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The Fate of Trak: Book 1: Honour and Deceit
A short synopsis.
Veteran companions have arrived in a small coastal village and are undecided upon their next quest. Inside the local tavern, they meet a dark-elf wreathed in shadow. He appeals to the companions various appetites for adventure and enlists their aid in seeking out and taking
certain artefacts needed by a being, he vaguely calls Millock. Eventually the leader of the companions, a paladin named Krane and the others agree to join.
While the companions decide, the gods who watch over Trak, plan to wreak havoc upon the world simply for amusement. Though, not all the god's desire to dominate the world is one of relieving eternal boredom.
The companion's new self important leader, Kaliak, soon guides them into a citadel that is creating pale, soft human-like bodies.
Inside, the first artefact he wants is held by the warlock, Zalar.
Kaliak feels uncomfortable when he enters the forest home of his races hated enemies, the light-elves. Though, Krane finds his hearts
desire in the tops of the trees.
Leaving the forest, they are lead through a danger heavy maze and an inhospitable range of mountains. Further places are travelled and more artefacts collected before the group is dragged to the depths of the ocean.
Eventually all the items needed are gathered and Kaliak takes them to the one who desires them. Their purpose and who is the higher being, is revealed.
Passage from Chapter 23:
Kaliak disdainfully looked down at the mute, who squirmed in torment and briefly thought about how the unfeeling, could feel. A detailed answer would be explored at another time, for his present was of a larger interest.
Belk curled further into a ball, and clawed at his head, as he tried to rip out the blinding agony. For all his hopeless effort, he did manage to tear strips of pale pink skin from his head, which let streams of green blood, ooze down his face. Yet, this sight caused no suspicious reaction from the Lich. These rents would remain on his disfigured head, after, and if, he was wrenched back to his usual form.
The way further into the unlit and winding maze was shown by a single arch. Before Kaliak joined the others, who quietly stood next to the way out, he turned to the Lich and spoke aloud. He did not wish to communicate through thoughts anymore, "You have my gratitude and we will leave you to your new slave."
A bottomless groan rumbled from the Lich's direction, and after the sound had fallen away, like the final echo of a solemn bell, there was only silence. The dark-mage now waved a casual hand in the direction of Throm, who had shuffled over to a corner, This one was not part of our bargain.
The dead barbarian pulled himself from the shadows and meekly followed Kaliak. Throm now owned even more of a limp, because the Lich had removed part of his inner right thigh. Also, an area of his lower face, a part that had not already rotted away, had been peeled off, to reveal the bone of his jaw.
A flickering ball of ethereal orange flame now lit their way, and the dark-elf thought, The creature who wears the amulet is not known to me and is not one I have encountered before.
This being interested Kaliak, especially how best to slay it.
Passage from Chapter 30:
Most sprang from the gloom and landed directly in front of the strange creature. Krane stared at the creature and, quickly knew why it was worthy of its name. An oval and ochre-coloured face was filled with thousands of miniature heads that were clearly in torment. For, they were twisted into masks of torture. Each diminutive head heaved upwards in an attempt to break through the skin, of its unnatural jail.
Some managed to force straining faces through, stretching yellow skin over screaming heads. Yet, they were swiftly engulfed by more layers of this fibrous, tawny covering. Nearly as quickly, as the faces had risen they were dragged back into the nightmarish creature. Though, when Krane hurriedly glanced at other areas of exposed flesh, apart from being yellowish-brown in colour, they appeared to be as normal as his own. Throwing his disgusted stare back to its vile head, the paladin became overwhelmed by the all encompassing grip of righting a serious injustice. He knew that the unfortunate must be released and their prison destroyed.
As Uioliour effortlessly slid from its scabbard and raised high, the sword hummed a fervent tune that seemed to speak of being the only blade to slay this creature.
Krane roared, "By the bloodline of Journei, I give you death."
With blinding speed, Uioliour was thrust towards a dubiously filled belly. Before the point entered, it tore upwards. Just as the blade was about to sever the grim prison from slender shoulders, it stopped. Krane's arm was suddenly clamped in an invisible, immovable block of granite.
Pitiful mortals
After taking an unsure step backwards, Krane again raised his sword. He was sure that too much energy was expended in halting the blessed Uioliour. The creature will not be strong enough to prevent a second blow, he thought. A death-dealing arc, seeking to separate head from body flew towards the creature.
Now it was not the walking prison that halted the paladin's swing. Standing behind the quietly muttering being was a beast of abnormal proportions.
Passage from Chapter 44:
The group found they were able to move through the threads without being entangled or even feel them brush against exposed skin.
"The cancelling effect used on my magick, has been sent to the void," offhandedly mentioned said the dark-mage.
After looking at the sultan, Orin briefly wondered why someone would want to cover themselves in expensive items when no one could see him. The cleric believed that the sultan did not care for the attention of others and he only wanted to satisfy himself.
Heavily accented words of deep clouds now floated from the sultan, "I have been told you are here for the Jewelled Claw."
The large and richly adorned man then stood up and stepped once through the silver web with sure feet. Raising and stretching a heavily jangling arm above him, a long sceptre, crusted with a myriad of jewels exploded into existence in his clenched fist. Many wary sights enlarged as they became filled with only the image of the rod. Each view soon became covered with countless, shining and dancing lights from fire rubies, diamonds clear as glass, emeralds that sparkled like cat's eyes. There were also strangely slanted, blue glowing stones vaguely oval in shape. These azure pieces were ones the companions had not seen before.
As the lights grew into shafts, they spiralled up in a whirlwind of colour before each grew in size and spread outwards. Enrapt gazes of many companions were snapped apart, when were cut into by an intense azure ray. Its colour was of a deep ocean. This dominant shaft now scattered the other colours. When the rushing tones had stopped fleeing, they hung patiently in the air. A strange rainbow of bright colours was created.
Tharyen took another step towards the group, with his arm still held aloft. Suddenly he stopped and aimed the Jewelled Claw directly at a ceiling that could not be seen. A shaft of blue plunged and landed only one pace in front of the sultan. A wide circle of further cobalt light formed and now the companions could feel the ground beneath their feet tremble. Many had their senses vibrate with the ruling expectancy of a vast arrival. ..
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