The Chamber of the Barons

The group went into the Chamber of the Barons.

There were seven old dwarves, sitting in a line, on stone thrones.

The one on the far left was the biggest, with a body looking to be comprised entirely of muscle, and his face looked like the face of a man who would attack you if you made the slightest wrong move.

The dwarf second to the left was adorned in a fine silk tunic, silk pants, wore a gold crown, a silver necklace, and a bronze ring.

The dwarf third to the left was the oldest dwarf in the room, and was sound asleep.

The dwarf in the middle was the tallest dwarf, with the tallest chair, the longest beard, and the hardest skin of all the barons, he appeared to be the head baron.

The dwarf furthest to the right was surround by dwarven women, and had a flask of wine in his left hand.

The dwarf second to the right was the shortest dwarf, with the smallest chair, no beard, and the softest skin of all the barons, he looked at the dwarves to either side of him, and looked sad.

The dwarf third to the right was the fattest dwarf, and had a plate of meat on his lap, and a jug of beer in his hand.

The middle dwarf spoke. "Wha', pray 'ill, da ya wan'? Spiak queckly, and spiak frankly, foor wi da noot 'aki kendly 'a noonsinsi."

Jue replied. "Of course, sirs, but you will, of course, exchange greetings before continuing to business, after all, it is custom."

The dwarf to the far left stood up, with an angry look on his face, but the middle dwarf gestured for him to sit down. He then spoke again.

"Ah, E suppoosi 'ha' yar regh', soo li's gi' e' dooni. Yar namis?"

Jue spoke. "My name is Jue, the girl is Gem, and the man is Plain-Walker. Your names?"

The angry dwarf stood. "Ira."

The dwarf beside him stood. "Crid."

The old dwarf was still asleep, so the middle dwarf stood. "'Hi slipir es Blo, and E'm Uredi."

The dwarf with food stood. "Claoony."

The short dwarf stood. "Iny."

The dwarf with the women stood. "Lub."

They all sat back down, and Uredi spoke.

"Noow, s'a'i yar buseniss."

Jue spoke "We require lodging, we will be heading up the mountain, and we need rest."

Uredi spoke. "And why shad wi gran' ya loodgeng?"

"I would never have thought that such a gracious host would need a reason to have guests. After all, the hospitality of the Barons is a thing of legend."

This effected Uredi in a way that would not affect many, and so he agreed to let them stay the night.

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That night, the group planned out their attack on the Ogurr village. Plain-Walker and Jue would strike from the main gate, and Gem would sneak in and take the rod while the Ogurrs fought at the gates.

They had dinner, and went to bed.

The Huntress and the Dwarf

Kor and Jue talked, as Kor took them to see the Council of Barons, the rulers of the dwarves.

"Soo, wha' brengs ya 'a 'hi Black Croown?"

"A hunt."

"Ah, ooff oon anoo'hir advin'uri, ari ya? Soomi 'emis E wesh E was s'ell wandireng 'hi lands oon yar hun's. E' sims as 'hoough noo'heng ivar happins aroound hiri anymoori."

"Then why don't you join us? I know I would like another fighter along with me, and more company is always nice."

Kor shook his head "Noo, E havi a da'y 'a proo'ic' 'hi Dwarvis oof 'hi Black Croown, E can noo' semply liavi 'hi place en 'hi hands oof a bunch oof yooungs'irs 'ha' faen' whin a lady knoocks oon 'hi dar, ef ya knoow wha' E mian."

"Mmmhmm…"

"Gad."

They reached the Chamber of the Barons.

"Gad luck, Madam."

"And to you, Kor.

The Black Crown

They traveled about a week , following the thief's trail around the place known simply as the Desert. There they saw many tents, but they dared not stop, lest they lose the trail. Eventually, they came upon the place Jue identified as the Black Crown.

The Black Crown was an area home to two species that had a serious distrust of Humans: the Dwarves, and the Ogurrs. It was a group of three dark mountains that formed together like a crown.

Jue snarled "The Black Crown! I should have known Ogurrs would involve themselves!" She spat on the dark soil before her. "Well, I suppose it has been awhile since I tried my hand against an Ogurr, perhaps they've gotten better." Jue turned to her companions. "But first, perhaps we should say hello the the Dwarves, eh?"

Plain-Walker agreed, so Jue took them to the entrance to the dwarves' domain, a dark hall of iron, she then knocked on the door. She knocked again. Then again. and once more. Then a short, hairy man opened the door looked a Jue, and fainted. Jue laughed, and called into the room past the door. A bigger dwarf, reaching Gem's chin, came, looked at the first Dwarf, and looked at Jue.

"Cursi e'! Ya da 'hes iviry 'emi ya coom hiri! Havi ya noo mircy, Madam? E Mian, coomi oon! 'hi lad was oon hes fers' wa'ch, and ya win' and knoockid 'hi lad uncooncioousi!"

Jue replied. "Sorry, Kor, I only knocked. Can we come in?"

"Ooh, feni, coomi oon en."

"Thank you."

"Da noo' usi 'ha' poole'i ac' oon mi, Madam, E can noo' s'and e' whin ya da 'hi poole'i ac', Madam."

Jue laughed. "Alright, Kor, I'll be myself."

"'Hank ya, Madam."

The Story of the Demons

The creature had found what it sought. A bridge, capable of granting the creature protection from the holy river. The creature hungered. It must eat. It must kill…

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After a night's rest, Gem and Plain-Walker followed after Jue, as she sought after the thief's path. after a span of fifty-some seconds, she found the trail, and they set off after the thief.

"Plain-Walker," Gem began. "What, exactly, are the Brain-Eaters?"

Plain-Walker looked at her, and replied "The shells of demons that could not enter this plane without a host. They are the remains of those unlucky enough to die before the unholy army of the demons."

