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From: [e-mail] (Fraser MacDonald MacKenzie)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: STORY: Fate's Fellowship - Chapter 11:Circles of Light
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Date: 13 Oct 1995 10:47:16 -0400
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Hi all.  As promised, here is Chapter 11 only a few days after Chapter 10.

Enjoy!

Fraser


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   The characters contained in these writings and the writings themselves
   are copyright 1995 by Fraser MacKenzie.  Any resemblance to any persons
   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.  Copying
   and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only under the sole
   condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit and that
   they not be altered in any way.

   I wish to thank Eric Lindsey, Seng Ann Mah, Ron Trimmer, Max
   Bullock, Charlotte Ashley, Tom DeSanctus, Bob Grob, Michael Clair
   Haflidi Jonsson, and Drew Lahaise for their immense input without
   which, there would be no story at all. ;)

   Enjoy!

                                  Fraser MacKenzie
                                  [e-mail]


   Note: You can FTP the chapters of Fate's Fellowship as they come
   out from ftp.achilles.net in the directory pub/users/fraserm or
   access them from my home page at http://www.achilles.net:80/~fraserm.
   You can also email me to get on my mailing list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Introducing the characters:

  Name      Race     Type
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
Tenbar   Human      Warrior
E'tharn  Elven      Warrior
Kelemvor Human      Spellcaster
Ssylth   Human      Spellcaster
Ginafae  Elven      Spellcaster
Crowe    Half-Elven Thief




                             Fate's Fellowship
                                Chapter 11
                 Circles of Light


Tenbar throws his arms up in the air and groans. "So it's come t' this,
has it?  Well, I ain't gaunna say anythin' to that, but that yer got
too much o' a suspicious streak in ye, laddie. That c'n be a good ting
at times, but I don't reckon Kelemvor deserves that. I's reckons ye
oughta say yer sorry fer makin' such terrible accusations."

He crosses his arms across his broad chest and stares at Ssylth very
sternly, waiting for the youth's response however, the young mage
doesn't reply, he merely turns and walks off to his bedroll.

Realizing that the discussion is over, E'tharn says to Kelemvor, "I
am enjoying this talk Kelemvor and perhaps one or the other of us
will gain some understanding of the other and his convictions through
this."

At hearing E'tharn's thanks, Kelemovor answers, "I hope so.  I'm glad
I got you agitated.  Not that I like to start fights; it's just that
I am pleased, or shall I say 'relieved' that you believe in something."

Ssylth and Crowe make no promise to keep from taking items from the
grave, but Kelemvor lets the subject drop for now and the party turns
their attention to a more careful examination of the map they found.

E'tharn moves down the corridor a short ways and sits down.  Crowe
looks back and forth at everyone during the bickering and then
follows E'Tharn down the corridor and sits down next to him and
starts whispering to him "Don't worry about those guys.  Whatever
your beliefs may be, I'll hold them in ultimate respect as long
as they don't interfere with mine.  And, you've no doubt figured
out my intentions by now."

"From now on, if there is anything we disagree on within the
group, I should be getting skilled enough to succeed in sneak
moves.  Just notify me if there is something I can do for you."

Crowe nods to E'tharn, wraps himself up in his cloak and
closes his eyes.

Nightime having arrived, everyone who is still awake, discusses
what the best possible watch schedule could be, and after much
discussion they come up with: Tenbar with Ginafae, Crowe with
Ssylth, and E'tharn with Kelemvor.  After the watches have been
decided, Tenbar groans at the choice of Kelemvor with E'tharn
and says, "Ye know what this means dont ye? They're liable t'
be talkin' and arguin' all through their watch about this and
that and that and this..."  He gives a big grin.  "Only joshin'
folks."  He turns to Ginafae and winks.  "Looks like I'm the
lucky man t' have so beautiful a lassie t' share me watch with
me."

Eventually, the first watch takes their positions and the rest
of the party members turn in.  The night passes with only one
minor incident disturbing your sleep.  About the third watch, a
strange noise comes from the direction of the intersection.  It
sounds like a high  pitche squeaking laughter coming from several
voices.

