3. Ghost of the Wilds - Red Meets Green

Ghost of the Wilds - Red Meets Green


  • A new hunt.

    Her first reaction was the waste of it. To come to her home away from the jungles, the happy little vale in a hidden side canyon of the Nars Pass, amongst her fellow vagabonds known as the Wolves, to find this… waste. The entire vale was charred with fire... and not a natural one... the spread was not even... this was magic that had done this. And of considerable force.

    She found Matthewson then. He had obviously put up a valiant fight. Our poor lame wolf. A large gash had severed his spine, but in his mouth, there was a fine spun red silk. She would find what did this. She would make this waste not a waste. She would force payment of the destruction with destruction of her own. With a few of the Wolves as an escort, she carried the charred and battered body of Matthewson... the group's spirit guide and mascot up to the stone city to the north, Peltarch, known to Kharbeh as Shtinky Boxsh. She brought her to the only priestess she knew could bring back the animal intact... Daisy. With all of its memories restored... even its own death. After a sacrifice of a most personal nature... the string of ears she carried did Daisy, who Kharbeh had named Flower Power, was the spark brought back to Matthewson.

    They journeyed back and met with a few other Wolves, who said they had been tracking marks left by the invaders of their vale. Now we could see. If Matthewson recognized them as the attackers, we would know that these Red Weavers that the others called Thayans were the ones that had been attacking many of the area towns and groups. We had even run into a group of Eastlander, when a flag of truce was called for, they were warned about the Red Wizards... but seemingly too late. Even they had been attacked by these Red Weavers.

    They found this group in the cemetery of Norwick. The baring of Matthewson's teeth and the rise of his hackles were enough for me... but it was confirmed by our good druidic friend that Matthewson knew these to be the beasts that had set upon him. The so called Knights that guarded the Red Wizards all carried swords that would have left the mark that severed Matthewson's spine. There was a standoff after they headed north the majority of the group that confronted them left to defend the town, should they chose to turn their interest to Norwick.

    Kharbeh continued following them with Matthewson in tow northwards, where she observed them from the hills above one of the canyons in the Nars. She felt something wrong with the air... then a red robed person, head bald save for tattoos appeared in a flash of light that made her ears pop. He asked for a report and a low reply was out of hearing. Kharbeh tried to advance to hear better, but too late... the weaver grunted out a displeased response and the entire group, including the weaver vanished with a flash.

    She heard far off tales of these weavers. They were on the hunt for something. In her watching she had heard... something... about stones.


  • From hearth to unearth a gem beyond a golem.

    She had been feeding on fat grubs in the swamp near the Farm Box. Near the Bromley Estate when she heard many voices in his Box. Perhaps he was planning. She listened and heard her own name being mentioned. Seems they wanted a trapper. Well… this would be fun... and she just may get a chance for a bit of vengeance as well. She scratched on the door and stepped to one side. The door opens to a flood of warm light. Once her eyes adjusted and she heard the Old Singers voice, "Hello?" then a moment later, "Hmpfh". She slipped in once his back was turned and he was shutting the door. She stood in his shadow while the eyes of those around were on him. "No one."

    Off to one side she slipped and found a comfortable chair... with soft pillows even. She made herself comfortable in the shadowed light of the flickering of the firelight. It was quite a gathering that Adam Bromley hosted. Had he not been human, she would have sworn him gnomish with the nose he had for sniffing out trouble.

    Cera Amalith, the seer and planewalker of the Rom... Ka'ell, one of the head magus of the Emerald Circle... Khaya, a Knight of the Divine Shield and a member of the elusive Phoenix... Krig Skullboil, the ever gruff head of the Crafter's Guild and a mighty battle priest of Tempus... Maya, the mighty wild warrior whose barbaric charms captured even the greatest of bachelor’s hearts... Samson Swarthout, whose loyalty to friend, Helm and country outstrips all others... Talgrath, a more stalwart bastion of the arts of war have seldom been found... and young Zyphlin Re'cual, the apprentice to Adam and a shadowy bard whose dark charms and quick mind make him deadly to any mystery.

