A look of befuddlement washed over Limtrot's face. It was a look that his people had become all too familiar with. Limtrot then snapped out of his gaze, reached into his sash & retreived a quill. "Perfect." The stranger purred as he grasped the quill from Limtrot's hand & said ...
"What man shall fight beside me against these hoodlums? About 15 ran towards the Raiders with swords, one had a pitchfork another was brave enough to pull a raider off his horse and kicked him hard in the gut, another had a bow and arrow.
An aura of terror seemed to surround the Hooded figure...In a muttering, barely audible, voice he spoke briefly before both sides fled him in utter panick and fear,"I am a special agent for the IRS."
"The IRS!" Limtrot snapped as even he could remember the old stories of how they were the true protectors of the realm. Long forgotten by history, their kind had supposedly vanished. Their services eventually became obsolete as peace reigned supreme throughout the land for many years ... until now.
"You see," spoke the agent," The monks ran a non-taxable buisness while they remained there," as he pointed to the castle. "Now the castle lays unclaimed and must revert bvack to the government..along with all the spoils....er...revenue that needs to be liquidated for the purposes of back taxes on the property. They stopped making exeption claims so therefore they are no longer exempt." At this the man grinned wickedly and was probably mentally rubbing his hands together at the thought of prime real estate prices."consider the amulet part of the estate."
Limtrot began to wonder what the king could possibly want from such a ruin. Especially haunted as it was...briefly pretending to pay attention as the man rambled about whether demons and ghosts were squatters or illegal residents...THe Inter-realm revenue service had a category even for dead bodies it seemed..."and a fine for each unburied dead body on the premises (health code violation you see) and another for unpaid death tax...." the old man seemed definately sparkling...Limtrot wished he had a profession that made him so happy....instead of getting pelted with rancid tomatoes...
he had tried to be a fletcher once...but the feathers he had used were too big and he kept bending the arrows when he tried to put the arrow heads on...he had tried to be a...
sheppherd, but we won't go into what happened there. "and that is the complete history of the monks, the amulet, and your castle." the agent finished. The silence broke Limtrot's train of thought as he realized he had hardly heard a word that the agent had spoken. The agent sensed this as he noticed the vague expression on Limtrot's face. Frustration now began to boil within the agent as he ...
began to searh through the satchel of w2s he carried with him....trying to see if he had a copy of one from Limtrot..."let's see, he muttered,"Malatan,Lorg,peter,paul and mary....."
Then THWACK! A pitchfork skewers itself through the strong of the agent's back. As what little color seems to drain from the agent's face he falls to his knees and scowls at Limtrot with his last breath and says ...
"So what worry was the IRS now?" thought Limtrot "unless another agent was sent out. Soon he paid more attention to the battle going on. A bout 5 volunteers died.He hid under the signing table as he saw Malatan approach.
As Limtrot cowered under the table he looked over at the prone, lifeless agent. He noticed that the agent was clutching a leather satchel. Limtrot quickly scampered over to the agent, grasped the satchel from his bone-white hands and scurried back under the table. As Limtrot opened the satchel he could not believe what he saw.
A treasure map leading into the catacomes of the Limtrot Castle. Ahha"scoffed Limtrot. The irs agent was a liar, all he had Limtrot was a scam to get hs land and castle. While Malatan came closer limtrot ran till he fell in the river. Lucky the sachel was waterproof. Yet he founnd out he couldn't swim. As he sunk he found an underwater cave that he quicly swam(The best he could til he came up into an Air pocket. To his amazement he found...
It was a dark and stormy night with a faint fog strolling in. A large castle stands on a plateau overlooking a small village called LIMTROT. The village was named after its most famous idiot who had escaped the bounds of his serfdom and become the Lord of the castle above...in his rule he had quite a few setbacks...this is his story...it was on a night like this that the villagers needed more protection. Raiders had been coming in there once a week taking money from them so the Raiders wouldn't burn the gardens and buildings. Limtrot had gotten word from the village and knew there were only a few young males capable to fight. He acquired a messenger to go to the next village (not in his jurisdiction) to post a sign asking for men to protect his village. But a raider had been calabanting among the bars and saw the sign and took this information back to the Raider leader Malatan who was in a rage after that.
