared me. He knew I would grow to fight the Good Fight for Pelor and..."
Sir Andrew seemed as if he was about to trail off into his usual speech, but he heard Noldor clear his throat. "Oh! Sorry, as you may know, I sometimes tend to get caught up and talk about the Good Fight. Anyways, back to my story, Sir Harrison adopted me and raised me as a paladin. He was a great mentor and a loving father, but he knew there was something wrong with me. It all started on that one fateful day. I was training with my fellow initiates when we decided to have a sparring match. Everything seemed fine, but then suddenly, I blacked out. Next thing I remember, my brothers were pulling me off my opponent's beaten body. The Order wanted to kick me out, but Sir Harrison convinced them it wasn't my fault, and that the demon's curse was to blame. The Order tried several times to remove the curse, but nothing seemed to work. Sir Harrison even went so far as to seek outside help with my problem, and that's when I met Aswane..."
Sir Andrew paused from his story to look over at the old wizard. At his name being mentioned, he simply lowered the scrolls he was looking at and nodded before going back to the scroll. Noldor hadn't heard much of Aswane's life previous to being his student, so he decided to inquire a bit. "So, what was Master Gramstin like back then?" The paladin was surprised by this question but simply nodded and continued. "Even by that time, he was well known across the lands as a master wizard. Sir Harrison figured that Aswane the Almighty might have an answer for us. He located him and enlisted his help."
"When I first met him, I was only ten years old and had never met a wizard before. He was quite nice to me and only asked me a couple of questions about my problem. Aswane had only been there a couple days, but he already seemed to be onto something. Aswane went before the Council of Pelor, the highest ranking paladins in the order, and told them how he would fix it. Unfortunately, the Council, aside of Sir Harrison, wasn't much for outside help in matters that involved the Order, especially that of a "meddlesome wizard" as they put it. They thanked him for taking the time but told him that they felt his help was unnecessary. They would teach me how to deal with my ailment and help me get past it with the holy power of Pelor."
Suddenly, Aswane said out loud, "A bunch of fools! Had they let me help you back then, none of this would be a problem now!" Noldor was surprised to hear his master speak this way, but Sir Andrew seemed to agree with him. Aswane mumbled angrily to himself and continued with reading the scroll. Figuring that the old wizard had nothing more to add, Sir Andrew continued with the story.
"As you can tell, Aswane wasn't too happy to hear their decision, but he wasn't going to interfere with Order business. He packed up his things and set out to leave the same day. However, before he left, he gave me a final piece of advice. He told me that despite what they may think, holding back my emotions would only worsen my condition. Of course, the Order felt he was wrong and instead chose to help me supress my curse through strict training and discipline. I've had very few incidents over the years, and what we saw today was the first one in quite a while. Unfortunately, it was the worst I've ever experienced. Thankfully, you were there to stop me Noldor."
Sir Andrew looked over at the elf and said, "You stopped me when I would have horribly slaughtered those creatures... Granted, they did attack us, but I wouldn't have torn them to pieces like I did. I thank you my friend for holding me back, and I promise you...With Pelor behind me, I will stay with you until you have your family back." Noldor was quite moved by this statement and didn't know how to respond. "I...I thank you Sir Andrew." The paladin nodded but added, "Please, call me Andrew. We are friends now, and I've never really liked the 'Sir' part." For the first time in many days, Noldor felt somewhat happy. The thought of his family did plague the back of his mind, but for a brief period, he was able to push it to the back of his mind. "Thank you, Andrew."
With Andrew's story concluded, Noldor figured it was time to finally get some answers. He looked over and asked the old wizard, "Master Gramstin, where does Grandell the Time Master live?" Aswane was still studying the same old scroll, so it took a few moments for the old man to respond. "He lives in a tall tower called The Ageless Spiral. I believe I know where to find it, but I'd hate to misinterpret these riddles and take us the wrong way." Noldor looked quizzically at the old man and asked, "Riddles?"
Noldor and Sir Andrew returned to the camping site to find Aswane busy with some scrolls. Noldor moved on past the old wizard and began to set up the site. Sir Andrew was somewhat surprised to see the two wizards do so much by hand. He had always figured that wizards tended to rely on their magical powers too much. However, as he was setting things up, the only magical thing Noldor did was light their fire. Otherwise, the elf quickly and quietly prepared their site. He only stopped briefly during his preparations to put a large pot over the fire. Sir Andrew realized he was staring too much and began to set up his own bedroll.
