Book I: Sanction
Chapter 6
The room Below
The sky of the early hours was a more gray than usual, if that was possible. Sulfurous vapors of the Lords of Death seeping through cracks in the windows permanently closed, but the sweltering heat that came with them was not the problem, the real problem lay in the sun. Captain Picard covered his face with his hands in an attempt to prevent the fading rays of light who got through the cloud cover hurt him. It was not fair, intruders in the Temple the day I had the biggest hangover that had suffered throughout the year. No, it was not fair.
Lieutenant Kelly, the commanding officer during his absence, gave the report of what happened that night. If not for the intruders had left him five hours free before returning to his post.
"They were two, Captain. Guilht could see them clearly before being beaten. Said they were not mercenaries.
"Let the stupid do not know them does not mean that they are not," snorted the captain. There are many people new. Who else would dare to come into this accursed temple? Since Lord Ariakas decided to send here all the mercenaries who will bother many people have tried to come to rescue a fellow prisoner. The intruders are looking for someone, I'm sure.
Captain Picard slammed his fist on the table to reinforce his opinion. Lt. Kelly will continue with his report.
"We have not found any trace of the intrusion in the lower levels, captain. We have seen suspicious footprints in different parts of the upper level we are investigating. We believe that hackers are going around the building. It is impossible to have left the Temple but have seen them.
- And where are they now?
"We've chased down the stairs back until cornered next to the apartments of Guilht but suddenly ... disappeared.
Captain Picard and knew the place by his officers thought the intruders had scaled the wall surrounding the Temple of Duerghast. He had personally inspected the area. He had looked and had appreciated the considerable height had to the floor, the walls of the wall were smooth, no trim or windows or anything to grab onto to climb. The raging river of lava flowing as a natural moat around the temple.
"They could not climb up here, is impossible," he exclaimed Captain Picard still staring at his feet vacuum.
Guilht The soldier saw them go, Captain. Are you sure that this is the site you are entering the temple.
The captain shook his head.
"It is impossible. Unable to upload here. Unless they are magicians. Only a magician could do that and then you disappeared into the air is because they are wizards and magicians tend to do those things. No other explained. Anyway it would not hurt Guilht question in depth, if involved. Take him to the torture room "Captain Picard turned to his subordinate and told him to meet with all the officers in his office.
were a few minutes of solitude until the men invaded the small room and Lieutenant Kelly was quick to give his report. The men face looked circumstances, without interrupting the lieutenant or give a feasible solution to the problem. Never before has an intruder had managed to evade much time to Duerghast Temple Guard. Captain Picard looked at them one by one without saying anything. His men had failed and the punishment imposed on them would be terrible, so much as deserved for its fatal carelessness. But first they had to catch the intruders, who got it had a chance to make amends.
I do not think they have achieved their goal, whatever, "said the captain with confidence rising from the table. Perhaps they're scared, hidden waiting to take back the night to try to avoid us. We must be prepared, this time we have to catch them. Bow the guard at all positions and especially at the entrances to the cells of mercenaries arrested.
"Yes, sir," replied officers before retiring.
Captain Picard dismissed them with a gesture and looked for a moment the small window of his office. From there he only saw the river of lava down the mountainside. The sulfur-laden air does not relieve in no headache. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought throw a nap before starting work. He deserved it, had arrived five hours earlier. The shrill voice of Lieutenant Kellye him from his slumber.
"Captain dared say Lt. Kelly. If you accompany me, I can show you the way we think they took the assailants.
El capitán Picard asintió con la cabeza, su siesta tendría que esperar. Sin pensárselo más salió de la habitación.
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Cuando el teniente Kellye hubo desaparecido tras el capitán y la puerta estuvo de nuevo cerrada, dos figuras se atrevieron a asomar la cabeza del hueco de la chimenea en el que se habían escondido.