"I am terribly vexed." Malatan stated sternly. Lorg, one of his most trusted aids sheepishly approached Malatan and spoke "I beg your pardon sire but that turn of phrase has already been used." Malatan eyes narrowed with great consternation then after a great pause he uttered "Then I am quite peeved." Lorg nodded slightly with approval. "So, Malatan continued, the Great Fool thinks he can outmaneuver me and fortify his village. Lorg, fetch me my horse and sword. I will have the pleasure of defeating this stupid Lord. With about twenty raiders,Malatan could not penetrate the castle for lord Limtrot had no gate or windows. He had a secret passage that only he knew of.
Limtrot's castle was once a Monastery and the monks had laid dead monks down there. If a Blizzard had not wiped them out they would still be there. Legend began growing the castle was haunted, but Limtrot showed no care when he moved into it. Little did Limtrot know that the Castle was REALLY haunted and that Malatan had the only amulet that would guarantee safety from the dark powers that now inhabited the abandoned monastery. Legend had it that there had once been a mad monk who dwelled there and after practicing forbidden rites from forbidden tombs, his arcane had unleashed an evil that had killed all the other monks and himself as well. Malatan had dug the amulet from the lone survivor’s tomb. The monk who had snatched the amulet from his crazed brother and fled while the ill-fated man was in turn devoured by his creation. Malatan did not even know that the amulet he won while beating a blacksmith at cards was powerful. How did the Blacksmith get it from the surviving Monk?
Malatan, while being a natural battlefield commander and an even more brilliant tactician, has shown to be a bit addle-minded of late. He needs to be reminded from time to time that the amulet he won from the blacksmith is indeed a well-crafted forgery of the amulet Malatan would later obtain from the traitor monk's tomb. The slight head wound which Malatan had received from walking into a doorframe throbbed as the dizziness began to subside...he remembered his plan...he'd gotten the real amulet and duped the fool blacksmith into making a duplicate...conning the fake from him and not having ta pay for it was part of the fun....he'd wear the fake copy around his neck openly and pretend great safeguards around it...while the true amulet he wore around his wrist, hidden in a steel gauntlet, magic in itself. The gauntlet gave its wielder the power tocatch thrown spears or javelins in the air, and cast them back at their owner with 3 times its original force...he knew that the gloves worked on daggers and sling stones as well. The Gauntlet of Theragon which adorns Malatan's wrist was believed by ancient lore to have been created by Bruvaire, the Blacksmith to the God's themselves. The Gauntlet was not meant for Malatan's world and carries with it a great curse to any mortal who wears it. The curse carries with it random temporary bouts of feeble-mindedness, loss of equilibrium, and short-term memory loss as well as not to mention clumsiness when not in battle.
The raiders had to stay overnight in a barn of a deserted farm. The put the horses next to a well, over Malatan almost fell and his leather bag fell on the ground and with a sprinkle sprinkle sound the amulet found the ground... ehmm, not the ground but the stoneformation the well was made from.... and *sprinkle *sprinkle... fell into the deep..."NO!!!!!!"Malatan shouted.. trying to grasp it.. but... it was too late! The amulet fell into the deep, deep well..what a clumsy man, we can tell! Poor Malatan. Malatan cursed and then realized that it was the fake that he had dropped...for the real one was still tied to his wrist. Meanwhile, Lorg his aide got out the rope. It would be a long climb down", thought Lorg.
Meanwhile, Limtrot, the Dimrot(as they called him as a boy), idiot of the people had men lined up by a the river Elgar waiting to sign forms. Out of the woods roamed Malatan with his sword and 50 raiders. Limtrot stood in horror as he watched all but a few brave men scatter to the winds. Then from the mayhem approached a pale, hooded figure who spoke in a very solemn tone. He asked....dost thou have a pen, Mr. Limtrot? A look of befuddlement washed over Limtrot's face. It was a look that his people had become all too familiar with. Limtrot then snapped out of his gaze, reached into his sash & retrieved a quill. "Perfect." The stranger purred as he grasped the quill from Limtrot's hand & said, "What man shall fight beside me against these hoodlums? About 15 ran towards the Raiders with swords, one had a pitchfork another was brave enough to pull a raider off his horse and kicked him hard in the gut, another had a bow and arrow. An aura of terror seemed to surround the Hooded figure...In a muttering, barely audible, voice he spoke briefly before both sides fled him in utter panic and fear,"I am a special agent for the IRS."
