Halfling Musings - Edrik Silverfox

[Shadowwolf]

Well my journeys have lead me to Baldur's Gate... What a grand city. It took me some time but I found a nice little shop that I was able to purchase some much needed equipment since I had lost most of my equipment on my travels here.

I was in the shop admiring my new leathers when I overheard a couple of fellows bickering over prices from there loot that they recieved off the walking dead. Well I said to myself "Edrik lad we are running low on funds and those 2 fine fellows seem to have something going for them." So off I went at a discreet distance to see where they traveled.

They left the city and headed into what looked like Farmlands and that is when I noticed an old man to the side of the road looking around a hole in the ground.

Well never one to leave off such curious behaviour I wandered over to see what was so interesting. I must have been quieter than I had thought since when I tried to introduce myself the old man seemed about to jump out of his skin... I am not sure if I have ever seen anyone jump out of their skin .. must be positively ghastly. Where was I .. oh yes introductions. After the poor fellow calmed his nerves he made mention of a pet rat and with the wolves about he was worried about it.. .Now I am not one to questions one choices in pets.. but me a rat seems to be an unusual choice.. I really do not see it guarding you much nor of being particular useful but who am I to question. So seeing how frail the old man was I agreed to assist him with the capturing of his pet rat. Well it is not as easy as it sounds capturing a rat that does not want to be caught.. after many missed attempts I finally caught the little blighter and returned him the old man.

The old man was very kind and even offered me a few coin for my troubles. I asked him about the local area and possible dangers. He mentioned a Graveyard full of the dead that are not dead just down the road and I figured that is where those 2 gentlemen must have been talking about and where they got their loot from. So thanking the old timer I continued down the road.

[Shadowwolf]

I found my way to the Graveyard.. positively dreary little place. Seemed an almost unnatural darkness even during the day.. most depressing. Well thinking of happier things I went down the path and it was not long before I saw my first walking dead… Now all the stories I had heard did not do them any justice. The skeleton looking ones were not too bad but the fresher looking ones were absolutely disgusting. I said to myself “Edrik lad if ever we get a choice we are definitely not to return as one of those”.

I can understand why most stories have the heroes just putting them to rest with sword and magic, but I looked at the poor shuffling mostly human looking creatures and wondered if they were restless because they had unfinished business and that is what kept them from being properly dead. I looked about to see if I could find a fresh looking one maybe he was less crazed than the others… well I should state here that in theory it sounded like such a good idea.. in practice far from it.. I could not get a word in edge wise.. granted not that I did not try it was that I was too busy avoiding being someone’s snack.

During my less hectic moments of avoiding the feeding frenzy that was the graveyard I happen to notice a light from one of the building.. Now one may ask at this point that you are in a graveyard full of walking dead and you would go into a building with possibly no exits.. As me Dad would say “You may not be the sharpest of tools in the shed but you are one of the better looking ones” I am still not sure if he meant that as a compliment.

As it happens I did not find any dead things but I did find a wonderfully crazy old man.. He was brilliant in his craziness I mean who would want to pay for bones from the walking dead but he did. Now I was not wild about the idea of rummaging around on the dead things but I did need some coin.. travelling is not cheap. After a few items of interest he mentioned a friend of his in some old ruins along the South Road and if I could deliver him a message. Well he did not have to ask me twice.. I was done with the dreary little patch of ground and was ready for some fresh air and sunlight.

So after making my way through the gauntlet I set my feet to the south and the open road.

[Shadowwolf]

My journeys took me over a bridge and on the other side was a wonderful little area with some wagons and a big fire. Around the fire were some benches and chairs and a glorious assortment of fellow travellers. I could see a few humans and some elves and after my time in the graveyard yearned for some lively discussion actually any discussion the moans and groans of the dead are quite depressing.

I removed my hood so that they could see me and not think I was hiding anything.. human and elves are very cautious .. actually most travellers are when they are on the road.. I have found from experience that by letting them see my face it puts them more at ease. I approached them and asked to share the fire.

They were all very nice.. Now I must say that at the time I had totally lost all manner of being civil from being in the graveyard for so long that I was remiss in introducing myself.. but the way I see things in life is that everyone is my friend they just may not know it yet.

The travellers were very friendly and helped me by giving me some directions to the ruins.. even letting me know about the kobolds that inhabit the ruins. One even mentioned that I may like them better than the walking dead since they were better dancers.

Now I thought that was a wonderful idea.. can you imagine dancing with a kobold.. well I could and since I was heading that way I felt that this would make a wonderful story one day.

I thanked them for their hospitality and headed towards the ruins after all I had a message to deliver.

[Shadowwolf]

With a smile on my face and hopes for a grand adventure I departed the friendly fireside group and made my way to the ruins. I was so very much excited about the prospect of dancing with a Kobold that in all honesty I did not give it much thought about what one looked like.. I mean I have never actually seen a Kobold but my friend Vargust would talk of them often and not very nicely at that but how bad could something be if they liked to dance.

