The Temple of the Troglodytes: Arrival

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 6 AM -- The Godcarvers]

> And neither Tramma nor Lomi had changed their minds about coming along
> for the second day, so the cast list was all set. With nothing else to
> be decided, all opted to call it a night. It was already past
> midnight, and so their morning was not going to be especially early.
> But they would manage.

The next morning began with the usual round of spell preparation, either
Arcane, Divine, or Bardic. And in the backstage area behind the
showwagon, that meant the usual pile of the Pussycats, Wild Women,
wizards, Great Medicine Woman, Moon Priestess, and at least one of the
Junior Keerytes, the other and some lucky lad dates working to keep the
coffee service running. And nobody thought it worthy of comment that
this morning, Tramma seemed to have draped herself just a bit closer to
the two wizards than was strictly necessary. Though the wizard couple
were not objecting.

Quite the opposite, really. Both mages seemed entirely comfortable with
Tramma’s presence, which brought a few knowing nods and smiles among the
bard’s friends. Which was everyone present.

At one point early in his Arcane studies, Finfin even asked Mithi and
Tramma both for their advice. “On the off chance we get beset by a
swarming mob of crazy troglodyte cultists, I am mightily tempted to
carry a Starmantle today.” And for Tramma’s sake, he briefly described
the magic’s capabilities.

“That sounds ideal!” Tramma exclaimed. “Not to mention, very pretty. I’m
getting inspired for a song to sing, just thinking about it.” With some
effort, the bard pulled herself back down into the immediate reality.
“But what’s the problem?”

“Well,” Finfin admitted, “it is the spell component.”

“Which is?” Tramma asked.

“Faith,” the elf answered. “Trust. And most problematic of all, a little
Pixie Dust.”

“That sounds easy enough,” Tramma mused, clearly not seeing the problem.

Finfin sighed. “My concern is that I have only a single dose of Pixie
Dust, and I have been, frankly, a bit hesitant about shopping around for
more. Not without being certain that these have been gathered using
exclusively ethical means.”

“That’s really sweet!” Tramma replied enthusiastically. “And I can help!
I’ve got a friend, you see…” she paused in her enthusiastic explanation,
and finally concluded with, “Well, it’s probably best that I introduce
you sometime. So please bring me along sometime you take Josie back to
Camp Keshin for some R&R, and I’ll put you in touch.”

Josie, the two Junior Keerytes, and anyone else who had been along on
the Ice Station Omega expedition all exchanged glances. All knew about
the pixies that inhabited the region around the Ice Station, now known
as The Briarpatch, and how they had worked together to help save the
region from the Fire Mephit Apocalypse. But these details had
deliberately been kept from those without Need To Know, which just at
the moment included these wizards.

“Thank you,” Finfin replied sincerely, completely oblivious to the
glances around him.

“Fin…?” Mithi interrupted. “‘Ave a look at this.” Gently, she placed one
of her own spellbooks in his lap, turned to one page in particular.

Finfin stared at what someone else might have thought to be “chicken
scratchings”. But Finfin easily recognized these as a “shorthand” that
both he and his apprentice were studying together, courtesy of a book
loaned to Mithi by her old pal Anadreniel. Just why an order of druids,
or whoever it was that was behind the forest grove named “Evelyn Wood”
had decided to publish a book about shorthand and speed reading was
beyond his knowledge. But both he and his apprentice had been studying
the tome avidly, convinced it could greatly improve the efficiency of
storing written spells. At the cost of making it a bit harder for
someone not versed in the shorthand to parse the abbreviated text, but
every wizard in the community were experts in Spellcraft, and would
likely have little difficulty.

As usual, his apprentice was a faster study of this new material than he
was. She had just mastered this shorthand form, while Finfin was not
quite there. So it took him just a bit of extra time to parse what was
on the page before him. “The Bead of Iron spell. A most fine spell indeed.”

“Yeah,” Mithi agreed wholeheartedly. “The fing is… Oi jest memorized it.”

The significance of this statement escaped Finfin’s understanding… for
all of two heartbeats. “This is a FIFTH list spell!” he enthused. “You
are a Fifth list capable wizard!”

“Oi am, ain't Oi?” Mithi replied proudly. “An’ Oi knows jest ‘oo Oi ‘ave
ta fank fer that.” These sorts of breakthroughs were a part of a
wizard’s life, endless years of study, and hopefully, the sudden quantum
leap forward in understanding and ability with Magics.

The two were wrapped up in a fervent hug and kiss, as all around them,
the rest of the bohemian set cheered lustily.

“We… must celebrate!” Finfin gasped when they finally came up for air.

“An Oi knows jest ‘ow!” Mithi agreed, and then laughed at the knowing
grins all around. “Well, yeah, that TOO!” To Finfin, she continued, “But
lemme study DimFold from yer books while yer underground today, and
unless Oi get interrupted by somefing needing ta be blown up, Oi’ll
learn it, an’ the Teleport Galdis Laurelin offered ta teach me, and next
time we go fer some R&R, Oi’ll take ya.”

“I… would be delighted,” Finfin admitted with complete sincerity.

* - * - *

The spell studying, both behind the pipe and drape curtain line, and
presumably elsewhere about the combined Cat Mob and Kenobi Expedition
camp, came to its end. And knowing that they were returning to Danger,
even the more free spirited of the Away Team agreed to participate in
Abbot Kenobi’s Morning Mass. Particularly as it culminated in the Holy
Man’s Heroes’ Feast ceremony. Not only was this feast filling and
spiritually uplifting, many had reason to be grateful of the Divine
Ceremony’s protection against poison. The Waterworks, the previous day,
had been filled with poisonous bugs, and there was no reason to suspect
that today would be any different.

The Ceremony complete, it was time for another Wind Walk, and a speedy
travel back to the Upwinder’s faux Prisoner of War camp. Again, they
were met by an Upwinder scout, and were soon escorted into the Foreman’s
presence in his underground HQ.

And on their arrival, the Foreman seemed genuinely delighted – and
perhaps a bit surprised – to see the Away Team back at his HQ. “You
came!” he exclaimed happily. He then peered hard at each and every team
member, sniffing audibly. He then turned his attention to an array of
seven little figurines his staff had arranged on a table nearby. Several
times, he sniffed first at a figure, and then at the corresponding
member of the Away Team. Finally, he beamed, which on a kobold looked
truly gruesome. “You all came!” he crooned. “All ready for the big day’s
hunt?”

“I believe so,” Finfin replied evenly.

“Need a late breakfast sendoff?” the Foreman asked, perhaps somewhat
pointedly, noting that the Tall People were not exactly getting the
earliest of sendoffs.

“I have taken care of that,” Abbot Kenobi replied stiffly.

“Then there is no more time to waste!” the kobold stated brightly.
“Onwards, and good hunting!”

And with much bowing towards the… volunteers, the Away Team were
escorted to the far side of the valve controlled door.