Estaban en una habitación pequeña, had evidently been the study of a cleric of the false god who had been engaged Duerghast Temple and had been hastily adapted to the needs of the Guard Captain of the Temple. Only this can explain the existence of a fireplace heat turn prevented Sanction permanent. Remains of the former occupant had scattered around the room, some tattered books, some dirty flasks, a stuffed rooster that rose majestically from a shelf while the latter also may have belonged to Captain Picard.
"They're gone. Great, here we are not look-Thera out of the shadows the chimney and looked out the window on the sly, there was no chance of escape there.
quickly reviewed everything that was around him. The papers were piled haphazardly on the captain's table, but apparently none of them had no value. Dozens of keys hanging on a ledge but it was impossible to know what might be useful and which not. Pen and ink appeared to be the only things of value in the room, at least for them.
- Have you ever gone before in a prison? Ulric asked guarding the door while she recorded the room.
- How "assailant" mean? No, is the first time.
"I have the feeling that breaking into houses is not yours," said the knight mockingly to see how loud dwarf moving around the room.
"Stealing is a hard job and you do not think that leaves so many benefits," said Thera without noticing the tone of the commentary.
"We do not argue to you, but if we had entered the room of a noble might have caught a good haul and would be a nicer place than this.
- A loot? Possibly because the gold and jewelry is hard to be won and jewelry are also somewhat complicated, difficult to sell if you do not have good contacts. In Palanthas know some artisans who buy gold to melt and do wonders with stones but here ... we'd be lucky if we managed a decent buyer, and yet the benefit would be reduced, no good craftsmen in Sanction. Even the blacksmiths working conditions.
"I guess that weapons for the army will bring them out.
I do not know. But now that you should find out. The best deal that you can spend is smuggling. I've never worked with weapons but with spices, you get a lot of money in one trip and there is little risk. And the dwarf spirit also gives good benefits but is more difficult to pass in the end ended up losing half of the cargo by road. By the way How long a Knight of Solamnia talks about stealing? Ulric
dare open the door and cautiously peered outside. How the hell would come out of there?
gentleman "I'm not remember? "I replied back to get his head into the room. Thera
what looked with a frown.
"You were kidding ... I'm not stupid. And you'll always be a gentleman, whatever you do, even to shave his mustache. Is your blood. You can not go against the blood.
What was missing, trapped inside a prison and a dwarf next to giving moral lessons.
- What can we do? He asked, ignoring the comments of the dwarf.
-Thera went to the door remained ajar Ulric.
"What we have to do. Find the damn thing. We know where is not. Here. That leaves the rest of the Temple.
- And the guards?
"You'd better avoid them, if they find us here will not leave us alone. "That is why it is not a door?
"Sounds like a closet. Ulric
approached the narrow door that he pointed his partner as she picked up in the entrance of the room. The wood is embedded in a projection from the wall and looked no more substance than that, Ulric carefully tried to open it but issued a stay rusty hinges creaking. The interior seemed to be full only cobwebs, an intricate network of fine silver threads going through the entire closet space.
"It's just a closet," said Ulric not too eager to probe the inside of the cabinet. Thera
not answered. He seemed very attentive to something that happened outside the room. The sound of voices approaching, the sound of boots that stood in the doorway.
- Ulric Care! Incoming! Thera-Ulric ran and hid as he could before it will turn the doorknob and Captain Picard, dismissing with a gesture to his subordinate, to re-enter their office.
totally alien to what had been happening in the room, Captain Picard closed the door and rolled her eyes a moment, leaning against it. The search for the intruders had been unsuccessful, his men had registered each and every one of the rooms of the Temple and had found no trace of the assailants. Everything seemed to be as long as the clerics of Takhisis those who had consulted stated that they did not perceive anything strange, they said no magician had tried to enter the Temple.