"Yes, but, why are they here?"

Plain-Walker thought about this for a time, before replying.

"Gem, Demons have almost always spread death, fear, and misery for the sake of spreading death, fear, and misery. The Brain-Eater hordes kill because the

Dream-Flayers give them that drive, the Dream-Flayers give them that drive because death is what gives them life, gives them joy."

Gem processed what Plain-Walker said, and then asked another question.

"Almost always? What do you mean by that?"

Plain-Walker replied.

"At one time, demons were no different from you and me, at one time, they served good, and lived in harmony with all." Plain-Walker paused, and took a drink from his flask. "But then one day, a powerful figure in the land, the sixth lord, staged a coup d'état against the master of the lands."

"What happened to him?" asked Gem.

"He, and all his people, failed, and were banished to a plain of torture and death. There, their bodies transformed, and some became spirits. The creatures that inhabit the flesh of the Brain-Eaters is one of the kinds that became spirits."

"So, they kill for vengeance?" Gem asked.

"Once, perhaps. but they have avenged themselves a thousand times over. They kill because death is all they love."

They continued on in silence.

Prologue Part II

The party stared at the demon they had just killed a moment longer, and then began discussing their next move.

Gem, a young girl with red hair and green eyes, had been hurt during the battle with the creature, having been caught unawares. Her arm was now riddled with canine-shaped puncture holes, Jue, a women with whose features were very much related to Gem's, had bandaged Gem's arm before to much blood was lost.

Plain-Walker, a tall, silver haired man, who wore a long sword, spoke first.

"We need to find the staff."

Jue spoke up after this, "I can track whatever took the staff."

"Good."

After this, they rested for the night, and Gem had a dream…

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A dark creature, with the aura of decay surrounding it, stood before a river. The river was surrounded by sand, and bones. The creature attempted to cross, but could not. The creature turned, and walked away, intent upon locating another way across……

Book II: Prologue Part I

I must say, I am happy to be going to Sun's Song, it has many a happy memory for me. I wonder if the dryads are still there…

Ah, but I don't have time to see their festivals, even if they are still there. The Tri have given me the duty of taking the heir of the sun to the temple of the sun, Sun Blade's Rest, and have given me orders to take him there today.

_________________________________________________________

Lux and I have left the desert, and entered Sun's Song, the most beautiful territory on this side of the river…

I remember when a colleague of mine lived here, protected this place, but that time is over.

I suppose I ought to show Lux the temple…

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Birch, an old alchemist, and Lux, a Blighted-One warrior, entered the Sun Blade's Rest.

"So, this is an elven temple, eh?" Said Lux. "It's so… Elegant…"

"Yes" Birch replied.

They entered the main chamber.

It was a circular room, with paintings of white birds, and giants on the walls. The floor was mostly plain white marble, but in the center of the room, there was a sword with a golden-red hilt, with a hand guard on one side, and a silver blade with white adornments in a pedestal.

"That sword is why I brought you here" Birch said. "My lord has deemed it necessary to involve the elves in the devil-hunt."

"Then why have you brought me, a Blighted-One, here, instead of an elf?" Lux queried.

"Don't be foolish, the Blighted are just as much elves as the Elves of Hig Haven" Birch replied. "Anyway, you are the heir to that blade, and my lord's chosen champion. You will unite the Blighted-Ones and the Forest Elves, and when the time comes, you will lead them into combat with the devil hordes. My lord has ordered it."

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After that conversation, Lux took the blade, known as the Sword of Petlex, or the Sun's Sword, and the two headed back to the desert to begin uniting the elves.

Notice!

Greetings. We at Pondering Maundering Inc. are happy to announce that Pondering Maundering is back in business. We hope that you enjoy book II!

Sincerely, the Maunderer.

An Important Announcement

Greetings, dear readers! I am here today, to tell you that Book I of this story is now complete. I will be writing the second book and cleaning up this one privately, and will not be posting any new chapters of this story until I have completed it.

I hope that you enjoyed Book I, and I hope you will enjoy Book II in the future!

Until next time, dear readers!

The Devil's Maw

The group went up to the artist's door, and knocked, with no reply.

They knocked again. No reply.

Jue, getting impatient with the painter, kicked the door, causing it to collapse. The group, cold from the rain went inside.

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The house was covered in dust. Dust on the paintings, dust on the furniture, dust on Vlat Hogmen's skull.

It appeared that the man had been dead for some time, apparently killed. His body was ravaged, shredded to bits, bones were scattered around the house, many with teeth marks, and the rod was gone.

Gem was sifting through the rubbish in Hogmen's bedroom, when a deep growling noise began.

________________

The creature was hungry. It hadn't eaten in weeks.

It lusted. It lusted.

It smelled blood. Fine, pumping blood.

It lusted. It lusted.

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Gem looked up, and stared down the throat of a devil.

Tension in the Party

Why don't we just break in and take the rod?" asked Jue.

"No, that is no way to act." answered Plain-Walker.

"Oh? How so?"

"Please don't get nasty, our task does not leave room for petty bickering."

After this, Gem left the camp, uninterested in listening to them bicker, she decided to practice her blade skills.

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When she got back to the camp, Jue and Plain-Walker were settling their dispute in the form of a duel.

Jue appeared to be a very balanced fighter, striking, blocking, counter striking, stabbing, striking, whereas Plain-Walker was geared towards the defensive, parrying, blocking, dodging, striking, missing, dodging, blocking, parrying.

Eventually, Jue was able to get Plain-Walker on his knees. She had a wild look in her eyes, and Gem worried that she might hurt Plain-Walker.

Then, in a sudden burst of skill, Gem knocked the blades out of both of the fighter's hands.

"How about we simply ask for the rod?"