"The IRS!" Limtrot snapped as even he could remember the old stories of how they were the true protectors of the realm. Long forgotten by history, their kind had supposedly vanished. Their services eventually became obsolete as peace reigned supreme throughout the land for many years ... until now. "What a powerful ally to have," Limtrot thought to himself, "but at what cost would this Old Guard come?" Limtrot's answer would come all too soon. The Old Guard wanted the powerful Amulet from Malatan. "Amulet!!?? What Amulet" begged Limtrot. "You see," spoke the agent," The monks ran a non-taxable business while they remained there," as he pointed to the castle. "Now the castle lays unclaimed and must revert back to the government..along with all the spoils....er...revenue that needs to be liquidated for the purposes of back taxes on the property. They stopped making exemption claims so therefore they are no longer exempt." At this the man grinned wickedly and was probably mentally rubbing his hands together at the thought of prime real estate prices."consider the amulet part of the estate." Limtrot began to wonder what the king could possibly want from such a ruin. Especially haunted as it was...briefly pretending to pay attention as the man rambled about whether demons and ghosts were squatters or illegal residents...The Inter-realm revenue service had a category even for dead bodies it seemed..."and a fine for each unburied dead body on the premises (health code violation you see) and another for unpaid death tax...." the old man seemed definitely sparkling...Limtrot wished he had a profession that made him so happy instead of getting pelted with rancid tomatoes.
He had tried to be a Fletcher once...but the feathers he had used were too big and he kept bending the arrows when he tried to put the arrow heads on...he had tried to be a shepherd, but we won't go into what happened there. "And that is the complete history of the monks, the amulet, and your castle." the agent finished. The silence broke Limtrot's train of thought as he realized he had hardly heard a word that the agent had spoken. The agent sensed this as he noticed the vague expression on Limtrot's face. Frustration now began to boil within the agent as he began to search through the satchel of w2s he carried with him....trying to see if he had a copy of one from Limtrot..."let's see, he muttered, "Malatan, Lorg, peter, Paul and Mary....." Then THWACK! A pitchfork skewers itself through the strong of the agent's back. As what little color seems to drain from the agent's face he falls to his knees and scowls at Limtrot with his last breath and says, “you filled the forms out all wrong...*gasp* I've never seen them so badly done...what did you ...write them with?...can you even read....?”
"So what worry was the IRS now?" thought Limtrot "unless another agent was sent out. Soon he paid more attention to the battle going on. About 5 volunteers died. He hid under the signing table as he saw Malatan approach. As Limtrot cowered under the table he looked over at the prone, lifeless agent. He noticed that the agent was clutching a leather satchel. Limtrot quickly scampered over to the agent, grasped the satchel from his bone-white hands and scurried back under the table. As Limtrot opened the satchel he could not believe what he saw. A treasure map leading into the catacombs of the Limtrot Castle. Ahha"scoffed Limtrot. The IRS agent was a liar, all he had Limtrot was a scam to get his land and castle. While Malatan came closer Limtrot ran till he fell in the river. Lucky the satchel was waterproof. Yet he found out he couldn't swim. As he sunk he found an underwater cave that he quickly swam (The best he could till he came up into an air pocket. To his amazement he found a cave with walls covered in silver flouresant paint and saw a light down the tunnel. It opened up to a big cavern.
