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Tales of Airousse Moor One

The Assassin’s Curse                   By Tenwaters (for reading on http://stardustr.us only)

To say Bill Bigalow was a killer while technically correct, would be imprecise, insulting, and most likely unhealthy.  To start with Bill Bigalow was not his real name just the last one he had been using.  Though he had killed a number of people there was no one who could prove it.  In most cases no one could prove that his victims were even murdered.  The man currently calling himself Bill Bigalow was a master spy and assassin.  He was no casual killer he was an artist.  Of course he did not practice his trade in Airousse Moor the Guild there was a little to territorial for his tastes. 

Airousse Moor was however a city he new well.  Airousse Moor was a neutral city that sat on the passage between worlds.  It was a great place for a man in his line of work to vacation and to shop.  Among the reasons the shopping in Airousse Moor was so wonderful were the many worlds that it connected, but the truly awesome thing about Airousse Moor was it was a city of wizardry and knowledge.  The city had no less than seven schools of wizardry.  Airousse Moor also had  scores of other schools for arts, crafts and philosophies.  The city was founded by wizards who took a laissez faire attitude to cities governance and a paranoid approach to its defense. 

Airousse Moor also had a pronounced effect on location spells since all but the most skilled prognosticators could not tell the difference between dimensional travel and death.  This made it a wonderful place for Bill Bigalow between jobs.  His next job was on the world of Crasse in the town of Poisson Vert.  Crasse had an interesting history, it was the home of the Pantalonian Civilization.  They were an empire of great wealth and power yet still they had wanted more.  In all the worlds that had gates to Airousse Moor in over three thousand years only one civilization had tried to conquer the city.  The Pantalonian war had lasted only three months. The war took place one thousand years ago.  It would take Bill Bigalow three weeks to cross the desert that had once held the capital of Pantalon.   

 

The Great Desert of Crasse was pretty much ignored for the first century after the war. Then for five centuries it was used a dumping ground for those things various wizards wished to dispose of.  For the three centuries after that no one talked about Crasse.  Then a few bold entrepreneurs started looking for some of the lost treasures of the Pantalonians. Of the ten percent that survived nearly a third returned rich.  One small group set up a base camp along the far-off Vert River.  The fishing was good and the land around the river was becoming fertile once more.  Within ten years the camp became a permanent settlement twenty more years and a small fishing village was evident.  The village of Poisson Vert grew slowly over the next thirty years despite some truly monstrous obstacles.  In resent times the town of Poisson Vert no longer stood as the sole bastion of civilization on an empty continent but it was still the largest.  Its ships had crossed oceans and contacted distant lands that developed civilizations of there own.

As trade grew Poisson Vert grew from a mere fishing village to a major port.  Trading a combination of both local goods and more exotic things brought by caravan from the gate to Airousse Moor the city was growing rich.  One group, the stevedores, began to feel left out of this new prosperity and thus was born a labor movement.  The birth of the Stevedores Guild took the merchants and ship masters by surprise.  Lane Parker the charismatic leader of the Stevedores had gathered as many friends as he made enemies. 

He had some interesting connections the dwarves plumbers union was definitely on his side so were the teamsters and caravan guards, some were saying he even had connections in the thieves guild, however to the majority of the local merchants and ship masters he was public enemy number one.

Two and a half years ago Lane Parker organized the stevedores and after a ten day strike managed to come to an agreement comfortable to all parties.  That agreement expired six moths ago, two months later an unsuccessful attempt was made of Lane Parker’s life.  Since that time Lane Parker had taken a much harder line against the merchants, some would say an unreasonable line.  In the last two months, two more attempts were made to take the life of Lane Parker.  Someone was ready to pay heavily for an outside professional to do the job, Bill Bigalow was that professional.  The people who commissioned Bill did not know who he was.  He was paid though a select string of intermediaries.  He was forwarded a third of his fee.  One of the intermediaries already held the balance that he would collect on completion. 

He needed to get there, unnoticed and no one in  their right mind crossed that desert alone.  And so he assumed a new persona, and the simple mercenary Clint Moore was born.

Inok, Oiseau Rapide, and Kevin were facing their greatest disaster since the untimely death of Desmond Kandan Pomaliery.  They were running out of money. 

 

Abdul Liebowitz had led many caravans across the sands to faraway Poisson Vert.  He was getting ready to lead another one.  He had languished in Airousse Moor a bit longer then usual this time, hoping the labor troubles in Poisson Vert would resolve themselves.  The delay had increased the number of precipitants willing to make the trip.  It would also make the caravan larger slower and a bigger target.  Abdul would need more sell-swords then usual.

Kevin was always the first of his little group to get the news that caravan master Abdul Liebowitz was hiring he also knew of the signing bonus for groups of five or larger.  There was at the moment a slight problem, their normally four man group had lost a member.  He discussed it with the others and they (well actually Inok) came up with a plan.  Kevin liked the plan since it combined the drinking and carousing they were already doing with some recruiting.  They had four days to replace the fallen barbarian and find a fifth.  Within two days they had twelve prospects.  Kevin would have happily gone for the bonus of a thirteen man group.  Inok however; was concerned about  their reputations and wish for a verification of the quality and capability of the men they brought.  Oiseau Rapide also believed in vetting the quality and capability of these new comrades that, which with they would at minimum be sharing the next four months and at worst would have to trust with their very lives.    

They meet with the twelve at the practice yard of a sword master that they had made the acquaintance of. 

