Book One, Chapter Four, �We�re All Going To Die�

We are Daniel the Bard, Zytsi the Khuzdul, Estalyn the Elf, Giles the Locksmith, Three Feathers the Guide, Aruth the Driver, Ganymede the Cleric, Riyan the Khuzdul Princess and the legendary Erana and all round hero Martyn Yanyez De Barbudo, and Balatar the Fish (still). 24th Halane.

The door has opened and Aaron the Unseen pushed out a tied up Zytsi, an Equani hoard followed. The box is required and Martyn comes with it. Martyn casually tosses it forward to land at Zytsi�s feet. Aaron reaches for it and Zytsi breaks free, kicking the box ten feet away to land at Martyn�s feet. Then Aaron the Unseen slumps down with a crossbow bolt in his forehead ........

A hail of missiles, a storm of swords and only Estalyn, Zytsi, Martyn, Sergeant Kruel and someone we�ve never seen before are left standing. But then the Equani ran away.

Obadiah Wendslydale is the previously unseen person. Zytsi talked to him, which was confusing. But he was a mighty healer, but not as good as Ganymede the Cleric.

Sergeant Kruel survived. Gory died, but redeemed himself. Buried him. Obadiah Wendslydale and Bolero (the Wookie). Obadiah is a traveller in these parts, and Bolero ((OK so my notes actually say Blerio - so sue me)) is an 8 foot tall thin hairy humanoid. They are Gargun hunters, who seen us, followed us, rescued Sergeant Kruel. Then waited around for us a few days. They rescued us, as did the Ghost of Frost. The severed, blood dripping head of Frost to be exact. He�s spent the last 5 months in Aaron the Unseen�s bag. Zytsi suggests that we�d better go to Melderyn to sort him out.

We find the supply dumps and our supplies are replenished. Do we walk to Azadmere or Trobridge? Boy is Frost tetchy.

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Anagif, pass in mountains, mostly likely to get through with least Gargun problems, says Obadiah.

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Martyn described Frost as a mighty magician. I heard him and so did Frost (and the mad bit). Frost decided to stop dripping blood, it�s a side effect of� doing the fear .

Frost�s verse in the �Strange Rescue� poem by Daniel Fichelscher, your humble bard, is:

�� The mighty man of magic, Frost,

�� Kept his head when all was lost

�� The gallant captain he did save

�� When the Gargun gave close shave

�� Out of the frying pan into the fire

�� Many was the Gargun that did expire.

and it was written several real and game years earlier. This, when quoted by its author, causes a re-evaluation of Frost by Martyn. Up to this point Martyn had a total down on Frost for curing his blindness. Personally I found that both Martyn�s and Frost�s arguments over this action somewhat childish. Strange how the 2nd line prefigures Frost�s current state.

We were only 10,000 miles from where ever we are going say Zytsi.

We go half a day Northeast, with Obadiah (hiding our tracks in the woods).

((Here�s a historical artefact now folks - a copy of the Watch Rota))

1�� Frost�� Giles�� Daniel�� Martyn� Kruel

2�� Frost�� Zytsi�� Three Feathers� Balatar� Obadiah

3�� Frost�� Estalyn Ganymede�� Aruth�� Bolero

Frost was under the control of Aaron the Unseen while Aaron was alive. Very confused and can�t cast magic. Three weeks walking.

Zytsi carved two very valuable rubies into dice, with diamonds for pips (50,000 each, before carving). Exquisite workmanship. Giles made a tin box with a lock to hold them in. Aruth whittled a pin for a wagon.

Obadiah leaves next day. Gives a bag to Giles and Zytsi. They look very, very, really happy and snigger a lot. Giles caught a constrictor snake (20 ft) for supper. 26th Halane.

The 28th we are going to go up a mountain and it snows, but not before we see torch lights and bonfires in the mountains. Gargun very unlikely, Equani unlikely, no idea. Its about five miles away. Zytsi talks Frost into going to investigate. (Boy Frost doesn�t like head comments, �Up a Head�). Well its 8 priests of Naveh ((�Lord of the Pitch Shadows, Master of Deceit and Evil Dreams, Lord of the Last Illusion, The Merchant of Death, The Unseen Lifter of Lives, Trancer the Cat, Wealth�s Worry� - to quote from Gods of Harn)). Martyn wanted to attack them, but Zytsi talked him out of it. The Khuzdul Princess wanted to go but the Sarge (personal bodyguard) wouldn�t let her. Nothing happened.

The 28th and we are into the mountains and its snowing as I said. Mud and boulder avalanche catches Zytsi, Giles (a slider), Estalyn, Kruel (a slider), Ganymede. Martyn and Daniel try to catch Giles, Zytsi, Aruth and the Princess stop the Sarge. Daniel stops Giles but Martyn�s a slider. Daniel saves Giles but is knocked down on damage. Martyn slides down out of sight. Several hours later (4 or 5) Martyn still missing. Boy are we worried. Zytsi asked Frost for a hand, Frost flew off.

We camp. Frost flies between the 2 groups (top and bottom). The Naveh priests are back. Zytsi, Daniel and Giles investigate. Three Feathers nobly volunteers to stay and tell Frost what�s going on. Frost in a cave and the party reunite. PS we killed a priest.