What amazement Limtrot discovered a troll about 3 feet hiogh holding a cane in one hand and a small blackbox in the other that he could see had symbols on it
The symbols, he soon would learn, held the key to all man kind. By unlocking there secret, one could bring upon the earth eternal peace, or neverending destruction
The hero sprang from his purch near the cave wall and grabbed the box. It begain to glow softly as he held it in his hand. What was the meaning he wondered as he glanced around the dimly lit area. On the trolls belt, he noticed a gold key
with its handle ingraved with a wolf. Limtrot gasped in outright anquish and horror as the box disappeared. It had been an illusion...somewhere in the darkness something chuckled a deep evil sound of malignant mirth...he could hear a whispery voice in his ear "follow my words and you will be safe"...as from all around the deep baritone of evil boomed"Foolish mortal, I will play tortuously with your soul for eons before devouring it!!" Limtrot began to think he'd better listen to the whispery voice...
After the voices quieted, to Limtrots amzement, came a human from one of the tunnels. Low and behold it was Lorg who had been walking many days after finding the fakeamulet Malatav droped. Malatov never helped him get out of the well so he had been wandering all this time. Limtrot staired at him. Who the hell are you. With a timmid answer, "I am Lorg.Once I served Maatav, but since he has abandoned me down here to die, I would like to help you kill him. I do not wish to Kill anyone Explained Limtrot not even Malatov. I just want to help my People to be rid of the Raiders. Limtrot went to the troll and tried waking him for answers to te Key he no possessed.
Limtrot shook the uncinscience troll as Lorg pulled ot some jerky that he had been surviving on. The troll awokeand the Black Box produced itself. The troll ran yet lorg triped the troll. "So that's how the box had vanished" thought Litrot"If the troll is asleep or unconscience, that box is tied to it. The troll had a secure system ten. If he was killed, sleeping or unconscience, no more box. Lorg grabed the box out of the troll's arms and threw it to Limtrot. "I guess we are partners then?' Limtrot told Lorg. I gues we are" Lorg agreed with a smile
The golden key still hung on the troll's belt. Now perhaps Limtrot could find out what was in the Black Box. He had been lead to believe these boxes were treasure boxes of some sort. Lorg grabbed the key. As the two of them struggled to open the Box, each was wondering what was in it. The Box glowed more as they turned the key. As the lid was raised, there was a flash of light and smoke. Startled, Limtrot dropped the box. As the smoke cleared a small white dragon appeared,no bigger than a squirrel, eyes swirling in its head, fire spouting from its jaws. Wings flapping and long tail lashing, it glared at Limtrot. Limtrot and Lord stared at the creature. 'Quick' said Lorg. 'Feed it! I've heard of these creatures, feed it and it is yours for Life!"
'What do I feed it with?' Limtrot was gazing in wonder at this amazing creature. Lorg cut off a piece of jerky. ' Here - give it this!'
Limtrot took the jerky and held it out to the dragon. The hungry creature snatched the food out of his hand, gulped it down then cried piteously. It was starving! Lorg gave Limtrot the rest of the jerky, which was subsequently cut up and fed to the famished animal. When it had finished it sat looking at Limtrot, eyes green now instead of the fiery red that was previously there. Limtrot cautiously stretched out a hand and touched it. He was surprised at the reaction: the dragon leaned against his hand making a chirping noise.
Lorg watched, fascinated. ' You have a friend for Life now,' he said. 'Some of the trolls have them, they train them to run errands apparently. '
Limtrot picked up the little dragon and cradled it in the crook of his arm. Sated by the jerky, it curled up and appeared to sleep.
Limtrot couldn't believe his luck. This tiny creature was his, now.
'I must think of a name,' he said. 'Any suggestions?'
Lorg thought of a really stupid name Jerky. Behind the two men the troll tried spitting and cussing at them. Lorg grabed the troll's collar and Barked. Your going to show us the way outta here. "Why should I? Grumbled the troll. I've lved down here all my lfe, I wouldn't know where to look. Lorg draged the troll back to the water and dunked his head under it . The troll wasn't persuaded to help. They couldn't swim through to the river Limtrot fell in for the dragon couldn't swim and Limtrot almost drowning. The walked blindly through the tunnel Lorg came by, Maybe they canturn up at the well.
For a long time they just walked, pushing the troll ahead of them. Jerky held up things by constantly asking for food, but was rapidly growing stronger, and so able to fly close to Limtrot.
Reaching the end of the tunnel, they stepped out into the light, blinking in the bright sunlight. Ahead of them was the well, its steep wals damp with moss clinging to the huge grey stones. 'well, well' said Limtrot. ' Perhaps we should try climbing up this.'