“We will have two parts to this, a ranged missile contest and then a triple elimination close combat competition using blunted weapons,” said Oiseau Rapide.       

Tae Star was the first one to try his luck with the three target challenge.  The man dressed modestly his cloths well worn but well cared for.  When the Rapide gave the signal Tae Star hit the farthest target with his spear and hit the two nearer targets with shurikens.  His attacks were both quick and well aimed.   

Next up was Sir Daryl the fifth son of the house of Milondria.  Sir Daryl’s armor was worth more then what six men’s payment for the entire trip would pay.  He took careful aim with his crossbow and hit the nearest target.  He reached for his goosefoot and reloaded the crossbow and hit the next nearest target.  He fumbled for his goosefoot again and reloaded the crossbow this time he missed the target he reloaded again and hit the far target.      

Next to the line was Rufus Helby.  Rufus was a large muscular man.  He threw a hatchet at the far near target hitting it soundly.  Rufus then began charging at the remaining targets throwing a dagger at the mid range target as he closed the range.  He drew another small axe and hurled it at the final target.  It bounced off harmlessly.  Rufus continued his charge drawing a short sword and doing considerable damage as he hacked at the offending bull’s eye.  “Missiles aren’t my strong point,” complained Rufus.         

Darla Naircall was the next to take the field.  She was an athletic but not unattractive woman.  She wore practical clothing that a skilled observer could see was strategically reinforced with leather and other materials to provide protection from both weapons and wear.  She pulled a sling from a pocket and used it to hurl inch and a half lead balls at each of the three targets.  What she lacked in speed she made up for in accuracy hitting each targets eye very soundly.  After she repeated the process with near identical precision the weapon disappeared into its pocket. 

Standing six feet tall in her chain-mail Helga Stevens pulled out a war hammer her throw leveled the near target.  With a command word the hammer returned to her hand.  Her second throw made a noticeable impression on the middle target.  Helga again recalled the hammer.  The third throw barely nicked the outer corner of the far target. Three tries later she hit the targets center.

At this point they had to pause the contest.  The targets were in need of repair. 

After the break Owen Garnet took the field he wore the cloak of a woodsman.  In a no nonsense manner her used his longbow to place an arrow in each of the three bull’s-eyes.  

Ken Fritz was next he was a tall gangly beardless youth.  His sword belt had once belonged to a wider man, it wrapped twice round his waist.  He carried a small bag with him as steeped to the line.  The young man reached into the bag and pulled out three rocks.  The first rock smashed the arrow that Owen had placed there.  It took the remaining two rocks to find the second target.  Determined and undeterred Ken nearly emptied the bag trying to loft a rock into the far target.  In the end he succeeded but if the truth be told it required more rocks then he had years.        

Clint More stepped to the line his ring mail and leather had seen better days.  He took a composite short bow and fired arrows in the two nearer bull’s-eyes.  Not nearly as impressive or as fast as Owen’s dead center hits but placed well in the red.  He paused then took careful aim on the far target and scored his third bull.

Philip Barbital was a short slight man who walked to the firing line waved his staff and set all three targets afire. 

At this time it was once more time for a break while the targets were extinguished and repaired.    

The first to venture forth after the break was Mortikie Jones.  He moved to the firing line and quickly drew a strange device from a sheath like leather carrying case.  In a single action, he pointed the device down range and there were three explosions.  He returned the device to its carrier and returned to his seats.  Examination of the targets revealed a finger wide hole in each bull’s-eye.       

The bench that held those waiting their turn to engage targets, now only held two men.  The bench stood a good eighteen meters behind the firing line.  Those that had already completed that part of the test had moved to another bench.  One of the men, a man called Kiyad stood straddling the bench drew his horn bow and fired one arrow after another, placing two arrows into each target’s center.  Kiyad then stepped away from the bench.  The man in the well worn scale armor and simple iron and leather helm simply walked to the other bench.

This left only one man left on the wide, half log that had once seated the entire dozen.  The man known simply as Dan, hefted the bench over his head and heaved it down range destroying all three targets.  The bench or what was left of it came to a stop about twenty meters behind the far target were it did some minor damage to a stone wall.  That concluded the missile part of the testing.

After a simple meal of soup, beans, and bread the close combat assessments began.  The first group of pairings was random and had some one-sided battles.  Owen Garnets with his long sword and shield was a bit much for Mortikie Jones and his Bowie Knife though it did take longer then one might expect.  Tae Star had Ken Fritz in an arm bar before Fritz could draw his weapon.  Rufus Helby knocked out Philip Barbital with a single punch though he nearly got electrocuted in the process.  Darla Naircall broke two practice swords and a rather stout club over Dan’s head before he got annoyed enough to hog tie all the time apologizing for so treating a lady. 

The last two bouts were more interesting Clint More had managed to slip something into Sir Daryl’s helm before the combat.  For the first part of the contest the involved a lot of dodging on More’s part.  Until the substance in the helm began reacting with the Knights perspiration (men of Sir Daryl parentage don’t sweat).  The substance had a somewhat negative effect on Daryl breathing and vision.  More placed a blade between armored plates while Sir Daryl was doffing his helmet.  To insure that judges notice his victory More added a gentle back fist to the Knights unprotected head before sweepings his feet. 

The battle Kiyad and Helga Stevens was the most evenly matched scimitar against war hammer with great shield work by both combatants.  Kiyad seemed the stronger but Stevens being taller had the reach.  The bout finally went to Stevens when Kiyad’s shield failed him.       