delegate command in Kellye Lieutenant, Captain Picard had decided take a break from work and return to his office to take a break. There, amid the warm walls of his office, he felt better. The room was small and cozy, the only room he had found all those damn cozy place. The clerics of Takhisis had blessed each and every one of the rooms but despite their efforts at the Temple was something that came from the Queen of Darkness. He had been told that the former god who had been consecrated Duerghast Temple was a false god, a lie aimed at the gullible could not do anything to him or his men and was possibly true. But the promises of the clerics of Takhisis were as misleading as the deity they served and one could never be sure if telling the truth or not. Captain Picard looked at his men and saw them shaking and squinting around as if waiting for the ghosts of previous inhabitants of the temple suddenly appear and kill them in a cruel and frightening.
had already suffered several assaults on other occasions. Some mercenaries newcomers were not happy with the politics of prisons Ariakas and tried to rescue some of their peers without much luck. So far all the intruders had been neutralized immediately and brought to the senior army officers who had given the appropriate sentence for his audacity. What happened to those men? Some came to try the torture chamber of the Temple of Duerghast but most did not reach into their cells. The implementation should be immediate. His men said many things but none of them really knew anything. Captain Picard could have learned of the fate of these men if he wanted through his contacts in the elite of the army, but preferred not to know. It was rumored that some were given to clergy and the Black Robes dark for their experiments and Captain Picard would rather not be aware of anything having to do with them. He served the Lord Ariakas, the general was his master and only had to worry about his bidding. Had enough with their current job as captain of the permanent guard of the Temple of Duerghast to worry about the fate of the prisoners who came to their cells.
Captain Picard slumped in his chair by the fireplace. Many rooms have fireplaces that strange temple but were not used, someone had said that they were actually vent holes for air to come straight down and not go up fumes from the lava of the few windows in the building. Captain Picard disagreed, he thought it used fireplaces for strange herbs that warm the previous clerics used in the worship of false god. The smell still lingered in the walls and maybe it was what bothered her senses. What I suggested the presence of someone who did not belong to the cult of Takhisis.
ached terribly that day the head and all the blame can not be attributed to the little they had slept. Smoothed the silver temples and put his hand on the broad front that went bald in a becoming more pronounced. He should not have passed the bar last night, not knowing he would get up early, I could not spend the morning sleeping comfortably in his bunk, knowing The effects of a hangover always lasted too long. Captain Picard threw his head back and closed his eyes.
was as if a thousand dwarf characters hammer in his head. He heard the voices of his men in the distance, immersed in that unpleasant noise that would not stop until some sleep. Hammers dwarves, dwarf boots running over his head, embedding huge nails into his forehead bare. Boot steps dwarfs running around. He opened his eyes suddenly and seemed to see one of those damned dwarves disappear into the shadows. The spirit of the previous night had been too strong, for once the landlord had not cheated.
few knocks on the door was removed from his stupor. He had joined and when the young lieutenant Kellye entered the room.
Captain. Now is the elf cleric. Do you let him go or say we have intruders in the Temple?
Captain Picard hesitated.
-Hazle wait a moment. I want to place guards all the way and have someone accompany you discreetly, do not want any trouble.
Normally it would have been refused entry into the temple until the whole matter was resolved intruders. I did not know who might be or what intended. If a cleric of Takhisis was in danger in a place he could be taken for guarding and degraded or worse. But let him not meant that everyone would know something was wrong and that neither was suitable. Voices had been raised against his work in command of the prison of the Temple of Duerghast. Captain Picard did not intend to stay all his life there. When the war started would have an important place in the new army. It was rumored that troops would fall like a dark shadow on all Ansalon funeral and he was to join the elite of the army, of course yes.
course, that day nap was discarded.
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The door led, as Ulric already noted, to a narrow closet where they could hide from the glazed look of Captain Picard. Thera inspected each and every one of the walls of the cabinet until he found a loose timber for which was introduced with ease. Ulric followed reluctantly, wondering where he was going to take it all. The hole was large enough so that they could stand. The darkness was almost total. Suddenly, a medallion bearing his neck began to glow with a faint glow.