Tenbar looks worried. "By the whiskers of Kurvi-Tash! We mun be
more careful from now on. I's reckon that we oughta keep a sharp
eye and ear on anymore rum happenings in this place. I don't
want no surprises, so it might be an idea t' have two o' us on
watch when we bed down next, eh."

Those on watch move to investigate, but it seems to come from
both the north and south passages of the intersection and
whatever is making it stays just out of torch light.  After a few
minutes the sound stops.  E'tharn wakes and looks for tracks, but
finds nothing.  The rest of the night passes with only the
occasional sound of dripping water and scrabbling of rat claws on
stone.

Everyone wakes fairly well rested and after breakfast they discuss
what to do next.  Tenbar says he wants to check out the unexplored
passageways and even the main sewer line before moving into the
other fungi room.  As he begins putting on his gear, he lets out
a vehement oath upon discovering his bow string has been cut.  He
swears again when he straps on his sword belt and the weapon
falls to the floor with a clang, the seams of his scabbard having
been cut.

Tenbar does not stop swearing for quite some long time, uttering
words and phrases brazen enough to turn even the most hardened
harlot's cheeks red!  Finally calming down a little, he picks up
the pieces of his damaged equipment, spends some time
re-stringing his bow, and stares about the place angrily. "When I
git me hands on the little divils as done this, they as gaunna
wish that they never heard o' the name Tenbar Bolwarr'n."

He shakes his fists at the, at present, invisible tricksters and
thieves. "Ye hear that ye barbarians! Ye savages! Ye bashibazouks!
Ye'll rue the day ye done this to me!"

Others of the group also find they have been vandalized.
Kelemvor reports that two vials of his undead water are missing
from his sash.  Ssylth and Ginafae find that their backpacks have
been ruined by knife slashes, and Ginafae's musical instrument is
als missing.  E'tharn's bow string has also been cut and Crowe
finds his water skin has been punctured.

Ssylth seems to become very nervous and whispers, "I do not know
who did this to our packs, but I say we leave this place before
anything else happens to us.  I do not see anything more that can
be learned here, unless some brave person wants to venture over
the mold and examine the walls for secret door.  I do not want to
do that, but maybe someone else does."  Everybody else brushes
him off, seemingly wanting to find out what or who did this to
their equipment.

E'tharn makes a careful search of the area to find evidence as to
who or what did these things, but turns up nothing.  Dealing with
the damage as best they can, everyone resumes preparations to
continue.

After reconstructing what happened in the night, as best they can
remember, everyone still cannot account for the damage to their
belongings.  Ginafae admits that she may have dozed off, but even
so Tenbar swears he was alert the whole time and saw nothing.
Everyone else confirms that they were vigilant for their entire
watch.  There was of course the strange noise on Kelemvor and
E'tharn's watch, but they woke up everyone except Ssylth.  No one
remembers any of their equipment begin untended for any period of
time.  Deciding that there is nothing they can do about it now,
Tenbar says that he is going to explore the passageways.

Crowe decides to accompany Tenbar in exploring the passageways
and the two of them move off north.  They return about 30 minutes
later to report the passage continues as indicated on the map,
turning west to eventually connect with a main sewer line.  The
water level is somewhat high, reaching near the top of the ledge,
and they saw daylight streaming in from a few of the gutters
reaching to the streets above however, they find nothing unusual.
They then move South to explore that passage, and return shortly
with a similar report.

While Tenbar and Crowe are searching, E'tharn ties a rope around
himself and talks Ssylth into putting one around himself.  Tenbar
returns and E'tharn, and Ssylth, with help from Kelemvor and Tenbar,
move to the door of the second fungus room.  Ssylth holds on to
the end of E'tharn's rope and Crowe holds on to the end of Ssylth's
rope.  Crowe and Ginafae decide to wait in the hallway, both
saying they're not fond of fungi spores which make them sneeze.