After a short break the second round of combat began.  This round pitted the winners of the first round against one another and the losers of the first round against one another.  The first combat pitted Owen Garnet against Tae Star. Tae Star used the reach of his spear to keep Garnet at bay.  Only when Garnet used sword and shield to get under Star’s shield did the marshal artist reveal how quick and versatile an infighter he was.  Tae Star had his second victory.     

The following bout involved Ken Fritz and Mortikie Jones. By this time the few spectators about the field had increased to nearly thirty and Kevin was admonishing himself for his lack of forethought.  This bout proved far less exciting Jones ended the bout almost before it began when he used his Bowie Knife to parry Fritz’s sword and clocked him with single punch.

The battle between Clint More and Rufus Helby proved only lightly more interesting. Rufus had taken a great sword from the weapons rack and had taken a liking to it.  In Rufus’ powerful grip seemed feather light.  The problem was the brute used the weapon as a bludgeon.  Any half competent swordsman could see huge openings every time Rufus swung the blade.  Clint More quickly proved himself competent with a sword.

       

When Sir Daryl engaged Philip Barbital he was shocked when his sword contacted Philip’s staff.  Sparks flew and some smoke came out of Sir Daryl’s armor.  Oiseau Rapide’s and Helga Stevens’ services as healers were required. 

The battle between Darla Naircall and Kiyad proved a true contest.  It was a classic contest of speed and agility vs. strength and skill.  Darla’s lightning fast sword work and fast footwork was difficult to match for a man that was so used to fighting from horseback.  Kiyad found his powerful attracts meeting nothing but air while Darla snake quick stripes were being deflected by sword or shield.  Kiyad however proved to be the strategist of the two maneuvering her into a corner and stunning her with a shield bash.     

 

Last up was Helga Stevens and Dan.  Dan simply caught Helga’s hammer in mid swing and removed it from her grasp.  Her shield bash shattered her shield.  Dan grabbed her hand as she swung a fist at him.  He used a simple pressure hold an asked her to please submit.  After several attempts at breaking the hold she surrendered.  He thanked her. 

In the third and final round Helga took out her frustrations with Dan good manners on poor Ken Fritz.  It was not a pretty sight.  Dan squared off against Rufus Helby Dan’s first punch knocked Rufus for a loop.  It also sent him flying first aid was required.    

Mortikie Jones found a wooden staff when he discovered he was up against Philip Barbital both men showed some skill with the weapon, but Jones as stronger and quicker.  Mortikie Jones proved the winner. 

           

Darla Naircall took on a desperate Sir Daryl.  The Knight no longer having to deal with magic or dirty tricks proved a competent swordsman. Darla however used his desperation against him and proved to be more talented. 

Owen Garnet and Kiyad proved evenly matched but luck was on Garnets side and Garnet took the match.

The final match was between Tae Star and Clint More.  Clint defended himself well against Tae for a good while, but one of his counter attacks allowed Tae an opening that ended the match.  

Inok, Oiseau Rapide, and Kevin decided that all the people they tested that day were at least competent to present to Liebowitz as caravan guards without fear of embarrassment with the possible exception of the kid (Ken Fritz).   They had available to them, a total of eight horses and Liebowitz wanted mounted guards.   After they subtracted their own mounts this left five horses to mount the remainder of  their force.             

Dan and Tae Star were told that they were accepted and mounts were available.  It turned out both Clint More and Mortikie Jones had their own mounts.  Helga Stevens would use one the group’s horses.  Kiyad stated he too could provide his own mount.  The last of the mounts went to Darla Naircall and Owen Garnet.  The rest were told that if they showed up in the morning with their own mounts they would be acceptable. 

The next day proved interesting. Tae Star, Dan, Helga Stevens, Darla Naircall, and Owen Garnet were asked to show up early so they could stow their gear and get acquainted with their mounts.  Clint More brought a steady looking bay mare. Mortikie Jones had a quarter horse and a mule. Kiyad brought a brace of six ponies.   Sir Daryl showed up with a magnificent white charger by his side on a lesser mount sat his newly appointed, squire Ken Fritz.  Behind them Rufus Helby drove a wagon with Sir Daryl’s baggage.  The last to show was Philip Barbital on a camel.  While Kevin smiled greedily as he contemplated the size of the bonus, Oiseau Rapide looked to Inok as the two wondered what they had gotten themselves into. 

The caravan wound up with a total of ninety-five guards.  Many of the merchants also had their own men at arms.  Over the next few days the groups learned to work together.   Jones, Kiyad, and Garnet proved to reliable scouts and outriders.  Clint More showed himself to be an excellent cook.  Philip Barbital and his camel did not get along very well.  All and all after the first week things started to settle into a routine. 

Normally the bandits and brigands that could be found in the wasteland that was the Great Desert of Crasse would not attack a large caravan but there were three other threats that were significant.  Among these threats were wondering tribes that considered stealing livestock a right of passage, various wandering creatures, and the Undone.  The Undone were by far the greatest threat.  The Undone were a nomadic band of partly human creatures tainted by the failed magical experiments of uncounted wizards.  For five centuries the Great Desert of Crasse was used a dumping ground for those things various wizards wished to dispose of.  Those things intelligent enough to create a sort of organized society but to strange to be called human (or any known species) formed their own tribes.  They worked together in large groups that could attack with courage born of madness.  Few traded with them, most avoided them, or tried to defend against them.              