'well' echoed Lorg ' well, lets go then.' and to the troll ' 'climb'
The troll squealed in terror, 'no - no - you can't make me - Ive never been to the surface.' He boke frree from lorg's grasp and ran in the direction of another tunnel.
'Let 'im go' said Limtrot, ' he will only hold us up'
Slowly he began to climb upwards towards the top of the steep well. Lorg began to follow. Jerky flew up ahead, chirping happily. The tow men climbed steadily for some time.
'this well is higher than I remember it' said Lorg.
'are you sure its the same one? they all look the same to me!' Lmtrot asked.
Lorg had got confused at a turning in the tunnel buthe didnt like to say so. As they climbed further up the air got colder. The moss on the well wall made it slippery and hard to cling on to, but they persevered. Up and up they went. Up and up.
As they went upwards they came to a ledge. Thanful for a rest, they sat down for a few minutes. Jerky's eyes whirled red again. Limtrot fed it, sharing his jerk with the tiny creature. Lorg ate his own. After a while, they began to climb again, upwards towards the surface. IOt was some time before they reached it.
Exhausted, they climbed out. Ahead was a fast-flowing stream. 'Rest' said Lorg. 'Rest' said Limtrot. gathering bitsof wood, Lorg built a fire, whilst Limtrot began tickling for fish at the edgeof the stream. When he had caught 5 large trout, he joined Lorg at the fireplace. An hour later, Lorg Lintrot and Jerky were all fast asleep by the fire, worn out.
Both Limtrot and lorg were not familiar with the area. There were no birds singing that was odd, but they could here the river flowing. Jerky flew over to a stump. Lorg noticed the letters Fig & herc carved in it. Inside the stump lorg found a diamong bracelet which he hid from Limtrot. Lorg was still as greedy as he ever was.
Lintrot was still asleep but he was dreaming about Malatov destoying his castle when a vision of a woman in white gown riding what looked to be a unicorn. He had awakened and thought the woman and unicorn was in his dream, but no she was riding right up to their camp. She had a glow around her. In her right hand was a staff that was also white and glowing with a green stone on it's tip. Lorg moved in astonishment towards Limtrot, who was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Jerky was cherping and staying near the stump. "Welcome strangers. I'm Queen Hercala." All of a sudden Lorg remembered the stumps ingravings. One name was herc? Could this be the queens initials? All of a sudden the Diamond Bracelet was making lorg feel guilty for taking it. "Hi mylady" Bowed Limtrot "We are limtrot, lorg and that noisy Dragon over there is our pet Jerky." The Queen smiled."We are sort of lost."Explained lorg." You are in my domain of Triad and I rule here." The queen said hoping off the unicorn." We are from the providence of Uricar".Limtrot moved forward to Bow and kiss the Queen's left hand. Lorg wasn't of noble linkage so he stood there. "I have not heard of that place? I hope you gentleman will come to my Castle to rest and get your bearings straight? I would love to hear of your place."" No mylady we are trying to get back home. My land is being taken as I speak." With disappointment She says "Then it must be, Godspeed my friends" The queen rode off." Lorg breathed a sigh of relief
As the queen rode off Limtrot notice her and the unicorn changed. Lorg looked at Limtrot and asked "why did you kiss that thing's paw?" As he watched the strange and disgusting lizard creature ride off...little did he know the illusion it had cast on Limtrot..."did ya see the fangs in that thing's maw? I thought it was goin ta devour ya...whatever that gurgling noise it was making as it drooled...kinda like a lizard centaur thing like that just gives me the creeps...hope that thing doesn't have any friends around here...."He looked around fearfully...and a little at Jerky hungerily....after all...it would be centuries before that thing would be bigger than a chicken...Limtrot was so glad he turned down that things invite. After breaking up camp both human's walked down the only path they saw. Still not a sound was heard.
After miles of walking they came to a ripple in the air. It was a portal to another place. "Should we go thuoght? Limtot asked lorg. "Oh no, we don't know what's in there. Litrot dared putting his hand into it and felt a soothing vibration...
