Chapter 3: chap 4 Written by Tafkat

Captain Ragthhy of Grobb sat down at the bar to have an Ogerswill He was an arrogant troll so when a sexy female troll came up to him he didn’t think twice about it.

“Aren’t you dat famous guard who saved king from evil Smashu?”

“You not mention dat name no more, but yep dat me. Me friends and me bash hur gud.”

“Oh, me like big sexy troll. Me know what you really need.” The troll lass leaned over to whisper in his ear, “Halfling Stew.”

“You know what ragthhy need. We go your place.”

The female troll led him through the poorer part of town to a beat up hut. As soon as they where inside she locked the door. “So I bet it took half da town to beat dat bad troll.”

“Nah, just me, Barsh and Krunk bashed her good. Me no need dem eader but day want fun too. Me shared.”

“Good that’s exactly what I wanted to know.” Lilesprite’s form shifted back from the troll illusion to her original highelf form and began to cast. Before he had time to react to her change the spell hit and he found himself unable to move. Behind her emerged a half-elf wearing green chainmail.

“You might want to leave for the rest of this Sprite. It’s not going to be pretty.”

“Don’t be silly, I’ve watched you slash apart uglier then this. Besides you need me to keep him stunned. I want you to have all the time in the world.” She truned back to Ragthhy and looked him in the eyes. “Oh I forget to mention, Smashu says hi.”

Barsh and Snarl where standing guard duty in the swamp. Barsh had just finished telling Snarl about their disposal of Smashu, when a blue aura surrounded them both.

“Hey Barsh, Snarl feel good. Snarl feel real good.” Snarl stared off into the sky, never noticing the golden booted halfling walking right up to them.

“Barsh feel good too.” Barsh’s euphoric feeling suddenly gave way to a sharp pain in his foot as the halfling smashed it with a hammer. Barsh grabbed for him but the halfling quickly dodged him and took off into the swamp. Barsh chased him halfway to Ro when the plants began to wrap around him. At first they just slowed him but soon the plant life had him completely immobilized.

As soon as it was apparent that he couldn’t move Tafkat walked up to him. “So Barsh, you where gonna leave Smashu to be eaten alive. How fitting then that you should die that very way.”

“Barsh gonna break free and turn you into stew.”

“Creatures stronger and smarter then you have tried. I’ve stared Innorukk in the eyes. You know what? I wasn’t impressed. Wanna know what else? I am not impressed now. In fact I don’t even think you are a big enough threat to keep an eye on. I’m going to turn my back to you as you die. Your last thought besides the agonizing pain, will be that someone you consider food wasn’t even remotely afraid of you. I’m sure Innorukk will be real happy with you when you meet him.”

As Barsh screamed and cursed Tafkat turned his back to him and summoned up a swarm of insects. Not the large ones he normally used to his defense but instead the small ones from his apprentice days. This was going to be slow and painful for Barsh.

King Grobb walked over to his thrown, stopping only once to scratch his butt. On the thrown was a package. He quickly opened it and found the head of one of his guards. The king quickly looked around before picking up the note beside the head. Unlike most trolls, he was able to read.

Grobb,

Klurg was the lucky one. If you make

Any further attempts to harm Smashu, there

Will not be enough of you left to rez back.

Signed,

The Crusaders of the High Planes

In the backroom of a quiet inn among the treetops of Kelithin, lies the still form that was once Smashu. While most of the members are busy with the task of rebuilding the CHP hall, deep within the mountainous edge of Lake Rathe. Several others work on more important tasks. Dalma and Tafkat watch over the now cleaned body of Smashu. Blazeboon is next to them, constantly going through the routines of meditating and casting in hopes of keeping the body in tact long enough for others to find her soul and return it.

"How odd to see her in a white robe instead of Full Plate Mail. Our son did a great job of making it." Dalma held back her tears as she spoke.

"Well Smashu always was his closest friend. I mean is. Oh I got to stop thinking of her as already gone. I remember her chasing him around the hall when I told her to give him my hug. Boy broke three of his ribs from that hug but he just healed himself and never complained."

Karl burst into the room nearly out of breath. "I think one of you better get to Euridin before your son get himself killed." Karl slumped into a chair and continued to catch his breath.

"What's going on?" Tafkat cast a spell to refresh Karl's energy.

"Thanks, I forgot to memorize my invigor spell before I left. Demented ported me over but I had to run from the spire."

"Enough about your trip what about my son!" Dalma's voice made Karl jump back a step.

"Sorry, He's at the Euridin library. We all know how the librarian is about other people handling he books, well Beltalun and him got into an argument over access the books. It's been getting pretty heated and I am afraid things are going to get ugly. I tried to calm him down but he won't listen to me. I am hoping one of you can get him out of there before someone gets hurt."

Tafkat turned to Dalma and took her hand. "Don't worry, I'll bring him back safe and sound. If anyone you should be worried for the Librarian." Tafkat released her hand and in another moment was gone.

"For the last time, I need to see those tomes personally! If I have to take you and this library apart to do it I will!" Beltalun was standing on the counter and had his eyes locked in a staring contest with the head Librarian.

"And I said for the last time, I don't care who you are or why you need them, those tombs are too old and delicate. I don't even let my assistants touch those books. I'll be damned to the fear plane before I let you lay a hand on them." Neither of them blinked an eye.

"Beltalun! Leave the librarian alone!" Tafkat did his best stern father voice. Luckily it was enough to turn his gaze away from the librarian.

"I need those books."

"Listen, I know you want to help Smashu but getting into brawls is no going to help." Tafkat put his arm around his son as Belt began to cry.

"There is only one person I can think of that may have the answer. Mom."

"How would mom have the answer? It's not like she would have kept it a secret if she did know."

"No son, not your mom. My mom. Go back to Kelithin and help your mother keep an eye on Smashu. I have a trip to make."

"I am going with you."

"I'm sorry but this is a trip I need to make alone."