On the tenth day out of Airousse Moor Mortikie Jones and Kiyad were scouting the caravan’s rear.  Having scouts staying far enough behind the caravan’s rear guard to give some early warning was a standard practice on the desert trail.  In some way the trail behind a caravan was its greatest weakness.  While the dust of a caravan could be seen from a great distance its trail was visible for days and most things moved faster than a caravan of fat merchants.  Kiyad was the first to spot the two riders that were following them.  Jones’ binoculars revealed that one of the pair was a rider in desert garb while the other was some sort of centaur with antlers.  Jones and Kiyad were new to Crasse but Abdul Liebowitz and his more experienced scouts had told them what to look for, for Jones and Kiyad this was their first encounter with the Undone.  They were soon seeing more skirmishers to their right and left.  If they did not move soon they would be encircled.  As one they bolted.  They were now, as Jones would say “hell bent for leather.” 

Almost a dozen riders or other things gave chase as one particularly fast pair started to get uncomfortably close.  Kiyad readied his horn bow and moments later a feathered shaft sprouted from one of those riders.  Seconds later Mortikie Jones’ Winchester shouted discouragement to the other member of that pair of pursuers, both fell from their mounts.  The remainder of their foes became less enthusiastic in their chase.                  

News travels fast but bad news travels faster.  It took almost no time from when Kiyad and Jones came into view for word of the trouble to reach the caravan master.  Granted Abdul had laid out an extensive network of signals, relays, heliographs, and pyrotechnics to speed communication for just such news, but it was bad new nonetheless.      

Quickly finding a somewhat defensible position Abdul pulled the various carts and wagons into a Tabor.  Once back Kiyad paused only to change horses as Sir Daryl, Clint More and Owen Garnet sallied forth to reduce any harassment to the desperate activity in the still forming camp.  They played a frustrating game of cat and mouse with the scouts and skirmishers they kept out of arrow range.  One group of eight foemen tried to slip between this small group of defenders and the camp.  The four turned and met the challenge.  The eight Undone were down to six before Garnet and Kiyad switched from bow to lance.  Sir Daryl led the charge with an intensity and skill his resent comrades had not seen before. His large charger bowled over one opponent while his lanced took another.  Garnet and Kiyad on Sir Daryl’s flanks formed a wedge each unhorsing a foeman in passing.  Clint More hurling francisca took out two more.  The four horsemen wheeled about seeing the bulk of the enemy forces coming into view.   They returned to the relative safety of the camp, one other small sally returned minis a warrior.  A cart was placed to fill the gap were they had entered. 

As the bulk of the horde came into view the light units that had been harassing the tabor (fort of carts and wagons) withdrew to join their comrades. 

Realizing that they were no longer chasing a moving target, the Undone began to group together.  The Undone began to accumulate in three large groups to the north, northwest, and west of the caravan’s defensive position.  Slowly stragglers ballooned the ranks of the Undone.  Those already began chanting encouragement to those still catching up. A short time later it turned into a war chant as they began to build up their courage.

The caravan master assigned his caravan guards and scouts to various parts of the parameter.  He placed Oiseau Rapide in charge of the area facing the northwest.  As the enemy chanted Oiseau’s world began to focus on the fifteen carts that would be his part of the battle.

In the center of camp an inner bastion was being set up.  Oiseau began sending those unable to add to the defense there.  Jim the tinker kissed his wife goodbye as she headed inward.  He wore a large fry pan as a chest plate and used a steel pot as a helm. Oiseau had Kiyad join him. The tinkers cart was the right end of Oiseau’s position.

The next wagon belonged to Covard the Apothecary the man began nervously began pull bottles and vials from his wagon while his teamster cocking his crossbow.  Oiseau had Tae Star join them.    

Three rug merchants manned the next cart they were brothers.  One had a crossbow the other two carried only staffs and knifes.  Oiseau sent Owen Garnet to help stiffen their resolve. 

A small soap opera played itself out at the silk seller’s wagon.  The man had opened a chest of excellent but well worn equipment from a chest.  While his wife protested.  He kissed his tearful wife and sent her and their toddler to the relative protection of the inner stockade. He handed her a small pistol crossbow as they parted.  The silk seller seamed to know his business strapped on his sword and strung his bow.  Oiseau placed Inok with him.  From that position Inok would command the right flank.  Oddly enough most of the guards had become the silk seller’s customers.  Kiyad had been the first.  When Mortikie Jones questioned Kiyad’s new fancy shirt Kiyad explained what a silk shirt did when hit by arrows.  Silk shirts soon became one of the must items among the guards.  

Ned and Ted were a ruff and tumble pair that bought and sold a little bit of everything.  They were busy fortifying their position with caltrops and stakes and placed nearly two score of javelins in handy locations.  Oiseau sent Sir Daryl to them to fight at their side.

Old Bob Duskey was a soldier had seen a few to many campaigns.  His last few wars were spent as a sergeant of supply.  After his last war he had taken a few wagons loaded with what he hoarded away and began a private venture.  When peace broke out in his homeland he began to exploit his army contacts to continue his export business.  He quickly exploited this new peace dividend selling used equipment in lands and worlds not so tranquil.  He and his young assistant were well equipped for the upcoming battle.  Oiseau sent Ken Fritz to give them an extra hand.

