[HQ Ignorance] Scene 40: In a Ratty Dungeon

[Erica Hoehn]

--- Lev Lafayette <lev_lafayette at yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> Scene 40: In a Ratty Dungeon
> 
> When Kalen finally awoke his head felt like it had
> been pounded several times by a mallet. It reminded
> him a little of when he was young being taught the
> ways of the great machine by the Elder Mostal.

Very comfortable, aside from the locked door that is...
 
> His first actions were to feel around using his
> Earthsense and the normal sense of touch. The room was
> too his liking. The design was a most pleasant
> cube-shape, a snug 2 metres in either direction,
> mostly secure with but a few holes due to disrepair.
> The cobblestones were old and smooth and well worked.
> Besides him was some stale bread, with the occassional
> grain of rock, and a chipped enamel paint pitcher of
> murky water. "This", thought Kalen, between bites and
> swigs, "must be the en-suite for most respected
> guests".

"Except for the locked door", says the little voice in his
head again.

> With but heavy wooded door and some straw betraying
> any organic material, Kalen was well-prepared to spend
> at least several weeks in what would be an
> inhospitable pit for any other species. However his
> dreams of a stony holiday were interrupted by a sound
> beyond the wall..
> 
> *shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*
> 
> *shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*
> 
> *shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*
> 
> >From a hole in the wall, Rotterex appeared, dragging
> in his mouth with some difficulty a rune-encrusted
> tube of glass and bronze, which he dropped by the
> Stoneman's feet. Nose twitching, the bazak raised
> himself on his hindlegs and bared his teeth in
> something that approximated a grin.
> 
> "Don't ask me why Stoneman but I've taken a liking to
> you. Besides, our choices seem to be either trusting
> you to reinvigorate our food supply or an unfortunate
> and unpleasant decline in numbers until a balance is
> reached. So I suspect you would be needing this
> gadget."
> 
> Kalen surpressed an urge to scratch the bazak behind
> the ear in thanks. Instead, he lifted the Firelance
> towards the door and invoked the Runes of Craft and
> Sun. A searing fire burst forth from the tube,
> striking the metal lock and wooden frame; in a few
> second the lock bent and broke clearing the way.

After thanking Rotterex for his kindness, and praying that
the banner holders received his message regarding the
provision of food.... "Now, Rotterex, where did you find
this weapon, I thought I'd lost it when I was captured. 
But don't tell me quite yet, we still need to get out of
here.  by the way, I quite like you guys too."

> The corridor ahead was clear ...

"We'd best go back to your lair and I will plan what to do
next".  

When they arrive at Rotterex's lair, he again messages the
banner holders for his need for food for rats and
assistance with how to fix this broken king who has
protected himself with many spells


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