    It was a gathering up to the task they seem set upon. Listening quietly, it was obvious their goal... to acquire the stone before the Red Wizards did. The details of how and why were really inconsequential to Kharbeh. To strike a blow to those that caused her home and family harm would be enough. When her name was once again mentioned by Adam... that he had hoped the message had been received by the pixie trapper... that is when she coughed.

    They quickly brought her up to speed. As she listened, she checked her pouches. Would she have enough tricks? She thought it would suffice. She knew she would be of little value to them against the sleepwalkers, as Cera Teapot called them... the undead felt no pain. And that is what Kharbeh was good at. Finding the pain points to cripple a foe. So... she would certainly be laying many traps to make up for it.

    The traveled southward that night. All of them quiet but buzzing with a certain excitement. Once they reached the Wood Box (Norwick) they would be picking up a device that Adam described as a magic sniffer. A device the Red Weaver's had built and would find the stone they sought. She did do not know how Adam came into possession of it, but she hoped that it had caused the deaths of not a few red robed individuals. One thing for certain... it was not meant for travel. Even Sam and Talgrath had difficulty picking it up much less carrying it between the two of them. Before they departed, some went to stock up on food, others to relax and drink, still others to rest. Kharbeh sat on the cliff top at the top of the waterfall overlooking the town and watched the moths flutter too close to the torch outside of the spinning fan box on the top of the hill.

    The next morning they left town in ones and twos, so at to not arouse suspicion. They met later that afternoon outside of the elven encampment, delighted and nervous to be on their way. The group was tight... but they would loosen and adjust to each other... they hoped. Kharbeh led the path as usual, quickly and quietly working her way to the old cliffs in the back of the ancient woods. The forest was oddly quiet of the prehistoric animals that normally prowled the woods. They neared the waterfall that hid the entrance... had it not been for the warning behind her... the roar of the waterfall had drown out the sound of the approaching paws. She turned to give the all clear sign to see the body of a huge wolf... with Krig pulling his blade from its spine. She grinned and winked at him. It's always good to know there are friends at your back when blazing a trail.

    She had been behind the falls twice before. She knew the metal beast that still followed it’s ancient orders. It was built tough... with a magic that had latest thousands of years. It would knit it's metal like a troll's meat mends. Only magic would temporarily stop the thing. And the gas it gave off... even Kharbeh dared not test it's strength against her resistance to the poisons of nature.

    They gathered quietly and talked through their battle. Kharbeh took the time to set up a veritable wall of traps between them and where the metal golem normally marched while they talked. She was not one for waiting in a place such as this.

    The thing must have seen the light. At least it would not surprise us. We could hear the tromp of it's feet reverberate against the cave ceiling long before even Kharbeh's sharp eyes spotted it glint into the light. She growled at the same time the weavers chanted their songs. The Old Singer Adam unfurled a scroll behind her and trapped the beast with webs as thick as chains. It ground it's way forward as lightning buzzed like a grasshopper jumping in random directions. Arcing to the machine it melted plate to plate, crippling it's left leg. Kharbeh took out the magic stick the Green Weaver Ka'ell had lent her the night before. With practiced intonation, she spoke the words and points the stick at the metal contraption. It surprised even her the brightness of the flash. Now it's waist would not pivot.

    As it reached the edge of the web, Sam and Talgrath set down the magic sniffer and readied their weapons. Adam took out a stick as well... magic shards bolted towards the beast like a swarm of angry bees... charring the metal and making it brittle. Cera too arched the same sky blue bolts from her fingertips, doing and odd dance as her face contorted into a childlike laugh of glee. It was taking a beating and had not yet touched one of us. That would change quickly. With it's good arm it's thirty foot height swung low and backhanded it's forearm right into Sam's waiting shield. The clang was louder than the lightning's thunderous report. It lifted even Sam clean off his feet and pushed him back several feet. But he took the blow like only Sam could. With grim determination, he stepped back up for another. Same time Talgrath was punishing a reinforcement of his the monstrosities left ankle joint.