Upon reaching the open doorway, the others see the room as E'tharn
described.  Though covered by the glowing green mold, except for
the head, the statue in the center of the room is obviously the
figure of a buxom woman, with a kindly, smiling face.  She cradles
what looks like a basket overflowing with fruits and vegtables in
her left hand and holds a sheaf of grain in her right hand.  Small
animals cluster around her feet an two birds sit on her shoulder and
she appears to be wearing a gown of roses.  Kelemvor announces, and
E'tharn confirms his statement, that he believes the statue is of
Melantha, goddess of life, nature, and weather.

The statue stands on a 3ft high pedestal, making it a total of 8ft
high.  There is a cavity in the pedestal just beneath her feet, facing
the doorway and there appear to be no other doors in this room.

E'tharn follows the path up to the statue, while Tenbar, Kelemvor and
Ssylth wait at the door; with Ssylth holding on tightly to the end of
the rope around his waist.  When he reaches the statue with nothing
untoward happening, Tenbar and Kelemvor also approach.  Ssylth stays
at the door holding the rope.  As Kelemvor advances, he suddenly trips
and falls to the floor and from the other room there is a loud rattling
sound followed by a thud.  Kelemvor picks himself up, finding a stone
in the floor sank under his weight.  From the doorway, Ssylth calls out
that the portcullis fell over the entrance again.  Fortunately, Crowe
pulls the lever and it rises again.  Kelemvor then moves to examine the
statue with E'tharn and Tenbar.

Seeing some writing on the pedestal, above the shallow opening, E'tharn
scrapes away some of the mold with his sword in order to read it.  The
words are written in a language that neither E'tharn or Kelemvor can
make out.  They inform Ssylth of their finding and E'tharn exchanges
places with him so that he can have a look.  He seems to have no trouble
reading the words which he does so aloud:

           BLESSED MELANTHA, MOTHER OF ALL LIFE,
           ACCEPTS YOUR TRIBUTE AND REWARDS YOU IN KIND.

"Modder of all life, eh?" Tenbar scratches his beard. "I wunner what a
temple t' the Mother is doin' in this dark 'n dank place.  Eh, you
wouldner think ye'd find her in the sewers of all places..."  He
chuckles to himself, then bows his head at the statue in a sign of
simple reverence.  "Don't mean no disrespect, though, ma'am."  He
rummages through his belongings but can't seem to find anything fitting
to offer as tribute.  Shrugging, he turns to the statue and says, "I ent
got nowt t' give yers, Modder, and I know ye ent askin' fer money,
'specially in this place, so this be my tribute: we be lookin' fer the
Death Cult and since I's figures that Death is, well, oppostite t' Life,
I'll try me best to rid this place, which I's reckons is devotid t' ye,
o' their darkness."

It seems strange to the other two in the room, that a grown man is
speaking so openly to a statue, but they get the impression that Tenbar
does not find it too odd a thing to do.

Kelemvor seems to think of something and turns to E'tharn mentioning,
"E'tharn, this Melantha is closer to your beliefs.  Do you know what
would be a suitable offering?  One other thing to consider.  The fungi
garden looks like it has been cared for.  We should try to find who has
been taking care of it."

Pondering on Kelemvor's words, Tenbar suddenly realizes something. "Eh,"
he perks up suddenly.  "I don't reckon them 'shrooms and such are bein'
tended by anyone.. anyone human like, that is.  Ye know what I's
reckons: I's reckons that them as tend this here place is thems as taken
our things and ruined our gear.  Ye know... them... 'little folk'.  I
never seen one with me own two eyes, but I heard o' what mischief they
been up to in some places where I come from.  I don't reckons we should
do owt to anger them, they can be a mite dangerous if ye get them up
their ire.  I heard tell that some folk as leave a bowl o' milk, or warm
ale fer the wee folk and they happily leave well enuff alone, eh."

After a short pause, he adds, "That would explain why yon Er'Tharn
couldner find no tracks, and why none o' us on watch saw owt: them wee
folk got the uncanny ability to disappear, y'ken?"

"'Little folk'???," Kelemvor says with a questioning glance at Tenbar.
"Well OK, whatever you say."  Kelemvor says this sarcastically.  He
obviously does not believe in the little people.  Kelemvor also adds,
"I don't have any warm milk or ale anyways."