Lorg didn't know what to do. Then an echo came from the othere side "Hurry lorg, this portals closing up. Lorg thought it might be Limtrots voice so he ran in saying GERONIMO!!!!
As Lorg leaped through the portal he muttered what a stupid idea this was....and wondered what dragonmeat tasted like.
The impact of leaping through a portal into a stonewall was a painful one. Half dazed, Lorg realised he was sliding downwards. It seemed the floor was nowhere in sight.... It felt a long time before he landed right next to limtrot. They were now in a swamp covered in fog. They could here everything...Frogs crocking, birds chirping. walking aways they saw Danger signs that read "Beware, go no further" and Keep out. Limtrot steered the group away from those areas. A graveyard and church appeared and beyond followed a village, Sign read Calastang. Limtrot did not kow this village.
Suddenly - 'STOP - go no further!' a voice boomed .
Lorg looked around and saw no-one.
'I said STOP go no further!' boomed the voice.
Limtrot glanced around, but saw no-one.
Cautiously Lorg and Limtrot crept forward. Jerky hissed a warning, but too late to stop them tripping over an invisble line stretched across the pathway. As he struggled to his feet, Lorg felt something sharp in hs back, his arms were forced back and something tied his hnds so he could not move them. As he struggled against his captor he saw Limtrot similarly engaged. The dragon's jaws spat flames at the warriors who tried unsuccessfully to catch it. Then it vanished.
'walk' said one of the warriors, shoving him forwards.
Both men walked forwards towards the village.
Ahead of them walked two warriors, each carrying a spear, the tips of which were blood-stained and were dressed in what looked like animal skins. Around their wastes hung huge knives, also blood-stained. Tall, each warrior had long black hair and bare feet. Behind Lorg and Limtrot were 2 more.
The villagers were obviously cannibles, and from the collections of shrunken heads, Lorg immediately knew he was in trouble....in fact, while limtrot kept asking what kind of soup they were making Lorg could not help but notice the human bones they were grinding up....
Jerky was perched in a tree just watching his masters draged to a pit. The canible warriors were chanting and dancing to a mystical god. In an instant Jerky flew down and bit one of the warriors holding lorg on the face as Limtrot kicked the other warrior in the (UHUM). Both Limtrot and lorg ran for whe swamp. Jerky was stil indanger backat the village. Limtrot could see that Jerky's wrath had gone full circle and was burning all the huts and buildingsdown with his Fire breathing. Limtrot aproved what his pet was doing yet He thought he had created a monster
It was hard to believe that such a tiny flame could cause such fires....then again most of the huts were dried straw.
Lorg knew that they were in REAL trouble now. The Natives obviously hunted in this area and knew the terrain much more intimately than Lorg or Limtrot ever would. The tattoos and filed teeth still filled Lorg with shivers as he tried to ignore Limtrot's plees to just stay and have some soup.
"But I'm hungry..." whined Limtrot as they ran...
Meanwhile, the head cannible, was beside himself...you see his mistress was with his wife when their hut caught on fire....As the fires ingulfed the village jerky flew bck and limtrot got Jerky to bote his ropes, Limtrot then untied Lorg.. as they left the burning village the flames ate the forest. A major forest fire. What else could go wrong?
They soon went up a mountain that was barren of trees. That night the made camp and saw the forest burning below them. The bracelet in lorg vest called to him while he was asleep. Lorg pulled out the Diamond bracelet to admire it and it began to glow.
the glowing braclet began to throb and felt warm in Limtrot's hand. As he looked closer at it he could see tiny figures trapped within it...they looked like they were in agony...how did they get trapped in there he wondered...considering getting a rock to break them out and deciding against it...it might suck him in as well...
The glow got brighter and th Diamond literally chattered. Soon poof there were two humans and a dwarf. FREEDOM! cried one of the human's. The shattering of the Diamond woke Limtrot as Jerky roared instead of churped.Jerky was the size of a human now. One woman, one man and a dwarf all stared around and did not reognize they're surroundings. Limtrot yelled at Lorg. What the Hell's goin on. Lorg explained about the Diamond Bracelet.