Percival Puce was a thin nervous and effeminate man.  He held his crossbow with mild distaste.  His large wagon held a wide verity of provisions and wine all selected for the most demanding of pallets.  His companion on this trip was a woman that stood a head and a half taller then him.  She was dressed in a shirt of chainmail and carried a large battleaxe that seemed almost a part of her.  Oiseau sent Darla Naircall to fight by her side.

Madam Natalie was a middle aged woman who had seen service in the oldest of professions.  Currently she was shepherding six young aspiring concubines in search of greener pastures in the growing town of Poisson Vert.  She also had with her, a large powerful woman that had been known to bust the head of any man whose behavior Madam Natalie found to be objectionable.  Five of the girls moved to the inner palisade leaving Madam Natalie, her enforcer, and a lithe brunet with a longbow.  Madam Natalie sat patiently a crossbow on her lap and greeted Oiseau with a smile.  This large heavy wagon would be his headquarters.  

Larry Link was a widower, raising two teenagers the twins (a boy and a girl). They had armed themselves with some of the assorted merchandize that the Links traded in their travels.  He had tried to send them to the inner palisade but they would not leave his side.  Oiseau sent Helga Stevens to watch over them.  

In the next wagon four gnomes busily prepared for battle. The four lapidaries had made an instant transition to warriors.   Two cranked a ballista while a third made a final check on his weapon.  The forth gnome worked furiously under the cart building some sort of earthwork.  What they lacked in size they made up for in equipment and enthusiasm.  Oiseau sent them Rufus Helby to bulk up their defense.  

 Now you may ask at this point about what happened to Sir Daryl’s baggage wagon.  More likely you are saying to hell with the stupid wagon get on with the battle. Well anyway Abdul Liebowitz had commandeered it as part of the inner palisade along with a few other stalwart wagons. 

Millard Barns was a money changer.  His wagon was almost a fortress in itself.  His two guards were professionals and knew their business well.  His teamster readied his crossbow while Barns donned a chainmail shirt.  Oiseau knew that Philip Barbital’s activities would quickly gain the enemies attention so he placed him there.  

Walter the Wheelwright and his apprentice armed themselves with hammers and spears.  Kevin gave them some crossbows he had borrowed from Bob Duskey as he took his position of control for the left side. 

Xenter the tailor bid his wife farewell as he sent her to the inner camp.  He strung his longbow as he watched her walk away.  He had the face of a man who seen days like this before.  Oiseau sent Clint More to him and the two completed final preparations. 

Alex the book seller and his daughter seemed strangely calm.  Armed only with a staff the old man looked with a bemused curiosity at the chanting horde.  His comely daughter readied a composite longbow and carefully placed several quivers of arrows within easy reach with an almost festive attitude.  Oiseau sent Dan to protect this pair from the reality about to come crashing down upon them. 

On the far end was the wagon of Tim the tanner and his son Jake.  Both were armed with short bow and kept a spear nearby. Mortikie Jones joined them carrying the long weapons he usually kept in his saddle sheaths. 

The Undone continued chanting their ranks never quite coming to order, then they paused their chanting, as a giant holding some sort of standard passed before them.  A ram’s horn sounded and they answered with a mighty shout.  They repeated this five times more.  The horn sounded a different note and they began a slow march forward. 

“Hold your missiles till they are in range, make every shot count,” Oiseau ordered.  

Mortikie Jones was the first to view the true nature (and I use the term loosely as some were in fact crimes against nature) in his binoculars. 

“Bunch of ugly customers,” said Jones as he handed the field glasses to Tim the tanner. 

Tim looked over the nearly inhuman horde as they approached the powerful binoculars revealed distorted faces excess limbs along with appendages that had no business on a warm blooded creature.  They had their shortest and weakest in the lead of each of the three large groups.  “Most ugly,” agreed Tim as he handed the optics back to Jones.

Jones waited patiently for the horde to trample a small red flag he had placed earlier.  He handed the binoculars back to Tim and stated; “but I’m ornerier.”  Jones took his Sharps Buffalo Rifle and began to take careful aim, shortly after he pulled the trigger one of the bigger uglier customers went down.  

On the other end of their line Kiyad waited only drawing his bow when his foes crossed a bit of rock whose size and range he knew intimately.  He then joined Jones in trying to even the odds.   The Undone continued to close, their own missile skirmishers rushing forward ahead of the main group forcing the defenders fire to concentrate on a more immediate threat.  The bows and slings of the Undone were not of the best quality requiring them to cover a good distance to get into range, this proved costly.               

Kiyad shifted to his shorter bow he now needed more speed the range as he fired into the growing number of short range targets.  Tae Star show a remarkable talent for finding the largest clusters of foemen while throwing some of the flasks of alchemist’s fire that Covard the Apothecary handed him.  This did not however keep Covard’s teamster from taking an arrow.  Owen Garnet kept up a stead pace with his long bow while making good use of cover.  One of the rug merchants kept popping up to add an occasional crossbow bolt.   

The silk seller proved himself a true professional wielding his deadly bow to good effect.  Inok loosed small bolts of energy from his had taking out one Undone after the next.  

Sir Daryl kept up a slow steady rate of fire with his crossbow while Ned and Ted kept to cover as the waited for their foes to come into javelin range.  Old Bob Duskey spent as much time coaching the two young men with him as he did firing his own crossbow.  Percival Puce hid behind a barrel of pickles occasional firing a wild shot with his crossbow.  Darla Naircall was more effective with her sling.        

