From the Chronicles of Anankis Miri
by Mishkamist of EPK
What am I looking at?
Why has that disgusting creature the opportunity to speak, to think… to live?
His mere presence sickens me; his raspy and deep voice makes me uncomfortable: it reminds me of a muddy and dragged sound I heard years ago in the forest during a heavy rain.
I close my eyes and take a big breath, rethinking to the last hours, after the seizure of the men in blue dresses.
Escobert helped us with our injuries and he brought a strange man:
“He can help you,” said the dwarf, in a tone which allowed no reply, before moving away.
The man in front of us had his entire body and a large part of his face covered by dark clothes, only a small portion of his face was exposed: deep, blue eyes and pale blue skin.
I never, never, saw a blue person. I’m sure I’m not crazy but no one said anything about… However I’m too curious about him!
I stared at that man for a long time, trying to draw his attention to me, till midnight came and a bell pealed! Escobert’s loud voice resounded in the Fortress:
“They’re attacking us! The sally port… They’re finding a way into the gate’s heart!”
Me and my new companions rushed towards that place. Thanks to my city’s knowledge and my velocity I was the first person at the gate: there a group of four kobolds, led by a man in blue clothes, with a big green lizard, was destroying the door; when I faced out an enormous fire column almost hit me: thanks to my reflexes it didn’t hurt me.
As always my blood turned hot, burns and signs appeared on my skin and hate crowded my mind: my only desire was to kill those creatures that endangered my beloved Greenest.
I think Shill killed the man in blue and a kobold while our blue-skin man slew one other kobold from behind and hit the lizard I killed one moment later… I’m sure I slaughtered that beast and a kobold, ‘cause I can clearly remember their blood and the satisfaction that filled my entire body.
Right away, behind the corpses, a new group of kobolds and men in blue, guided by a big and strong human male: thanks to a Shill’s brilliant idea, we decided to set on fire the corridor between the destroyed door and the still intact gate, barricading it with the help of Escobert and other four guards.
Immediately an explosion and people flying upon our heads attracted our attention: atop the castle the dragon flew and breathed lightning on the Fortress; after few moments of dread the enormous blue dragon went away, vanishing in the darkness of the night.
Escobert allowed us an hour to rest: after a little nap and treatments from city’s doctors the dwarf reappeared with the governor.
“Follow us. We interrogated the prisoners and, now, we have some information you must know.” Tarbaw’s face was gaunt, marked by worries, like his own voice.
The prisoner we saw had evident bashes.
“This man, like the other out there, is a member of the Dragon’s Cult and now they’re gathering a treasure for the Dragon Queen, for her resurgence.” Tarbaw’s tone showed his contempt.
The blue man, I don’t know his name still now, asked the prisoner if he knew three men.
“Frulam is our head on the battle ground; instead Rezmir is our formation chief. The third…I don’t know who is.” The prisoner said with faint voice.
I’ve never heard those names but I understood one thing: this Frulam is here, in Greenest, and she’s managing the assault to my city.
I promise to myself: I’ll find her.
I’ll find her then I’ll kill her with my own hands.
With quietness and polite manners our blue-skin man was able to obtain an essential information: the location of their campsite. After this our companion gave a strong slap to the prisoner, then we went out, returning outside.
“Time is against us. Other citizens are prisoners in Chauntea’s Temple.” The Governor’s voice was trembling but his eyes were resolute. “I have no guards to send there to save our countrymen… I know it’s a hard venture but you’re my last hope to save them.”
Obviously I accepted immediately and the same did Shill, Lei and Daeron; the blue man had some hesitations but, in the end, he joined our group. Escobert supported us with one guard, Margut.
The guard has brown hair and gentle eyes: I saw him a couple of times in Greenest but I never talked to him.
We left in the night darkness, through the secret passage we used earlier.
After few minutes Chauntea Church stood out in the landscape: we circumvented the building, reaching the secondary door, because in front of the Church six kobolds were trying to tear down the main door while two cultists flanked them: a man with a pitted face and a shiny armor and a curved sword managed that group with nasty shouts.
One other group, made up of three cultists and ten kobolds, patrolled the immediate surroundings carrying out a wide circle around the building.
In front of the back door six kobolds and two cultist: from the inner of the Church children screams and women weeping.
We hid ourselves in the woods not too distant to the building and, from that hiding place, we were able to kill all sentinels in front of the door, except one, who gave the alarm.
In the end we saved about twenty people just at the time when the main door collapsed under the brute force of our enemies: a couple of citizens remained behind, killed by kobolds’ fury.
“They can’t do this! THEY CANNOT DO THIS TO MY FAMILY!” Screams left my mouth, scratching my throat with rage.
When I tried to enter in the Church, Shill picked me up, dragging me away from there and I started crying.
I can’t clearly remember how we returned to the Fortress: my eyes were full of tears, the Shill’s hand pressed on my mouth shutting off my protests and my mind was still focused on the yells from the Church.
“I was right when I chose to entrust this mission to you. You rescued twenty eight people… I… I can’t tell you how happy I am. Thank you” said the Governor, then we were able to restore our bodies.
In the Fortress every single man was injured and tired but, at the crack of dawn, something happened: in front of the main gate gathered a crowd made by kobolds and cultists.
From this multitude of people an humanoid emerged: he was at least seven feet tall. His skin was completely covered in blue scales, fingers stretched in long claws and his face was elongated, similar to a reptile’s snout.
Around him kobolds created a shield and pushed ahead four hostages: a woman, two children and a young boy with a tunic soiled with blood.
“Do you see these beggars? I can give back them to you under one condition: send here, in front of me, your best warrior and I’ll return you the hostages.” The humanoid’s voice, hoarse and heavy, scraped while he was talking.
After few moments Margut, the guard who helped us in the Church, cried out : “My sister! My sister is a prisoner of that monster!”
“I go.”
When I said this my companions observed me with dazed eyes.
“No. This is my duty. Tyr will lead my hand against those creatures. I must help the prisoners.” Shill interrupted me, moving forward toward the gate.
“I must help them, Greenest is my city, they’re my family.” I tried to declare, chasing the Paladin; after us Lei, Daeron and the blue man.
Why are we here, looking at Shill in front of that humanoid lizard? He talks with arrogance, diminishing Shill abilities:
“Is this woman your hero?” The creature laughs. “Let’s see if you’re really a warrior.”
Shill doesn’t say anything: she looks at him with icy eyes, setting herself up for the attack.
Lei looks at me and, with feeble voice, says: “I’m ready to help Shill. One wave and I’ll attack him.”
I observe the two fighters and, beyond them, the poor prisoners and the kobolds. “If we attack they’ll kill the hostages. We have no choice except to stay here and await.”
The woman nods: “But I want to smash his scaly face.”
We stay here, watching the fight between Shill and this dragon-man: the Paladin hits him a couple of times but, finally, he tears down his enormous sword on Shill, winning definitively.
The monstrous man makes a mocking laugh: “Release the prisoners. We’re done here.”
Scrolls Abound! 