Tenbar notices the tone in Kelemvor's voice and growls, "Laugh if ye
want, tall feller, but I knows fer a fact about them li'l folk. If
ye've lived in the forests long as I have, ye'll know t' give 'em
respect."  He ponders for a while.  "How else c'n ye explain what
happened t' our gear, eh?  Yon Er'Tharn ent found no tracks here
'bouts and neither c'n I.  It mun magic fer sure as done this t' us:
li'l folk magic, I reckons!"

Kelemvor having pointed out to everybody that the fungi in this room
appear to have been tended.  Knowing this, everybody notices that
different areas of the floor have clumps of the same type of plant
life, with a path of mold seperating each clump, unlike the previous
room where everything was growing together.  Of the caretakers,
however, there is no sign.

After Tenbar and Kelemvor finish their conversation, E'tharn moves
forward and places a portion of his rations in the small cavity
beneath the statues feet.  He then says, "Melantha, please accept my
offering of peace and goodwill.  May your baskets be always full and
you plantlife always plentiful."  As he steps back, there is a flash
and the food disappears.  E'tharn whispers, "Enjoy it in good health
little mother..."

After examining the fungi garden to your satisfaction, Kelemvor and
Ssylth suggest the group move to what is marked as Remnants of the
Omiroth on the map.  Lacking a better suggestion, they move to the
intersection and begin making their way north.

Soon they come to the main line of the sewer.  As Tenbar described,
shafts of light can be seen here and there coming from narrow chutes
and drain ways from the surface.  However, it is not enough light to
see by and none of the openings are large enough to permit egress.
The swift stream of foul smelling water is still somewhat high, less
than a foot from the ledge.  Moisture glistens off every surface and
party members even see a few rats scurrying along the base of the
walls.

Carefully, everyone moves north along the ledge walkway and soon they
come to another narrow stone bridge spanning the stream.  Crossing
safely, they resume their northward trek and shortly arrive at the
west passage indicated on the map.  Entering the narrower tunnel,
everybody moves west about 30ft when they notice a light ahead.
Moving with caution, the party walks another 60ft before reaching an
archway leading to a large well lit room.

The room is approximately 50x40x15 ft high, with eight sides.  There are
two passages exiting the far side of the room, one in the northwest and
one in the southwest.  The groups attention, however, is drawn to what
the room contains.  Spaced evenly about the room, so that they form a
circle around the center of the room, are five columns of light.  Each
column is approximately 3ft in diameter and reaches from the floor to
the ceiling.  Drawn on the floor around the base of each column are two
circles, one inside the other, with runes between them.  The rune filled
circles are all similar, but with minor difference so that they can be
distinguished from each other. There is a sixth double circle on the
floor with no column of light rising from the center of it.

The most interesting aspect of these columns is that within four of the
five stand some sort of a living being.  The closest column contains an
orc wearing leather armor and armed with an axe and spear.  The column to
the right of the orc contains a halfling, wearing a brown cape and a
short sword.  The next column contains a shaggy white haired humanoid,
over 7ft tall, holding a nasty looking battle axe.  The fourth column
contains an attractive woman with long blond hair, wearing a dark purple
gown.  In the fifth column is what appears to be a cloud of greyish
smoke.

Upon seeing the party in the doorway, the figures in the columns become
active, motioning and gesturingly wildly.  The tall hairy humanoid
appears to start banging on the inside of his column with his fist.  The
orc takes a pouch from his vest, empties some gold coins into his hands,
and holds them out in the groups direction.  The halfling and blond woman
begin motioning for you to come closer.  Through it all, everyone hears
the faint sounds of their voices.  The hairy humanoid seems to be roaring
unintelligably making it hard to discern the others voices, but everybody
does catch the word "Help" coming from the halfling and woman.

After taking all this in, everyone notices some other things about the
room.  In its center, surrounded by the columns of light, is a 4ft tall
square pedestal of some black material.  There appear to be several white
knobs attached to the pedestal.  Also, drawn on the north and south
walls, about shoulder level, are three circles similar to those around
the base of the columns.  In fact, there appears to be one circle on the
wall for each of the six circles on the floor.