It didn't take Sir Andrew long to set up what little he had brought with him though. He looked up from what he had unpacked and noticed that Noldor had begun to cook something. Sir Andrew went over and looked at what was inside of the pot. It was filled with various vegetables and some sort of meat. It appeared to be some sort of stew, and regardless of what kind, it smelled quite delicious. As the paladin was looking over the contents of the stew, Noldor looked up and said, "It's Glorian Rabbit Stew. I've mixed in some of the tree sap to help with your wounds and weari-" Sir Andrew seemed quite taken in by the stew at hand, so Noldor decided not to go into anymore detail. He dished up a bowl and handed it to the hungry human. Sir Andrew only briefly said a "Thank you" before he began to inhale the food.
Before getting his own bowl though, Noldor filled one up for Aswane and took it over to him. The old wizard was still hard at work on whatever scrolls he was studying. "Master, the stew is finished." Aswane didn't seem to hear him though, so the elf decided to insist further. Noldor took hold of the scroll Aswane was holding and pushed it downward. "It has been a long day, and you need to eat. There will be plenty of time to look over the scrolls after a good meal." The old wizard snapped out of his studying and gladly took the bowl from him. Then Noldor dished up a bowl of the stew for himself and joined the rest of them in eating.
The group ate in silence mostly, and the stew seemed to do the trick for their hunger and aches. Sir Andrew seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit. He went through four bowls and even started on a fifth one. Aswane ate what Noldor gave him and went straight back to studying his scrolls without a second word. Noldor had to force himself to eat what little stew he had gotten for himself. Even with an empty stomach, he just didn't feel hungry. The weight on his mind was great, and nothing seemed to pull him from it. Noldor couldn't seem to clear his head, so he decided to try and distract himself from his thoughts. He was still curious about the events from earlier, and now was as good as any time to ask.
Noldor looked over at the paladin, who seemed to finally be done eating, and asked him. "Sir Andrew, would you care to explain what happened earlier?" Sir Andrew froze for a moment. He didn't seem ready for the question and ended up sitting there for a moment before he responded. Finally, he looked over at Noldor and sighed. "You did help me out of a situation back there Noldor, so I guess it's only right to explain." The paladin placed his bowl on the ground and started his story.
"When I was only five years old, my home and family was destroyed in a fire. However, it wasn't an ordinary fire nor did it come from normal means. It was the work of a demon. He spared me and forced me to watch as he burned everything. The images still haunt my memories sometimes... Luckily for me, a nearby group of paladins saw the fire and sensed the evil inside. They managed to save me from the demon, but not before he cursed me. Many of the paladins saw my survival as a bad omen and felt to show me mercy by killing me there. Their leader, Sir Harrison Tyfendor, had them spare me. He felt it wrong to blame me for the happenings. Later on in my life, he told me himself that he sensed a greatness in me, and that is why he spared me. He knew I would grow to fight the Good Fight for Pelor and..."
Sir Andrew seemed as if he was about to trail off into his usual speech, but he heard Noldor clear his throat. "Oh! Sorry, as you may know, I sometimes tend to get caught up and talk about the Good Fight. Anyways, back to my story, Sir Harrison adopted me and raised me as a paladin. He was a great mentor and a loving father, but he knew there was something wrong with me. It all started on that one fateful day. I was training with my fellow initiates when we decided to have a sparring match. Everything seemed fine, but then suddenly, I blacked out. Next thing I remember, my brothers were pulling me off my opponent's beaten body. The Order wanted to kick me out, but Sir Harrison convinced them it wasn't my fault, and that the demon's curse was to blame. The Order tried several times to remove the curse, but nothing seemed to work. Sir Harrison even went so far as to seek outside help with my problem, and that's when I met Aswane..."
Sir Andrew paused from his story to look over at the old wizard. At his name being mentioned, he simply lowered the scrolls he was looking at and nodded before going back to the scroll. Noldor hadn't heard much of Aswane's life previous to being his student, so he decided to inquire a bit. "So, what was Master Gramstin like back then?" The paladin was surprised by this question but simply nodded and continued. "Even by that time, he was well known across the lands as a master wizard. Sir Harrison figured that Aswane the Almighty might have an answer for us. He located him and enlisted his help."