    A bellow and Krig waded into the battle... ducking the giant's blows like it was a flesh version of the mountain giants he grew up on, the dwarf called on his battle lord and the caves night was suddenly day, as the beast was lit up by the blaze of Tempus himself. The beast bellowed back a green cloud that caught the Ka'ell in mid gasp. He took in a full breath of death and with eyes rolled back he hit the ground hard. The left ankle went and the beast toppled to the left. Nearly taking out young Zyphlin as he bolstered the group's spirits with song.

    Shard of magic from exploded from Cera once more in a song of power and the beast head shot off like a bullet in a huge sling... clanging against the cavern walls and tolling like a bell... announcing our arrival. The Lost City was about to be found.


  • First taste of red.

    Finally the message had got around in the adventuring rumor circles of this dual bugbear and Thayan threat. A band had been thrown together. A large band. Looking for news of how the bugbears progressed, and perhaps to see if the Thayans had set a camp near the entrance to the Lost City. Indeed they had. It almost seemed as though the group of adventurers would parley with them to try to discern information. I am sure that same thought was going through the Thayan's minds. I guess they decided the information they would gather from us was probably not as valuable as that they may themselves give up.

    The battle commenced appruptly. But not before I had the opportunity to circle around them amongst the trees. Luckily, the ancient animals of that region had been driven off… very possibly by the Red Weaver's magics... perhaps they were weakened from that. One could only hope. This was the first time Kharbeh had seen the triad of the Thayan battle unit. A front line of the elite thayan knights, supported by the fire priests defensively, and finally... the heart of their teams... the Red Wizard. Watching the wily weaver stay far from the front lines and pummel my companions with spells was quite enough to spur me into action.

    The gaul... a human weaver of any power thinking it was a match for a wild elf in the woods! Kharbeh toyed with him for a while. Each time he would start casting a weave... another arrow would come from a nearby tree... disrupting his concentration and wounding him a bit further. Each time... he would go to the tree... and there would be nothing. She finally bored of the game... since her friends could use the pinprick of a fey arrow here and there. I came in close to finish him. He had set up near a large tree... within a shout of his shieldmen knights.

    Around the back side of the tree the pixie elf drew an arrow to the fullest pull I could muster from her long bow, she flipped around the edge and let fly an arrow... from only about a man's height away. The shaft went clean through the weaver's throat. Leaving a satisfying gurgle. She dropped the bow as she flipped back around the tree... coming to the weaver from the other side as she drew her dual blades. The knight had looked over his shoulder as he fended off the blows of a determined Talgrath, to see a small green flash and flicker of dark metal slide into his master's skull and spine.

    The creature stood over her master and then looked right at the Knight as he screamed in rage. She grinned with sharp teeth and actually WINKED at him. He pushed off the mighty warrior to his front and ran after this green assassin. Who DARED touch a Red Wizard. This creature would pay dearly.

    He could hear the metal clad boots of his opponent behind... and yelled out for support form the Fire Preists... it rained holy fire on the warrior... slowing his persuit of him. The warrior following decided to work out his differences with teh priest instead. Now the Knight had this creature to himself. He got to the tree and with a mighty swing of his great sword, flipped arounf the edge of the tree and swung at about a three foot height... hoping to cleave the thing in twain. His sword cleaved deeply into... the tree.

    She was not there.

    Only then did he feel a sharp pain as an arrow found way past his plates. Whipping around and trying to draw his sword from the tree... he heard a twittering laugh. There. He sprint towards the tree only to feel something catch his shin guard, he looks down only to be met by a bladder spring from the leaves toward his chest. It bursts and the stench of acid overwhelms his sense and burns his face and eyes.