Looking closely at the portion of the map releating to this section of
the sewers, the party sees:

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                  |
|                           __________                             |
|                          |          |                            |
|                          |          |                            |
|                          |   ______ \                            |
|                           | |      \  \                          |
|                       ____| |        \  \_______                 |
|                      |     _|          \   o o  \__________      |
|                      |    |             | o p o  __________      |
|                      |____|             |  o o  /                |
|                                        / /-----/                 |
|                               ______ / /                         |
|                              |         |                         |
|                              |         |           N             |
|                    __________|         |         W   E           |
|                    ____________________|           S             |
|                                                                  |
|o = column of light                                               |
|p = pedestal with knobs                                           |
|                                                                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Upon seeing the creatures in the columns, E'tharn informs the group that
the tall hairy humanoid is called a Quaggoth, and belongs to an
aggressive race of subterranean dwellers who have an extreme hatred for
elves.  He also reminds everyone that orcs and elves do not get along.
So, those two creatures in the columns are likely to be a threat to at
least half of the group.

Tenbar is immediately cautious and does not enter the room. "'Ware," he
calls out to the others.  "This looks t' me like a trap."  He takes note
of the circles on the floor and on the walls and the pedestal in the
centre of the circle of columns and draws out his sword. "Don' step in
yonder circle," he says, indicating the unlighted circle, "An' before ye
folks try owt, let me do summat."

While Tenbar is getting ready to try something, E'tharn closes his eyes
attempts to see through the columns and people, as they did in the
basement of the mansion with the fountain.  Upon opening his eyes,
everything remains where it was and E'tharn tells the party, "It all
seems to be real and not an illusion."

Taking out his bow and testing his sight of the circles on the wall,
Tenbar discovers that he cannot get a good shot at any of them due to
the columns of light blocking the path.  Rethinking his plan, he turns,
searches the hallway and comes up with a handfull of small stones.
Taking aim with one of these, he throws it at the top of the orc's
column.  The stone flys true, but bounces off the column.  Taking up his
bow again, Tenbar readies an arrow and fires it at the column.  The
arrow strikes, but also bounces off, breaking in the process.

"Don' reckon it's safe goin' in, but there's folks here as need help.
Now, I don't reckon I wanna let out yon orc and dat brute" Tenbar points
at the shaggy humanoid "but them others... well, they looks pretty
desperate t' me."  He ponders for a moment, then questions, "I wunner
how long they be in there... and howcum they don't need food or
drink..."

Meanwhile, Ssylth has moved carefully along the edge of the room to the
circles on the north wall.  He calls out that he can read the runes in
the circles and that they are symbols of magical binding.  He says that
the circles do not appear to be buttons or drawn on the wall, but
instead are formed by some kind of dark crystal embedded in the wall.
He also says that the circles on the north wall correspond to those
around the columns containing the orc, halfling and quaggoth.

Following Ssylth's revelation, Tenbar enters the room and moves to
within 5ft of the column containing the halfling, just north of the one
with the orc and Ssylth moves from the north wall to join him.  Although
it is still difficult, they are now able to make out the sound of the
halfling's voice.

"Tarcell be praised!" he voices with emotion, leaning against the inside
of the column.  "I didn't think anyone else would ever come.  Please,
please, you must help me get out this accursed prison.  I have been
trapped here for longer than I can remember.  I'll do anything for you
if you will just please get me out of here."

Hearing his plea, Tenbar asks "What are these columns?".  The halfling
replies "They are some kind of infernal magical trap created by the ones
who built this place.  They are designed to lure the unwary into their
confines and then trap them there forever."

