Read Online The Paladins by James M. Ward, David Wise - Free Book Online
Authors: James M. Ward, David Wise
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radius of reflection, the device conjured perfect copies of the fiendish beings summoned by the vrocks. Now, instead of expending energy to muster troops, they labored magically to keep them from attacking everything in sight, especially each other.
“If the bloodforge can create obedient soldiers like the mirror creates berserk fiends, nothing can stop us,” thought Rejik.
“Now you think like a true tanar’ri,” returned Shaakat. “Now General Raachaak’ll have to deal with us! Come! Let us lead these miserable troops to glory and power.”
The vrocks flexed their telepathic powers. The manes squealed in protest, like a host of butchered pigs, but they turned and crowded after the vulturelike master tanar’ri, pushing and shoving. The barlgura frowned at the irresistible orders and grouchily complied, blending in with the screaming horde. In a river of shrill chaos, the fiends rushed toward the gate to the Utter East. They flowed into the terminal cavern and pooled around the two evil leaders, who ascended the platform and stood before the gleaming aperture. For a moment, the masses fell silent, instinctively bracing for a surprise attack.
“Victory!” cried the vrocks together as they strode through the archway… and to the other side of the platform, without teleporting anywhere.
“Passworded!” snarled Shaakat in sudden fury. “The gate is passworded!”
His rage swept over the troops, who promptly dissolved into anarchy. They turned and charged out of the chamber, surging into the corridors of Undermountain, shrieking madly as they fled. A party of wandering drow, who had been approaching stealthily to investigate the disturbance, suddenly found itself overrun by the rampaging manes. The dark elves desperately tried to escape, then to defend themselves from the murderous throng, but died screaming. And the stampede continued.
Chapter 5
When things go wrong, try not to go with them.
“We’ve been going east for hours, now,” groaned Noph. “We’ve got to be close!”
The party stripped off their backpacks and sat in a cavern with just enough floor and head space to accommodate the seven of them. Its smooth limestone surfaces, streaked with strands of burgundy and brown blended like pools of color, spilling and swirling together. The rock gracefully bent and turned at right angles, creating natural seats for the weary heroes. Irregular rifts in the walls and ceiling led in every direction, but three large passageways branched off from the chamberone to the southwest, from which they’d come, one to the southeast, and the third due east. A distant cacophony rumbled in from the passage to the east, perhaps a crowd of creatures or the rush of the sea.
“Still no sign of any room that appears on this map of Khelben’s,” said Miltiades, studying the parchment under the light of an enchanted jewel. “This mazework of caves and corridors required the work of a twisted genius!”
A whisper of laughter echoed through the hallways.
“You’re welcome,” scoffed Jacob to the darkness.
“Actually, we’ve been extremely lucky,” said Aleena. “We’ve only encountered a handful of monsters, and most of them were of the bite-and-run variety.”
“That’s because somebody else has already been through this area,” replied Miltiades. “We’ve certainly encountered a lot of bodies.”
“Who do you suppose wiped out those beholders back there?” asked Able. “Whoever did it, I hope they’re on our side.”
“Many groups of adventurers wander these hallways, honing their survival skills,” said the wizardess.
“I’d say whoever killed those beholders is ready for dragons,” said Noph.
Trandon stood and walked a few steps into the eastern corridor. “Whatever’s making that noise, it’s getting louder.”
Kern got up and joined him, staring into the impenetrable darkness ahead. He concentrated on the noise, trying to decide if it was a mass of voices or blowing wind.
“If the bloodforge can create obedient soldiers like the mirror creates berserk fiends, nothing can stop us,” thought Rejik.
“Now you think like a true tanar’ri,” returned Shaakat. “Now General Raachaak’ll have to deal with us! Come! Let us lead these miserable troops to glory and power.”
The vrocks flexed their telepathic powers. The manes squealed in protest, like a host of butchered pigs, but they turned and crowded after the vulturelike master tanar’ri, pushing and shoving. The barlgura frowned at the irresistible orders and grouchily complied, blending in with the screaming horde. In a river of shrill chaos, the fiends rushed toward the gate to the Utter East. They flowed into the terminal cavern and pooled around the two evil leaders, who ascended the platform and stood before the gleaming aperture. For a moment, the masses fell silent, instinctively bracing for a surprise attack.
“Victory!” cried the vrocks together as they strode through the archway… and to the other side of the platform, without teleporting anywhere.
“Passworded!” snarled Shaakat in sudden fury. “The gate is passworded!”
His rage swept over the troops, who promptly dissolved into anarchy. They turned and charged out of the chamber, surging into the corridors of Undermountain, shrieking madly as they fled. A party of wandering drow, who had been approaching stealthily to investigate the disturbance, suddenly found itself overrun by the rampaging manes. The dark elves desperately tried to escape, then to defend themselves from the murderous throng, but died screaming. And the stampede continued.
Chapter 5
When things go wrong, try not to go with them.
“We’ve been going east for hours, now,” groaned Noph. “We’ve got to be close!”
The party stripped off their backpacks and sat in a cavern with just enough floor and head space to accommodate the seven of them. Its smooth limestone surfaces, streaked with strands of burgundy and brown blended like pools of color, spilling and swirling together. The rock gracefully bent and turned at right angles, creating natural seats for the weary heroes. Irregular rifts in the walls and ceiling led in every direction, but three large passageways branched off from the chamberone to the southwest, from which they’d come, one to the southeast, and the third due east. A distant cacophony rumbled in from the passage to the east, perhaps a crowd of creatures or the rush of the sea.
“Still no sign of any room that appears on this map of Khelben’s,” said Miltiades, studying the parchment under the light of an enchanted jewel. “This mazework of caves and corridors required the work of a twisted genius!”
A whisper of laughter echoed through the hallways.
“You’re welcome,” scoffed Jacob to the darkness.
“Actually, we’ve been extremely lucky,” said Aleena. “We’ve only encountered a handful of monsters, and most of them were of the bite-and-run variety.”
“That’s because somebody else has already been through this area,” replied Miltiades. “We’ve certainly encountered a lot of bodies.”
“Who do you suppose wiped out those beholders back there?” asked Able. “Whoever did it, I hope they’re on our side.”
“Many groups of adventurers wander these hallways, honing their survival skills,” said the wizardess.
“I’d say whoever killed those beholders is ready for dragons,” said Noph.
Trandon stood and walked a few steps into the eastern corridor. “Whatever’s making that noise, it’s getting louder.”
Kern got up and joined him, staring into the impenetrable darkness ahead. He concentrated on the noise, trying to decide if it was a mass of voices or blowing wind.
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