-Thera ...
-Chisst. There is a hallway. Vamos!
Soil bent down, the walls were so narrow that they could not move his arms and the roof was too close to the head of Ulric. Despite all went into the dark corridor that seemed to lead to the bowels of the earth. Until he stumbled down a spiral staircase that sank into the depths of the temple. The steps creaked with every step they took. The humidity seemed to seep everywhere, oozing from the walls and concentrated in small hot puddles that made the road slippery. The air was thin, full of moisture evaporated was suffocating clouds clung to his skin and made it difficult to breathe. On their heads they heard the sound of the voices of the soldiers who sought and hurried footsteps throughout the building. Ulric chose to draw his sword, a growing nervousness was growing on him and felt the danger surrounding him like one of those fluffy clouds. Thera she scolded him.
- Down there there is nothing to what you attack with the sword, sir! Hopefully the magical medallion protect us.
"I'm not a gentleman," muttered Ulric so low while sheathing his sword again.
The darkness was growing deeper and only slight orange glow medallion worn on the neck of lighting the road. Ulric back barely distinguish shadowy Thera. The ex-knight (as now Thera derisively called him) was guided more by the sound that made the midget to walk so that their eyes appeared covered by a strange mist.
-Thera. Surely there's something down here?
-The medallion glows right? So you want to go down here. Are you afraid, ex-knight? Ulric
not respond. Of course I was scared. I was not accustomed to dealing with wizards, disliked and distrusted them and their magical devices. If before committing to Thera who had known for going to work I would have thought twice before accepting the job. But it was too late. I could not break his word and leave Thera fend for herself. Why could not it? No longer a gentleman, did not owe anything to anyone, did not have to keep promises. Why could not be cold and calculating as she was? Do not worry about anything or anyone, do not think he had sworn once, defend the weak. Ulric felt he needed to be selfish, he needed to think for once in your life, your needs and desires. Thera and had put in tight situations before, and barely escaped them. Why not going over there? He had only to turn around and retrace their steps. Find a way out of the Temple. Back to the mountains, chasing goblins, and was never closer to grumpy dwarves dragging it up stairs in the dark and dusty old temples, with the sole of a hundred soldiers on their heads and who knows what horrors lurking beneath their feet.
But
that was not what her parents had instilled throughout his life, were not the traditions which had grown and that, deep inside him, considered his ideal of life. He had told his colleagues, his friends, his family that he was not like them, which was different and had to leave to find out who he was. What if the end was that he was like everyone else? He had wanted to choose, to have sufficient strength to choose and not follow the path that had been marked from childhood. Had he fought so hard to get out to discover what they really wanted to go back?
No, "was he said, "No or want to return, this rarefied atmosphere reminds me nonsense. I gave my word and I have to comply, not because there was once a Knight of Solamnia but because it is my chance to go into ... in the world of grave robbers.
a comparison was not so lucky, the staircase seemed to fall directly on a grave and Ulric could almost feel the breath of the spirits touching your skin. Thera stopped, ending the ladder against a wall just brick and mortar, in a strange place where everything was made of black granite. The dwarf took his ax and gave little taps on a wall with the handle. It sounded solid.
"We have already done. Two hours down to nothing, "grumbled Ulric but inside it was looking forward to going back.
"Humans you are very clumsy built-Thera said as he inspected the brick wall," but not enough to waste time building a stairway that leads nowhere.
"Maybe there was something there that have covered ventured Ulric.
-Or maybe there is a secret door, "said Thera.
The dwarf continued insisting, with small taps to every inch of wall while Ulric sat on the wet steps and tried to scrutinize the shadows not quite sure if there was something floating in them. The medallion glow illuminated only to the place where he directed his gaze and let the rest of the space involved in the oppressive darkness that surrounded them. His feet drummed on the floor trying to play a popular melody without being able to do anything about it. He immediately stopped and realized what he was doing unconsciously. His feet were expressing their nervousness but that was not important, or that someone might hear and recognize the pace at upstairs.