Tenbar asks him to clarify what happened and why he is here.  The
halfling hesistates for a moment looking at his feet abashedly, then
says "Well, I'm a curious fellow and it gets me into trouble sometimes.
When I came to this place I saw these circles on the floor, each one
containing some valuable item of gold and jewels.  Naturally, my
curiosity got the better of me and I tried to get one.  As soon as I
did, the item vanished and this pillar of light surrounded me.  I was
unable to leave the confines of the circle and have been trapped here
ever since.  That had to be at least a year ago.  I don't seem to need
food or water, or concern myself with other bodily functions, if you
know what I mean."

Looking around at the other columns he says "That woman and the cloud of
smoke were here when I came.  The orc and hairy over there came later.
Salmistra, that's blondie, warned me not to touch what was inside the
circle, I guess I should have listened.  I just didn't trust her, still
don't."

"By the way, my name is Graykin Lurelake.  I would be forever in your
debt if you would get me out of here.  As best I can tell, all you have
to do is find the right knob on that pedestal and turn it.  Please,
won't you help me?"

After listening to the halfling, the burly forester nods and reassures
him, "Ay, ye stand away from the.. er.. light, now... make sure ye ent
touching it when we do owt. Ye never know what might happen.."

Kelemvor joins Tenbar and Ssylth at the column with the halfling.  He
asks Graykin if Salmistra is the name of the blond woman and gets a
'yes' answer.  Kelemvor then examines the runes in the circle on the
floor, but is unable to read any of them.  Tenbar tells the halfling
to sit tight, while he and Ssylth move the column with the orc and
Kelemvor goes to examine the pedestal.

Upon reaching the orc's column, he again stretches out his cupped hands
filled with gold.  Though it is difficult to make out through the
column, you hear his husky voice saying "Free Gorharg.. gold.. free
Gorharg."  Tenbar tries asking him some questions, but he shakes his
head not understanding and repeats the phrase "Free Gorharg.. gold..
free Gorharg."  With a quick count, Ssylth reports that he has about
15gp in his hands.

Ssylth says, "First off, I have no objections to releasing the orc, but
I do think that we should take the gold that he is offering us to free
him."  Kelemvor interrupts saying, "You're not only a grave-robber, but
an orc-robber too."  Ssylth ignores Kelemvor and continues, "As well,
here is what I can make out from the circles.   They are magic circles,
similar to pentagrams and thaumaturgic triangles, though more powerful.
The runes drawn in the circles are Omiroth.  There are thirteen runes
in each, as follows:

light
prison
power
stop
time
trap
magic
binding
treasure
truth
strength
danger

The thirteenth rune of each circle is different and seems to simply
number the circles.  All the circles contain these same runes, though
in different order.  Unfortunately," he says, "I don't know if there
is any significance to any of them apart from the obvious magical
nature of the columns."

E'tharn says to Ssylth after he has finished, "You will not take the
orcs gold.  It is foul and tainted and I will not be part of this.
Orcs are evil creatures and it serves this one right to stay here
forever."

Tenbar returns to the others, from the light column containing the
halfling and says, "I's reckons we ought t' do summat about this.
I'll be happy t' go with anyone as wants to have a gander at yonder
thing" he points at the pedestal. He turns to Ssylth, "Ye had a good
look at them circles in t' walls? Bindin' spells ye say?"  Tenbar seems
to suppress a shudder.  "Ay, well, so long as they don' bind any o' us
t' this place; I like me food and drink, and.. er.. 'twould be strange
not t' have t' do any o' them 'bodily functions' as the little feller
said.  Eh, but here's a poser.  There be six circles on t' floors and
six on t' walls, but only five o' them on t' floor got the pillar o'
light in 'em.  Now the li'l feller said that he saw gold and somesuch
when he came here, howcum we ent seen nowt? I's reckon that them
circles in t' walls must be summat like magicking the circles on t'
floor.  Did ye notice one o' them wall circles being different fr' the
others?  Like unfinished, mebbe?"

Meanwhile, E'tharn and Crowe join Kelemvor at the pedestal with the
knobs standing in the center of the room, in the middle of the circle
formed by the pillars of light.  The pedestal does in fact have six
sides, with one white knob on each.  There are no other markings or
indications as to what they might do.  E'tharn volunteers to start
turning them, but Kelemvor says he wants to talk to all the prisoners
first.