Oiseau Rapide and the lithe brunet with a longbow, whose name he discovered was Jena, fired arrow after arrow.  When someone got to close, Madam Natalie was ready with her crossbow (the weapon had a greater range then it’s near sited wielder).

The Links fielded a rather odd collection of missile weapons the father used his chu-ko-nu and the son used an atlatl the daughter kept a low profile with her blowgun at the ready.  Helga Stevens prayed as she waited for something to come into the range of her hammer. 

Two gnomes furiously worked their ballista while the others waited for closer targets.  Philip Barbital readied himself behind Millard Barns wagon.  For now Barns and his men firing two bows and two crossbows was ample discouragement for the attacking skirmishers.        

Walter the Wheelwright and his apprentice along with Kevin used their borrowed crossbows to good effect as did Xenter the tailor and Clint More with their bows.

The book seller’s daughter was as deadly with her bow as she was beautiful.  Dan had borrowed several spare wagon wheels and used them as deadly missiles as he sent death spinning through the ranks of the Undone. 

By the time Mortikie Jones had to reload his Winchester Tim and Jake went to work with their bows.  The skirmishers did not fair well in the exchange they began to break and run.  It soon became apparent that they were running to get out of the way of the troops behind them.  The remainder of the Undone infantry marched a few more steps to allow some of the skirmishers to escape and then, with a mighty shout, they began their charge.    

As the Undone charged Covard the Apothecary joined Tae Star pitching flasks of Alchemists fire.  Ned and Ted started hurling javelins.  Inok evoked a spell that produced a somewhat directional blast of blinding light causing some of the front ranks to stumble (they were trampled by those behind them).  Philip Barbital let loose a great blast of fire that caused great devastation in an area twice the width of a large wagon.  The book seller chanted a strange spell in an alien tongue.   A six foot tall wall of solid rock measuring nearly fifty meters long rose from the earth just as the charge was about to hit. 

The Undone hurled a mix of javelins, darts and axes as they closed.  Running headlong into a solid wall that had mysteriously appeared in their path tended to take a lot of spirit out of the charge at least in places were the wall erupted.  The wall did not take all the sting from that final round of Undone missile.  One of the rug merchants took a javelin to the chest.  Young Ken Fritz took an axe to the head.  Larry Link’s son was injured by a mattiobarbuli.  Walter the Wheelwright was also a victim of this hail of weapons. One last victim of this part of the attack was very quickly avenged for as one of the gnomes took a javelin his brother let, lose with a thirty foot tongue of flame, his flame thrower hosing down many of the Undone pressed by their brethren against the wall.  

All this was too much for Percival Puce he bolted and ran for the central pavilion.  From Oiseau Rapide’s limited view however it looked like they had blunted the attack.  It was hard to tell with all the smoke.  It seemed that their left flank was secure.  On the far right things were not going well at all.  Five wagons to the right of the Tinker’s wagon the Undone had created a breach in the barricade of wagons and the Undone were pouring in expanding their control of the breach killing or forcing from the wagon wall.           

Three survivors of the five wagons near the breach were pushed back into Jim and Kiyad’s position.  The three survivors of the breach tried to hold back the Undone but as quickly as they killed one, another clambered over the now undefended wagons to take his place.  As Jim and Kiyad joined them one of the three fell to a creature more insect than human.  Kiyad cleaved its head apart with his scimitar.  They were forced to fall back to Tae Star’s position.  Tae Star sent the frail Apothecary to tell Oiseau of their plight as he took up Jim’s position when the tinker fell.   The defenders were forced back ones again.  Four illusionary guards held the rug merchants wagon keeping those still on the outside at bay as Owen Garnet and the two rug merchants joined the fray.           

The giant of an undone that had smashed the initial breach was headed for the inner palisade when a running man caught his eye in the moment it took the ten meter tall monster to flatten Percival Puce.  Dan was upon him with a mighty leap.  With a single punch Dan’s fist penetrated the giant’s far head, up to Dan’s elbow.   The monster clutched at the cause of his wound as he fell over.  Dan would spend much time freeing himself from the creatures death grasp.  With the dread giant down Abdul Liebowitz committed his reserve.        

The area in front of the stone wall was a smoking abattoir not even the most insane of the Undone dared brave it when there was easier entry available for those few who did they soon found that the book seller’s daughter had developed a knack for throwing lightning.     

Abdul Liebowitz’s reserve did not prove sufficient to stem the tide as more Undone poured into the camp.  The Undone cavalry that had withdrawn earlier was back now harassing the encampment’s south eastern parameter pinning down the forces at that wall. 

The Undone were soon running amuck inside the outer barricade and many that held that wall now needed to guard their backs.      

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The story of Lionel James was a sad one.  He started as a petty thief in a town nobody ever heard of.  He was not a very good thief and was caught fairly easily.  He caught what he thought was a break when the local judge gave him the option to be part of the towns military levy as an alternative to losing his right hand.  He joined the army of a kingdom at war.  He was at best a mediocre soldier.  The war did not go well after a year of marching, camping, fighting, starving, and marching some more he was captured.  He was not worth the cost of ransom so he languished in prison for half a year.  His side lost.  He was sold into slavery.  His first owner found him a poor worker so he was sold again this time to a wizard with delusions of godhood and a flair for experimentation.  The wizard treated him relatively well for the first time in a long time Lionel added some weight to his emaciated frame.  The wizard treated all his test subjects well unhealthy specimens could adversely effect his experimental results.  With some care from the wizards staff Lionel James was soon the picture of health.    