-Thera.
-Chissst. I'm trying to find a door. Ulric
hesitated between search for hours to leave or tell him he had discovered.
"I think it's here, 'said Ulric watching the floor under my feet.
Thera became a jump and looked at the worn wood had been used as a drum Ulric was a wooden square fits perfectly in the black granite floor.
- You see! There is a secret door! "Immediately and without waiting for complaints of Ulric, grabbed Thera the ring protruding from the center of the wood and threw it with all his might. The piece of wood creaked a little and contorted the hole in which it was embedded. The tomb was opened under his feet. Twelve
high steps led up to what should have been a small laboratory. Everything was in disarray as if all the demons of the Abyss had been unleashed on the tiny room. The walls were covered with a phosphorescent goo and dimly lit room and gave the ghostly reflections to objects lying on the ground. Demolished the flasks had left pools of liquid that were strange and foul smells. Ulric held his nose hand, wondering how on earth would find the damn thing that sifted through so much filth. And the state that would be! Thera picked up some objects but not flashed medal recognizing. Ulric looked around, the liquid had corroded all he had found his way making mush. On the table there were still some books and articles which were soon discarded by the dwarf.
- Ulric Come! Move! That then also want to charge!
But Ulric stood motionless and watched how about a paralyzed shelf in the back of the room, almond eyes with long lashes watched.
- Thera! There! He managed to exclaim after a second. The dwarf did not wait for Ulric draw the sword, could see the eyes shining in the darkness and took a well-aimed blow to the head elf with the edge of the ax. Eyes closed with a gesture of head pain and was thrown from its pedestal on the shelf and rolled on the ground to a halt just at the foot of Ulric.
The gentleman tried to concentrate on the gaze of those pleading eyes and not look at the blackened stump which had transformed what was undoubtedly the throat of a living being.
- ahhhhhhhh! Thera-pounced on his head and began kicking him like a huge cockroach. Until the elf's grimacing were so evident that Ulric was stopped.
- Stop, Thera! He said with authority and held his breath to pick up the bruised head gently introduced the stump on the pedestal that had sustained him and placed it on the table.
-Thera is appalling, "he said, surprised that Ulric could overcome his reluctance to play the thing. The boy had more stomach looked.
- What do you think? -Head opened his eyes. On one occasion he had a body that was obvious. It was now a living head.
"It looks like a ghost," said Ulric. Or a demon of the abyss. If I wanted to kill us has had the opportunity to do so.
"Maybe you can not.
Thera came and held the gaze of those piercing eyes. Perhaps it was a monster but a monster seemed intelligent.
- What's your name, Monster Abyss? Asked the dwarf.
Surprisingly, the head tried to speak. His lips moved trying to form words, but these did not come out of her throat. Only managed to issue a hoarse whistle was unlike any of the words they knew.
"You can not talk, Thera. It has no throat.
"I see.
"We could try to read his lips. Ulric, "suggested and contact the elf. Can you do it?
repeatedly blinked eyes and mouth widened into a smile. The monster was saying yes.
-evidently can not talk but he can hear us and see us, "said Thera.
-A-S-T-K-A-I-N-T-E-R-O-T-H-
Ulric Astkainteroth-read and turned to Thera, "this should be your name.
"I've seen that name before ... -Thera began to pick up and return to throw books and scrolls to the ground .- Ah, here it is. Astkainteroth, black tunic and Lord of Duerghast, basic provisions and blah, blah, blah. It was a big fish, Ulric. We have a fish fat. Ulric
glanced at the shabby book that Thera was holding.
- What could have happened? He asked.
"Maybe there was something there that have covered ventured Ulric.
-Or maybe there is a secret door, "said Thera.