The pedestal looks like this:

                            _K_
                          K/   \K
                          K\___/K
                             K
K = Knob


Joining the three near the pedestal, Tenbar suggests one of the elves
approach the Quaggoth to see it's reaction.  E'tharn agrees and moves
toward the column with the hairy creature.  At first it watches him
warily as he draws near, but when he gets a few feet from the column the
beast errupts in a fit of rage banging on the walls of it's prison, to
no effect.

Next the group moves to the column with the blond haired woman.  As they
approach they see that she is quite attractive, with emerald eyes set in
a perfectly formed heart-shaped face surrounded by a mass of flaxen hair.
Her voluptuous figure is clearly revealed by her close fitting pale green
dress.  Her age is difficult to pinpoint, though the party members would
guess somewhere in her late twenties.

As they draw near, her full lips part with a smile and in a warm voice
she says "Greetings strangers, you are a sight for sore eyes.  My name is
Salmistra Raniss and it has been a long time since I have seen a fellow
human being, or elf for that matter.  As badly as I would like be free, I
must warn you not to touch the pedestal.  I don't know what Greykin told
you, but whoever turns the knob to free a prisoner in a column takes that
prisoner's place.  I myself was tricked into doing that very thing by the
previous person in this column."

"Instead, what you must do is find a way to read the runes in the
circles.  There is 1 unique rune in each circle.  If you say that rune
while putting your hand on the matching circle on the wall, that
particular column of light will come down.  I can tell you how to
pronounce the rune unique to my column and if you draw the others for
me I could tell you how to prounounce them as well.  I would be
extremely grateful if you could free me from this prison."

After hearing Salmisstra's warnings, Tenbar says, "Don't ye worry,
lass.  We'll get ye out o' that in no time flat."  He turns to Ssylth
and speaks.  "Ye seem to know most about them runes.  I's reckons ye
should have another look at 'em, and find the one yon Lady speaks of.
I don't reckon I'm gon' be much help here, on account o' me not being
a reading man. I guess there be times when readin' can be of value, eh?"

Tenbar questions Salmistra further, asking her who was in the column
before her.  She replies "He said his name was Romdril Moke.  He was an
older man, balding, with a greyish black beard.  At the time, only he
and the gaseous entity were prisoners at that time, the other columns
were not activated.  He convinced me to free him by turning the knob on
this side of the pedestal.  I was a bit naive to trust him, I admit, but
he seemed kind.  As soon as I turned the knob I found myself inside the
column and he outside.  Before he left, he told me the real way to turn
off the column.  That was been about eight years ago."

E'tharn leans up to Kelemvores ear and whispers, "I don't like the feel
of this.  She is far to patient and unconcerned.  Why didn't she attempt
to tell us this information earlier.....I have a bad feeling."

Kelemvor replies, "Honestly, I trust the woman more than the halfling.
She knows if we are good and honest folk, we will release them.  The
halfling just seems like another 'robber' to me... like he would tell
us anything to get out.  Also, at least we know what the orc and the
quaggoth are about, even if they are 'evil'."

Ssylth then steps forward and asks what she knows about the others.
She replies "About three years ago, Greykin came into the room.  I
tried to tell him to stay out of the circles, but he seemed to see
something that drew him in.  As soon as he was inside, the pillar
formed around him.  The orc came about a year later and did the exact
same thing.  Finally, it has been less than a year since the Quaggoth
came.  He went straight to the circle, wielding his axe, and was
trapped too."

Next Ssylth demands to know her occupation.  She smiles winningly and
says "You haven't told me your name."  When Ssylth seems less than
willing to share it with her she shruggs and says "Like you, I am a
practitioner of the mystic arts.  My skills are not great and have
been unable to free me from this prison."  After a few mintues of
quiet, she continues "I don't blame you, you know.  You have every
right to be cautious.  Though I long desperatly to be free, I cannot
fault your suspicions.  Perhaps if I had been a little more
suspicious myself I wouldn't be in this situation.  I cannot expect
you to risk imprisonment, as you see it, for a stranger."  She shruggs
again and smiles sadly.