"When I first met him, I was only ten years old and had never met a wizard before. He was quite nice to me and only asked me a couple of questions about my problem. Aswane had only been there a couple days, but he already seemed to be onto something. Aswane went before the Council of Pelor, the highest ranking paladins in the order, and told them how he would fix it. Unfortunately, the Council, aside of Sir Harrison, wasn't much for outside help in matters that involved the Order, especially that of a "meddlesome wizard" as they put it. They thanked him for taking the time but told him that they felt his help was unnecessary. They would teach me how to deal with my ailment and help me get past it with the holy power of Pelor."
Suddenly, Aswane said out loud, "A bunch of fools! Had they let me help you back then, none of this would be a problem now!" Noldor was surprised to hear his master speak this way, but Sir Andrew seemed to agree with him. Aswane mumbled angrily to himself and continued with reading the scroll. Figuring that the old wizard had nothing more to add, Sir Andrew continued with the story.
"As you can tell, Aswane wasn't too happy to hear their decision, but he wasn't going to interfere with Order business. He packed up his things and set out to leave the same day. However, before he left, he gave me a final piece of advice. He told me that despite what they may think, holding back my emotions would only worsen my condition. Of course, the Order felt he was wrong and instead chose to help me supress my curse through strict training and discipline. I've had very few incidents over the years, and what we saw today was the first one in quite a while. Unfortunately, it was the worst I've ever experienced. Thankfully, you were there to stop me Noldor."
Sir Andrew looked over at the elf and said, "You stopped me when I would have horribly slaughtered those creatures... Granted, they did attack us, but I wouldn't have torn them to pieces like I did. I thank you my friend for holding me back, and I promise you...With Pelor behind me, I will stay with you until you have your family back." Noldor was quite moved by this statement and didn't know how to respond. "I...I thank you Sir Andrew." The paladin nodded but added, "Please, call me Andrew. We are friends now, and I've never really liked the 'Sir' part." For the first time in many days, Noldor felt somewhat happy. The thought of his family did plague the back of his mind, but for a brief period, he was able to push it to the back of his mind. "Thank you, Andrew."
With Andrew's story concluded, Noldor figured it was time to finally get some answers. He looked over and asked the old wizard, "Master Gramstin, where does Grandell the Time Master live?" Aswane was still studying the same old scroll, so it took a few moments for the old man to respond. "He lives in a tall tower called The Ageless Spiral. I believe I know where to find it, but I'd hate to misinterpret these riddles and take us the wrong way." Noldor looked quizzically at the old man and asked, "Riddles?"
The old wizard lowered the scroll and replied, "Well, the details to reaching Grandell the Time Master are here, but unfortunately, they've been made into a riddle. I figure my teacher did it to protect the secret of the Time Master's location." He rolled the scroll up and handed it over to Noldor. "I have deciphered most of what is contained, but I wouldn't mind a second opinion on it." Noldor took hold of the scroll and opened it up. The scroll was covered with a couple different images along with several lines of words. Noldor began to read it out loud:
Andrew finally joined in on their discussion and added, "That'd suggest an incredibly massive cavern." Noldor nodded at his response and added, "Yes, and there aren't very many large caves around that could house such a structure. That leaves the only other clue as... Beneath the great giant's steps of yesteryear. You'll find a passage to bring you near. Any idea where that could be?" Noldor looked over at Aswane, who had begun to smoke a pipe, and turned towards Andrew who seemed lost in thought.
"Well..." said Andrew, "There are a couple of places that come to mind for me in the nearby mountains." Andrew saw that the elf was surprised by his geographical knowledge. "Being raised by the Order of Pelor, we are required to learn quite a few things. It's not all preaching and smiting you know." He chuckled after saying and continued, "There are a few locations that fit the description, but there's one in particular that stands out in my mind right now... The Dragon's Claw Reach."
As soon as he said the name, Aswane pulled his pipe away and joined in. "There are a couple places around that could fit the description... What makes that area stand out to you?" Andrew looked over at the old man and gave his answer. "Honestly? Part of it is just pure feeling. It seems like the right place, but if I had to think about facts or the like. 'Beneath the great giant's steps of yesteryear' suggests a location where giants were commonly living and found. I doubt your old master would be as simple and straightforward to mean actual giants. My historical knowledge of this area isn't the best, but I do know of the Dragon's Claw Reach."