After so many hard times Lionel was eager to please his new benefactor.  The wizard found that Lionel was a good hypnosis subject and was relatively free of any complicated moral framework.  This made Lionel a good subject for rather nasty job and later on a most interesting experiment.  A good many of the wizard’s experiments ended with the subjects in a dismal state Lionel had the job of ending their misery.  The job of executioner suited Lionel well he kept his axe clean and sharp and only worked once or twice a week.  All went fairly well for Lionel for about a year.  Then one day the wizard had a brand new spell for which Lionel was the ideal subject.  The wizard checked on Lionel once or twice a month though Lionel never remembered what went on at these sessions.  In most of these sessions the wizard merely tested his control of his subject.  On this fateful day, he cast a most intricate new spell.  The spell had no noticeable effect that day.  Three days later the wizard had another little job for his executioner. 

Most of the poor unfortunates that Lionel dispatched were in horrible state by the time his services were called for.  Misshapen blobs and eclectic chimera were par for the course.  Those that still retained the ability to plead were as likely to plead for death as life.  On this day, things were a bit different.  The subject the wizard sent him was not at all typical.  Instead of some tortured sole in a misshapen body barely clinging to some last thread of humanity or sanity the victim was a beautiful young maiden facing her fate with a quite dignity.  What was also extraordinary was the wizard himself was here to witness the execution. 

“You know you will only get the wrath of my father for killing me, you would have been better off to ask for ransom,” said Princess Narsessa.

“I am no bandit, I care not for such paltry sums,” said the wizard.

“I have told you I will have none of your mad plans, when I die I know my father’s Kingdom will one day be in the capable hands of my cousin Fredric.  I fear you not mad man I go to my death proud.  It has always been my fate to give my life for the Kingdom of Zoinksburg,” said Princess Narsessa with true regal bearing. 

“It is a pity you will never live to see the true glory of my genius,” said the wizard grinning like he made some cruel joke. 

Princess Narsessa haughtily moved to the block and moved her silky long brown hair to the side to give the headsman a clean target.  For a moment Lionel thought that the wizard might be bluffing.  That moment was short as the wizard quickly gave Lionel the signal to proceed.  Lionel did his best to make this proud and beautiful woman’s end quick and painless.

Only seconds after her head hit the floor Lionel James’ whole body began to tingle.  The tingling turned into a moment of intense pain.  Lionel’s scream shifted up three octaves before he finished it.  Seconds later Lionel saw his own head on the floor and his body on the chopping block.  For a moment all Lionel could think of was that he had dropped his axe.  He reached for it with a dainty hand, a hand not his own. 

“You are what you kill,” explained the smiling wizard. The next thing, the wizard said was Lionel’s hypnotic command phase.  The wizard had Lionel taken to a special chamber, a chamber were time did not flow as it did in the rest of the world.  For the world outside it was only a day but for Lionel and his tutors it was three grueling months.  There the former executioner was trained for a new job, the far more demanding job of a pampered princess. 

Sir Garland, the heroic knight that returned the lost princess of Zoinksburg claimed her hand as his prize.  He was the wizard's shill.  The false princess (Lionel) bore him two sons and a daughter.  King Garland ruled the land with an iron fist and with the wizards support tripled the size of the kingdom.  It was on one of Garland’s frequent campaigns of expansion that a horse threw him ending his bloody reign.  Queen Narsessa named the wizard as her youngest sons regent.  The boy was twelve years old.  One day the pressure of being so used got to the former man.  The Queen of Zoinksburg took it out on a servant pushing a young woman down flight of stairs.  The wizards curse was still active.            

Lionel James went from Queen to wanted murderer.  Pursued for a crime committed fifteen years earlier the former slave and queen found freedom.  One hundred years and thirty bodies later Lionel James found his home among the Undone.

James’ current body was not to his liking.  He had a tentacle for a left arm and a large multifaceted right eye.  He stood eight feet tall on his two cloven feet.  His body was as ugly as it was strong.  During the early part of the battle he did his best to avoid killing anyone.  He bid his time and waited for position and opportunity.  He stayed, close to NarNar a man cursed as badly as himself.   NarNar shunned all physical contact and dressed in heavy robes despite the desserts heat.  They both sought the same type of opportunity and as the battle started to turn against the Undone, they sized it. 

-------_

As another rug merchant fell to the spear of one of the Undone, the defenders were forced back once again.  Inok dispatched a foeman with a bolt of energy from his hand put was quickly lassoed and drug into the crowd of Undone.  Lester the silk merchant went after his fallen comrade.  Sir Daryl having seen his young squire’s lifeless body went into a vengeful rage. 

“You got Fritz, You stinking bastards, you killed Fritz,” said the knight as he hacked down the Undone like so much wheat.  Ned and Ted followed in his wake protecting his back.  

The once organized battle was now a seen of countless desperate melees

Owen Garnet had fallen but Darla Naircall and the Amazon teamster from Percival Puce’s wagon came to the aid of those defenders that now held what once had been the right flank. 

In the confusion of the battle NarNar found his target as he dragged the hedge mage toward him.  From a spider like gland he produced a sticky rope and bound the now helpless wizard.  Only when his charge was secured did NarNar remove his glove and touched his victim’s hand with his own.  The strange blue hue of NarNar meat fisted hand began to lighten with the touch.  The hand and arm began to shrink as well.  The hand of his victim began to darken and grow.  The contact was broken as Lester the silk seller’s sword removed NarNar’s head. 