I walked south along the road and could see in the distance some ruins on top of a hill and figured that must be my destination so off the road I went and headed towards them… I did not get far when I was attacked by a very large and creepy spider that seemed to appear out of thin air and it was all legs and fangs… I consider myself an attentive Hin not prone to being caught unaware and do not understand how this very disturbing beastie got so close to me before I saw it.. Well after screaming like a Gnome I was able to subdue the ugly brute without being bit which is a very good thing since I am very sure I would not want to see what kind of poison it has.

After I was able to find my heart since it jumped right out of my chest after such a fright I move much more cautiously towards my destination.

I found the entrance to the ruins and with high hopes descended to deliver my message and dance with a Kobold.

[Shadowwolf]

My first impression of the Ruins is… Dark.. not sure why but I expected something more bright and lighted.. I mean how does one dance if they cannot see where it is they put their feet down… I know my friend Vargust can see in the dark and I guess these Kobolds do as well but I just felt it should have better lighting.. oh and cleaner I mean take some pride in where you live there was all sorts of debris just lying around. I mean Vargust lives in a Mountain and his clan seems to do a good job of keeping it clean.

Well I could see down one of the halls what seemed to be a large open area.. I thought if I were a dancing Kobold I would want an open area like that to dance around in so off I went.

Before I say anymore I will mention this.. I have had some time to contemplate this adventure and I think my fireside friends where having some fun with me…

I entered what seemed to be a pillared entry hall and there just by one of the pillars was a creature that I assumed was a Kobold.. Now I should mention that as far as Kobolds go they are not particular pretty looking beasties.. I mean they are scaly have lots of sharp looking teeth and red eyes. They are of a perfect height though to be a dance partner so I was so excited that I walked towards it to introduce myself.. I am not sure if this next part was part of their dance ritual but before I could say greetings it started to throw stuff at me.. Now I danced around avoiding these missiles that the creature sent at me but I was getting the feeling that this was not the dancing my fireside friend meant… I worked my way closer trying to tell this poor creature that I was not familiar with Kobold dance rituals but that it may need to stop and explain the steps because I was getting the feeling that the stones were getting too close for comfort. Unfortunately that only caused the poor creature to grab a spear and start hollering.. I guess this may have worked better if I could actually talk Kobold but alas I do not.

My attempt to dance with a Kobold ended in disaster.. As I made a quick withdrawal not only did I not get to dance with a Kobold.. well at least not what I would classify as dancing but I was chased out before I could deliver my message.

I was saddened by the turn of events and headed back towards the City.. after all I had a few holes in my clothes that required patching.

[Shadowwolf]

After some rest in Baldur’s Gate and some restocking of supplies I headed back to the ruins to attempt another try at delivering my message. I decided from my reception that I received on my previous attempt that I would try a quieter and unobtrusive solution; after all we Hin are a smaller race and often over looked by the others of our world.

I made my way through the labyrinth that is the ruins and found that not only do Kobolds not dance.. I know I was surprised to find that out as well, I will need to let my friends know such things.. but that the nasty little blighters like to set traps… well I being the conscious minded Hin that I am I disable the nasty little devices so that other adventures would not be taken by the devious little creatures… I can now better understand Vargust temperament towards these scaly little blighters. It took some time but I eventually found stairs heading deeper down and since I checked every nook and cranny on this level I assumed the person to whom this message was for was deeper in.

I entered what was cavernous in its rough hewn walls nothing like the level above this was a network of tunnels not hallways. I moved slowly hoping that I was not moving into a city of kobolds.. Well that may have been better than what I did run into..

Before I knew what was happening I was attacked by what I can only think was a demon.. it was all spikey and swung a large sword at me and I am sure it was saying something not particularly nice about me and my ancestors but thankfully I could not understand a word it was saying. What ever it was it was tough and nasty and I barely made it back to the door to the upper level.. I quickly barred and locked it. It was at this time I started to become very sad as I realized that it was very probable that the person this message was meant for was dead.. surely nothing could live with the demon down below.

I went to head back out to let the Crazy Old timer in the graveyard know that his friend was dead.. that is when I met a most wonderful person.. now for the sake of this story I can not say friends name since I promised I would not reveal his secret … I wish I could describe him but the best description I can come up with is a wall of steel… he was clad head to foot in armor and carried a very large sword… now my new friend seemed to be in humorous mood this evening and when I asked him if he knew about a person with in the ruins because I was given a message to deliver to this person .. He asked me from the old man in the graveyard and I nodded excitedly. It turned out my new friend did know and that he would escort me since the creatures below were great in number and strength for such a little one as myself.

Moving behind my new friend to protect his back I followed him back into the depths that nearly killed me.