When Ssylth asks her why she thinks putting a hand on the circle on the
wall which matches the one around the column and saying the rune will
lower the column, she again says "Before he left, I begged Romdril
Moke to tell me the way to free a prisoner without being trapped.  That
is what he told me.  It makes sense, seeing as this was a prison
created by the Omiroth.  They wouldn't have wanted just anyone to be
able to set prisoners free by turning a knob.  They set the pedestal
there as a trap for any would be prison breakers."

As Ssylth questions Salmistra, Tenbar moves to the column with the
cloud of smoke.  He tries to communicate with it by asking questions
similar to those asked of the other prisoners.  The cloud swirls and
billows, seemingly in response to his voice, but there is no clear form
of communication.  Then Tenbar begins pointing at different things.
When he points to the circles on the wall the smoke cloud becomes
agitated, swirlling rapidly.  So too when he points to the pedestal,
the cloud begins to swirl rapidly.  It maintains a regular billowing
shape when he points to other things, but finally as he spreads his arms
to encompass the whole room, indicating freedom, the cloud begins to
swirl again, forming a funnel cloud that gradually expands to the walls
inside the prison.  Slowly, the swirling ends and the cloud becomes
once again just a billowing mass.

Meanwhile, Kelemvor moves to the column with the Quaggoth.  The beast
seems to have calmed down a little bit, after another fit of rage at
seeing E'tharn looking in his direction while testing his knife blade.
It still bangs on the walls in frustration periodically.  As Kelemvor
speaks to it, saying, "Do you speak common?  We will not hurt you."
it replies with grunts and growls that no one can understand.  After
a few minutes of this, he becomes angry again and thrashes wildly at
the prison walls.

Kelemvor then returns to Salmistra and asks her if anyone else has
entered the room since Greykin.  She replies "No, you are the first
since the halfling."

The group then returns to the halfing and repeats the list of
questions.  He tells you the same story of how he was trapped by
seeing a item of great value within the circle.  He also, tells a
similar story as Salmistra about how the Orc and Quaggoth were
imprisoned.  When questioned about the discrepancy between his and
Salmistra's story he says "I told you not to trust her.  She may be
beautiful, but there is something just not right about her."

When asked about his occupation, he rambles a bit saying how he is
a jack of all trades, having never settled really on one profession.
When asked about other people coming to the room he pauses for a
moment then says "Yeah, I've see a couple of men pass through here.
They didn't say anthing.  There is one guy though, who comes in
every so often.  He talks some, wanting to know different things
about me, where I come from what I know about different places.  He
spends a lot of time talking to Salmistra.  We've asked him to free
us, but he says he likes to have us to talk to.  He comes in from
the southwest passage, and disappears down the northwest passage
for hours before coming back to talk to us.  When he gets tired of
talking he returns the way he came, through the southwest passage.
I guess he come every couple of months or so, though it's hard to
keep track of time in here.  Come to think about it, it's been a
while since I've seen him."

The party puts the same questions to the orc, but he just shakes his
head, not understanding, and replies "Free Gorharg... free Gorharg"
waving the gold in front of them.

Kelemvor once again approaches Salmistra and asks "If the man before
told you how to get free, why didn't he do it?"  She smiles wanely
and replies "Romdril Moke turned out to be a truely evil man.  After
I freed him and became trapped, he tormented me by telling me it was
within his power to free me.  He told me how he could do it and even
went so far at to reach out to the circle on the wall, but pulled his
hand away at the last second.  He seemed to get some malicious
pleasure at mocking me, at holding out hope only to pull it away with
a cruel laugh.  Eventually, he tired of his game and left me here."

As Kelemvor speaks to her, Ssylth stands nearby in a stance of
concentration.  He closes his eyes a few times, opening them to stare
intently at the column and Salmistra.  Once the group moves back to
the entrance, he tells everyone E'tharn was right, she is not an
illusion.  He then suggests maybe everyone should move on to the
northwest passage and come back later.

--
Fraser MacKenzie
http://www.achilles.net/~fraserm

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