The tide of battle turned suddenly as the book seller suddenly transformed.  Where before stood an elderly scholar now stood over thirty meters of scaly anger gleaming in the sun.  The dragon was too much for the Undone.  The few that dared attack the great wyrm were quickly slain. 

Xenter the tailor embolden by the turn of battle waded into the enemy trying to make his way to Kevin and the Wheelwright’s apprentice who both seemed hard pressed.  The footing was traitorous as he made his way across the corpses of both friends and foes.  He almost reached the duo when he was taken from behind. 

Lionel James played dead his unblinking insectoid eye watching for his opportunity.  Moments after a well built warrior passed him by he sprang into action.  He took the man from behind, a second later the transformation began.  Moments later Xenter the tailor’s form filled James’ loose fitting robe.  A moment after he took human form the blade of a short sword sprouted from his chest.  Lionel James turned to see Clint More and said his final words; “You are what you kill.”

Fortunately for Clint More, Xenter the tailor was not much larger then he the transformation was painful enough without him being attacked by his own armor.  More recovered quickly he was soon too busy analyze what happened to him he beat back a few attackers.  More did not press his attacks or pursue those he wounded in his defense he still felt a little unsteady, nonetheless he still was able to make it to Kevin’s side.  The Wheelwright’s apprentice had been wounded but Kevin and Clint More managed to protect him for threw those long minutes it took for the remainder of the Undone to realize the battle was lost.                    

It was a bitter victory, the Tinker’s wife was now a widow.  Tae Star helped Covhod the Apothecary bury his teamster.  Owen Garnet aided the sole surviving Rug merchant to bury his two brothers.  One of the few bright spots was watching the reunion of Lester the silk merchant with his wife and child.

Inok puzzled over his oddly transformed right arm.  Old Bob Duskey and his apprentice helped Sir Daryl lay to rest Ken Fritz.  There was not enough left of Percival Puce to bury. Rufus Helby dug a deep hole.  The gnomes were most thankful as they returned their comrade to the mother there.       

 

Kevin aided Joe the Wheelwright’s apprentice lay his master to rest.  Larry Link’s boy recovered completely with expert care of Helga Stevens.  Most of the other wounded were also aided by such healing.  Xenter the tailor buried Clint More.  Maynard’s wife found her husband distant and disturbed after the battle.  Mortikie Jones spent a long time collecting brass. 

There were many other casualties to bury that night it was a most somber victory.  

Dan and the Dragon dug a mass grave for the Undone.  The dragon then returned to human form and rejoined his daughter and their hoard of books.  The book seller advised the caravan master to move on quickly warning that the Undone do not rest easy.  It is most imprudent to argue with a dragon, (especially friendly ones who just saved your ass) so the short handed caravan moved on.  Some wagons had to be abandoned do to lack of drivers.

Bill Bigalow had played many roles in most of his roles like that of Clint More, he was careful to stay a stranger.  Now by some death curse from one of the Undone, he was thrust into the role of Xenter the Tailor a man with a loving and devoted wife. 

Xenter’s wife Nadia was worried her husband seemed distance and distracted.  She did notice he tended to listen to her more.  He also seem somehow desperate to please her in bed.  She sought the advice of Susana the silk seller’s wife.  Susana also seemed somehow odd.  She had begun wearing gloves all the time for some reason.  The two women had become friends early in the trip but somehow she seemed different.  Still both women were there for Winna the Tinker’s widow in her time of need.

 

It was Inok that had a suspicion and a curiosity that drove him to the truth.  He also needed an explanation for his now oversized and strangely hued arm.  He thought the advice of the silk seller.  The silk seller was the man who saved his life and was the only witness to the odd event.  It was a strange conversation for Lester quickly called his wife.  He soon found out the family secret.  After the battle the two were inseparable they made desperate love that night and fell asleep in each others arms.  That morning they woke to the shock of finding themselves in each others bodies.  They then showed, a finger on Susana’s hand (well it was Lester’s hand now) that was somewhat smaller then it should be.  Their young son had a finger on his hand that was a bit to large.

“I can touch my own old body but I dare not touch another, not even my own son,” said the woman who had been Lester the silk seller.

Inok spent most of the trip studying the odd curse and keeping the families secret.

              

As for the Undone, they indeed did not rest easy some simply could not die and painfully regenerated and crawled from their grave.  Others held eggs within their corpses that hatched and feed on the dead.  The book seller was right the Undone do not rest easy. 

The caravan made its way to Poisson Vert without further incident. 

The caravan was well received but many local merchants that traded overseas seamed hesitant to trade.  The strike at the port was still underway.   Over the next two weeks things many things happened Xenter the tailor went missing.   Xenter’s body was soon found in the hall of the Stevedores Guild.  Lane Parker soon disappeared along with a sizable chunk of funds from Stevedores Guild.  The strike was soon quickly settled by his successor.  Nadia the tailor’s wife received a large anonymous gift of money.  Lane Parker’s body was found floating in the bay a week later.  A young foreign sailor sought, work as a caravan guard he was tested and proved competent and left with Abdul Liebowitz’s caravan as it returned to Airousse Moor.  The trip proved uneventful. 

Bill Bigalow returned to Airousse Moor under yet another name and collected his fee and began to inquire about ways to remedy a somewhat useful and somewhat inconvenient curse.