"Most common folk believe it's called that because of the numerous landmarks that look like...well like dragon's claws. However, the place was actually home to a race of dragons. Dragon's are one of the oldest races that we know of, even older than the elves...." Andrew looked over to Noldor as he said this, but Noldor didn't seem to care about that and was focused on what the paladin had to say. "No dragon's have been spotted there for over a century though. Besides that, the area is said to have many interweaving underground passages. Being as dragons used to live in them, that seemed the most likely place for a large tower to be hidden underground. "
As Andrew finished his explanation, it seemed that the old wizard found his answer satisfactory. "So it seems the Order was good for ONE thing after all. You are quite well informed about the land. Dragon's Claw Reach was the area that I had in mind. It's an area that would most likely have the cave we are looking for, and it most resembles the wording of the riddle." Noldor spoke up at this point and asked, "Master, Andrew mentioned that there are many underground passages at this Dragon's Claw Reach. If so, how do we know which one will be the correct path?"
Aswane seemed to be expecting this question and responded almost immediately, "Part of the myth of Grandell the Time Master is that only those who truly seek him can find him. As long as we're in the right cave, the path will make itself known to us. It might sound silly, but that's how these things generally work." The old wizard smiled as he said the last part. "Let's just say that I've done something much like this before. It's getting late now, and I figure we should probably turn in soon. Do either of you have anything else to ask?"
Noldor looked over at the paladin, but Andrew seemed to be satisfied from his previous accomplishment. The elf did have one question that he knew the old wizard could answer. "Master, why are we going to Avgard in the first place? If Dragon's Claw Reach is where we need to go, why don't we just head straight there instead?" Aswane took another puff on his pipe before answering the elf though. "Well, Noldor, beyond restocking our supplies again, the main reason I wanted to go to Avgard is to speak with an old friend of mine there. He should have a map of the mountains to help us find the caves. He was also a friend and companion of my master, so he might be able to tell us something about Grandell."
Noldor was surprised to hear this. Whoever this mysterious friend was, he'd have to be incredibly old to have been a companion to Aswane's master. The elf was about to inquire further when he saw Aswane put out his pipe. "I realize you might have further questions, but we had best turn in and get some rest while we can. We'll need to wake up early and get moving if we wish to reach Avgard before tomorrow evening." The old man rolled up all of his scrolls, packed them away in his backpack, and went over to the bedroll Noldor had prepared for him earlier.
As the old wizard was going to sleep, Andrew stood up from his spot and said out loud. "I'll take the first watch of the night. Be sure to get your rest." The paladin got another bowl of the remaining stew and sat at the edge of their fire. Noldor went over to his bedroll and prepared for his meditation. "Thank you Andrew. I should only need a few hours of meditation, and then I can relieve you from your watch." Noldor sat quietly on his bedroll and began to clear his mind. This had been a long day, and he certainly deserved a rest. He knew in his heart that this long and difficult journey had only just begun...
"In a great tower does the Time Master stay."
"But this tower knows not the sky nor light of day."
"Beneath the great giant's steps of yesteryear."
"You'll find a passage to bring you near."
"Great challenges and tests will block your path."
"Only courage and wisdom will conquer the wrath."
"Before you enter the Master's tower,"
"Prepare these items of mysterious power."
"A precious jewel of deep crimson hue."
"The eye of a beast with a single view."
"A blade forged from sacred steel."
"Finally, a drop of blood to bind the seal."
Noldor wasn't sure what to make of any of that, but the last group of lines seemed to familiar. They seemed related to the items that Aswane had him buy. The old wizard quickly confirmed Noldor's suspicions. "You probably recognized the last couple lines. Those strange items you bought yesterday, the blood diamond, the cyclop's eye, and the silver dagger, are my best guess at the items asked for in the riddle. Of course, that only covers the items we'll need. The tower's location is our current priority." Noldor looked over the scroll again and focused on the first couple lines of the riddle. "Well, a tower that knows not the light of day suggests that the entire tower is underground." Andrew finally joined in on their discussion and added, "That'd suggest an incredibly massive cavern." Noldor nodded at his response and added, "Yes, and there aren't very many large caves around that could house such a structure. That leaves the only other clue as... Beneath the great giant's steps of yesteryear. You'll find a passage to bring you near. Any idea where that could be?" Noldor looked over at Aswane, who had begun to smoke a pipe, and turned towards Andrew who seemed lost in thought.