    He screams in rage and pain and continues near blind, his next step pulls his leg around and up... pulling his considerable weight upside down and into the air. A SNAIR!! Of all things! To be trapped like an animal. His blurred eyes see the creature step from behind the tree then. She can be no more the size of a child of 12. She seems like those pictures of the faerie of the glenn he had seen... innocent... harmless.

    She has a friendly smile on her face as he wriths around trying to cut the rope holding him with his greatsword. His armor... melted together by the strength of the acid... has proved this to be impossible. As he starts trying to manuever to free himself... her grin turns wicked and her teeth bare... the sharp teeth give the childlike thing a malevolent look as she smoothly draws an arrow and pulls it back. He screams for help from his kinsmen. This is no way for a Knight of Thay to die. From his one good eye... his brain processes a vision of the the way an arrowtip looks as it pierces an eye, right before the arrow joined the thought.

    She went back to the Red Wizard's corpse, and cut of his ear. She held it up to her mouth and whispered into it in elven, "You chose the wrong wolf to kill." She licked off the excess blood and strung it on her necklace. Kharbeh had seen them in battle now. They bled red. They can die.


  • They always bugg(bear)ed me.

    Weeks later she had heard rumor of strange movements of bugbears in the south woods. So she chose a good tree near their camp, and making sure to leave no track or scent, she sat. And watched. And waited. They were a cruel race, always the strong would torture the weak… much like orc. They seemed... more attuned with the cursed woods though. The shadow druids were a wonder to her... such passion... and darkness at the same time. The could warp the woods to be tuned to thier dark hearts.

    That is when she felt the unease... something wrong with the air. A weaver was coming! And close! The red robed one appeared at the same instant she rolled over the large root at the tree she sat at. She froze and watched him out of the corner of her eye. For a moment, he seemed disoriented. That was good to know. He placed himself in his enviroment and once oriented, he headed to one of the towers that fought nature near the bugbears camp. Shortly afterwards one of the shadow druid bugbears came and entered the same tower door.

    She would have to get close. Luckily they did not think to post a guard. She crept forward and listened at the door.

    Red Wizard: "Have you found it?"
    Bugbear Druid: "We are getting close. Perhaps if you gave us what we wanted, we would have the strength to battle the old ones better?"
    Red Wizard: "You know the deal vermin. Get us the stone and we will give you the power you want. But time grows short. If you do not have it in a fortnight, the deal is off."

    The banter went back and forth a bit until the Red Wizard thought that the point had been made. Kharbeh heard the handle creak and she stepped to one side. Back pressed againt the stone of the tower wall. She slowly crept around the edge and then scampered to the nearest tree once the tower blocked thier sight.

    She had hoped for some time alone with the weaver... but alas, the bugbear watched him as he prepared to depart. She did not see him leave as she was on the far side of the tree she hid at, but her ears popped and she frowned at the lost opportunity.

    She could then hear the bugbear curse and head back towards it's camp... walking next to the tower on his way. But he stopped... and so did Kharbeh's heart a moment. He sniffed and snuffled. A low growl was heard as she could hear him turn. She masked even her thoughts. Thinking only of water and earth and growth. Trying to blend with the plants near her. She could hear nothing. She sat still for what seemed like hours. Not sure that the druid did not have her patience. Finally she dared move. Inch by inch... toward the edge of the tree. The edge of half an eye she peeked out. The druid was gone. Knowing that he could still be there... she did her best to be the trees near her and crept off to safer glenns.

    She went to Rethe... the elven ranger that watched over the Rawlins near the wood elves sylvan fortress. He had noted the bugbears moving to the old city to the east. Where the dead still walked from the curse those ruins had held for thousands of years. He would see many war parties go... and few battered and bleeding bugbears return. Many time he had seen this. So that is where they sought this stone... the Lost City.

    She had let the Wolves Coucil know. But due to the scattering of that group, no concerted effort was made to thwart these red weavers.