The dwarf continued insisting, with small taps to every inch of wall while Ulric sat on the wet steps and tried to scrutinize the shadows not quite sure if there was something floating in them. The medallion glow illuminated only to the place where he directed his gaze and let the rest of the space involved in the oppressive darkness that surrounded them. His feet drummed on the floor trying to play a popular melody without being able to do anything about it. He immediately stopped and realized what he was doing unconsciously. His feet were expressing their nervousness but that was not important, or that someone might hear and recognize the pace at upstairs.
-Thera.
-Chissst. I'm trying to find a door. Ulric
hesitated between search for hours to leave or tell him he had discovered.
"I think it's here, 'said Ulric watching the floor under my feet.
Thera became a jump and looked at the worn wood had been used as a drum Ulric was a wooden square fits perfectly in the black granite floor.
- You see! There is a secret door! "Immediately and without waiting for complaints of Ulric, grabbed Thera the ring protruding from the center of the wood and threw it with all his might. The piece of wood creaked a little and contorted the hole in which it was embedded. The tomb was opened under his feet. Twelve
high steps led up to what should have been a small laboratory. Everything was in disarray as if all the demons of the Abyss had been unleashed on the tiny room. The walls were covered with a phosphorescent goo and dimly lit room and gave the ghostly reflections to objects lying on the ground. Demolished the flasks had left pools of liquid that were strange and foul smells. Ulric held his nose hand, wondering how on earth would find the damn thing that sifted through so much filth. And the state that would be! Thera picked up some objects but not flashed medal recognizing. Ulric looked around, the liquid had corroded all he had found his way making mush. On the table there were still some books and articles which were soon discarded by the dwarf.
- Ulric Come! Move! That then also want to charge!
But Ulric stood motionless and watched how about a paralyzed shelf in the back of the room, almond eyes with long lashes watched.
- Thera! There! He managed to exclaim after a second. The dwarf did not wait for Ulric draw the sword, could see the eyes shining in the darkness and took a well-aimed blow to the head elf with the edge of the ax. Eyes closed with a gesture of head pain and was thrown from its pedestal on the shelf and rolled on the ground to a halt just at the foot of Ulric.
The gentleman tried to concentrate on the gaze of those pleading eyes and not look at the blackened stump which had transformed what was undoubtedly the throat of a living being.
- ahhhhhhhh! Thera-pounced on his head and began kicking him like a huge cockroach. Until the elf's grimacing were so evident that Ulric was stopped.
- Stop, Thera! He said with authority and held his breath to pick up the bruised head gently introduced the stump on the pedestal that had sustained him and placed it on the table.
-Thera is appalling, "he said, surprised that Ulric could overcome his reluctance to play the thing. The boy had more stomach looked.
- What do you think? -Head opened his eyes. On one occasion he had a body that was obvious. It was now a living head.
"It looks like a ghost," said Ulric. Or a demon of the abyss. If I wanted to kill us has had the opportunity to do so.
"Maybe you can not.
Thera came and held the gaze of those piercing eyes. Perhaps it was a monster but a monster seemed intelligent.
- What's your name, Monster Abyss? Asked the dwarf.
Surprisingly, the head tried to speak. His lips moved trying to form words, but these did not come out of her throat. Only managed to issue a hoarse whistle was unlike any of the words they knew.
"You can not talk, Thera. It has no throat.
"I see.
"We could try to read his lips. Ulric, "suggested and contact the elf. Can you do it?
repeatedly blinked eyes and mouth widened into a smile. The monster was saying yes.
-evidently can not talk but he can hear us and see us, "said Thera.
-A-S-T-K-A-I-N-T-E-R-O-T-H-
Ulric Astkainteroth-read and turned to Thera, "this should be your name.
"I've seen that name before ... -Thera began to pick up and return to throw books and scrolls to the ground .- Ah, here it is. Astkainteroth, black tunic and Lord of Duerghast, basic provisions and blah, blah, blah. It was a big fish, Ulric. We have a fish fat. Ulric
glanced at the shabby book that Thera was holding.
- What could have happened? He asked.
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