Daniel dressed as priest in cloak runs in �They�re after me, they�re after me�. Its supposed to look like Plan A is happening to the other side. Its about 4 o�clock in the morning. I�ll bet you didn�t know that Unicorns are most active at 4 o�clock in the morning.

Here we go �They�re after me! They�re after me!� 7th priest spots party. 2 arrows into priests. 2 try to stop party, knocked out of way. Zytsi and Three Feathers defend cave mouth. 2 fresh attack them. Daniel killed one of the four priests (so much for 8) but one takes Giles.

Next round Daniel is badly wounded. Princess takes one of hers out. They cheated and threw a spell at Zytsi, who went down. They (2) rushed past Three Feathers.

Suddenly Martyn appears glowing, and attacks the Naveh spearmen. �For Larani, die foul spawn of Naveh�. Daniel goes down. Martyn glows in bright light, cleaves one in two and attacks another. The others close and then are repelled back damage. Martyn leads the massacre of the evil kidnapping priests. One escapes but was badly hurt, and then Sergeant Kruel shot him.

Another survived but the power of Larani pulled both of his ears off. 2 others survived� convert to Larani. 30 or 70 coming next night. Move off 2 hours camp, move off for afternoon reach where we met a wandering landslide - 29th Halane.

Now who killed (with a crossbow) the first guard and slit the throat of the other. This allowed Martyn to untie himself (unscrew his hand) and escape. But who did it, not one of us.

30th It�s sleeting and snowing and we�ve got 3 prisoners. We think about falling down the mountainside, but decide against it.

1st Savor and its more of the same, just snow, snow, sleet, sleet, snow. Giles gets a cold - oh no he doesn�t he allergic to cats and we are attacked by a mountain lion. Giles attacks and Zytsi closes. Lion leaps over them and swipes at Frost. Disappears off down slope. Bears and squirrels doing a runner. Birds shut up. A noise. We take cover. Ten Minutes later the birds start singing. Nothing happens. I wonder what that was.

The next day (2nd) and there is a light mist first thing and then its grey and no snow. Break through tree line in the evening. Weather is still good.

3rd The Prisoners don�t want to climb the mountain and ask to be set free. �Remember Larani is merciful, Larani is great. Forswear the evil teachings of Naveh. Be true to Larani or ears will be torn off. But if you haven�t got any ears then its your hands.� They were let go and they went - Martyn was merciful !

4th Good climbing weather. Good progress.

6th Break camp. Silhouetted against the morning sun is a very long snake like bird. A Dragon. We�ve seen a Dragon! Three Feathers is a dragon expert, she says dragon�s can smell treasure. It is revealed that the chest is full of the Princess�s clothes not treasure. Giles and Zytsi look worried (so does the Princess). The party continues, now we know why we�ve been meeting nothing.

7th Column of fire coming out of mountain (it�s a dragon). Only stupid creatures come here. 2 kinds of dragons, frost and fire versions. Smells treasure, especially shinny bright objects. Dragons are descended from the Gods.� Ahnu and Dhivu types.

8th Still dry. That night we see a column of fire going across the sky. Might be a goat - not.

9th Storm more arguments about dragons - oh by the way they have weather control

10th Uneventful

11th Through pass. Ooops a Dragon curled a round a rock smoke drifting from its nostrils. Party in disarray and backing off nonchalantly. �Of course we�re intelligent� Martyn gazes at creature 30 -35 ft long. Giles goes to Martyn, looks at Dragon and gazes at it. Daniel sings flattering songs. Dragon right by Martyn and Giles. Dragon�s claw rips jerkin off leaving a scar down chest. It breaths fire over Giles�s head and says �Sorry�. Giles is running. 30 yards falls over.

�My lord Dragon what is it you want� Martyn.

�I just want the return of my gems.� Dragon.

The Dragon is encrusted in large red gems.

Zytsi hands over his gem. Dragon swallows it. Giles gets his out and throws it away. Dragon delicately picks it up and puts it in mouth.

�Dreadfully sorry about that. Is your friend all right?�

Giles tries to drink a potion. Dragon knocks it out of hand.

�Interesting stuff, where did you get it from?�

�Its mine.�

�I think not, you�re too tall.�

Potion not drinkable he says. Friendly (?) sort.

Tea in Dragon�s lair, up a secret stair, with 45 or 54 steps, don�t step on it, it�s a trap. Everybody up for it, except Giles.

Old stairs carved out of stone a long time ago by humans. Boulders at both ends. Dragon moves bottom one. Get to top. Boulder. Martyn gets out bell and rings it. Dragon moves boulder.

Huge cavern in heart of mountain full of treasure. Gold, diamonds, rubies et al. Many cave mouths. Dragon warren. Lives here alone.

Digs out a skeleton with tea making gear on it. We make tea. �Pull yourself up a pile and make yourself comfortable.�

We tell the tale of the Panaga Saga. After 4 hours the Dragon goes off and gets a dead (recently) sheep.

Dragon gave gems to Obadiah to give to people who wanted to pass through pass. Was supposed to tell them about it. When you see him can you tell him to see him.

Mines. Dragon mine, then Khuzdul mine and now men - worth fortune. 100 men there. Steer clear.

Dragons eat sheep, people are too salty. Human Dragon Hoard Hunters are his only visitors. Frost goes to Giles, Giles still doesn�t want to come in.