"Well..." said Andrew, "There are a couple of places that come to mind for me in the nearby mountains." Andrew saw that the elf was surprised by his geographical knowledge. "Being raised by the Order of Pelor, we are required to learn quite a few things. It's not all preaching and smiting you know." He chuckled after saying and continued, "There are a few locations that fit the description, but there's one in particular that stands out in my mind right now... The Dragon's Claw Reach."
As soon as he said the name, Aswane pulled his pipe away and joined in. "There are a couple places around that could fit the description... What makes that area stand out to you?" Andrew looked over at the old man and gave his answer. "Honestly? Part of it is just pure feeling. It seems like the right place, but if I had to think about facts or the like. 'Beneath the great giant's steps of yesteryear' suggests a location where giants were commonly living and found. I doubt your old master would be as simple and straightforward to mean actual giants. My historical knowledge of this area isn't the best, but I do know of the Dragon's Claw Reach."
"Most common folk believe it's called that because of the numerous landmarks that look like...well like dragon's claws. However, the place was actually home to a race of dragons. Dragon's are one of the oldest races that we know of, even older than the elves...." Andrew looked over to Noldor as he said this, but Noldor didn't seem to care about that and was focused on what the paladin had to say. "No dragon's have been spotted there for over a century though. Besides that, the area is said to have many interweaving underground passages. Being as dragons used to live in them, that seemed the most likely place for a large tower to be hidden underground. "
As Andrew finished his explanation, it seemed that the old wizard found his answer satisfactory. "So it seems the Order was good for ONE thing after all. You are quite well informed about the land. Dragon's Claw Reach was the area that I had in mind. It's an area that would most likely have the cave we are looking for, and it most resembles the wording of the riddle." Noldor spoke up at this point and asked, "Master, Andrew mentioned that there are many underground passages at this Dragon's Claw Reach. If so, how do we know which one will be the correct path?"
Aswane seemed to be expecting this question and responded almost immediately, "Part of the myth of Grandell the Time Master is that only those who truly seek him can find him. As long as we're in the right cave, the path will make itself known to us. It might sound silly, but that's how these things generally work." The old wizard smiled as he said the last part. "Let's just say that I've done something much like this before. It's getting late now, and I figure we should probably turn in soon. Do either of you have anything else to ask?"
Noldor looked over at the paladin, but Andrew seemed to be satisfied from his previous accomplishment. The elf did have one question that he knew the old wizard could answer. "Master, why are we going to Avgard in the first place? If Dragon's Claw Reach is where we need to go, why don't we just head straight there instead?" Aswane took another puff on his pipe before answering the elf though. "Well, Noldor, beyond restocking our supplies again, the main reason I wanted to go to Avgard is to speak with an old friend of mine there. He should have a map of the mountains to help us find the caves. He was also a friend and companion of my master, so he might be able to tell us something about Grandell."
Noldor was surprised to hear this. Whoever this mysterious friend was, he'd have to be incredibly old to have been a companion to Aswane's master. The elf was about to inquire further when he saw Aswane put out his pipe. "I realize you might have further questions, but we had best turn in and get some rest while we can. We'll need to wake up early and get moving if we wish to reach Avgard before tomorrow evening." The old man rolled up all of his scrolls, packed them away in his backpack, and went over to the bedroll Noldor had prepared for him earlier.
As the old wizard was going to sleep, Andrew stood up from his spot and said out loud. "I'll take the first watch of the night. Be sure to get your rest." The paladin got another bowl of the remaining stew and sat at the edge of their fire. Noldor went over to his bedroll and prepared for his meditation. "Thank you Andrew. I should only need a few hours of meditation, and then I can relieve you from your watch." Noldor sat quietly on his bedroll and began to clear his mind. This had been a long day, and he certainly deserved a rest. He knew in his heart that this long and difficult journey had only just begun...
End Chapter 2 - The Bonds of Blood
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