Jeryaldar's Discovery: Part 2

Part 2 for Jeryaldar's Discovery concludes this fascinating and gripping adventure for Jeryaldar. Not only does he meet up with some new friends, but runs into another group that you might recognize...

It was late in the evening when they finished their supper. Lamb chops, grilled steak, potatoes, some sort of strange blue cabbage from Garanagar's garden, and several vegetables of various sizes. Jeryaldar hadn't eaten like this in quite some time. His journey up the mountain was with little food. Summoning food using spells was a way to survive, but often produced bland and tasteless bread and other basic supplements.

"You must slow down young man! You're going to get sick." Garanagar's wife watched him shovel the food in.

For awhile they sat around the cabin's fireplace and traded stories after supper. Garanagar had a plate next to his chair. He always seemed to be eating. When Jeryaldar brought up the story about his journey up here, Garanagar's eyes brightened and suddenly seemed more interested. The fireplace was casting an eerie glow about everything. It made Garanagar seem bigger than he already was.

"I've heard stories. More like legends about these mountains. When we first came to live here we ignored all the talk about trolls and such. They haven't been anywhere near these parts in a long time." He sighed, staring at his wife. "Until a few weeks ago, we were living here in peace. Now, every night I have to go out and use whatever powers I have to scare off what trolls take my logs. By the time I get a chance to do much they are mostly off and up the mountain again into their caves."

Jeryaldar walked to the window. "You mentioned some caves. So far I have only seen forest and rocks along the path. It's getting more treacherous the longer I travel up here." Frustration showed on his face as he took another look out the window.

"I can take you to them if you like. It isn't much farther up the path, actually. Couple of miles by the way I figure it." Garanagar suddenly made this bubbly belch and then continued to eat his supper.

"Oh dear you mustn't! The last time you tried to prove yourself or do some stupid manly thing, look what happened!" She waved a finger past Garanagar's head. Jeryaldar turned around and saw her pointing at a trolls head stuck on a post next to the fireplace. "If I see another one of those in here we're moving once and for all! Besides, you almost got yourself killed getting that disgusting thing."

Garanagar turned around for a moment and then shrugged at his wife. "I kind of like it. What do you think Jeryaldar?" Garanagar was waiting for him to respond. "Jeryaldar?" Garanagar watched Jeryaldar stare out of the window in a wide eyed trance. "See? My wife told you eating too much would upset your stomach. Run outside before she gets angry because you messed up the place." He gave out a loud laugh. His wife frowned, scolding him.

"You said trolls lived in these parts?" Jeryaldar stuttered.

"That's right. Been here for while now. I told you a bunch of them live in some caves a few miles up the mountain."

Jeryaldar tapped on the window. "Well, I think they're moving again. I think all of them are heading this way." Jeryaldar slowly backed away from the window. Garanagar got up without whipping off his face and beard, and looked out the kitchen window. Outside in the distance up the mountain path you could see two or three dozen torches heading slowly towards them.

"You're right, it's the Trolls. It could be no one else."

His wife was standing next to him as they all watched out the windows. "I've never seen so many before! Oh dear, what do they want with us this time?" She grabbed his arm and hugged him close. "I told you we should have moved a long time ago. Now look what is happening."

As the creatures grew closer Jeryaldar began to make out more features. They all had ragged clothes and what appeared to be slingshots and other various weapons. This was crazy. What would they all want with Garanagar? He intended to give them what they wanted. He'll stuff it down their throats.

"We have to get out of here. Is there some place we can hide out in the woods?" He began looking around for various items they might need. There were several slingshots, firewood, food, as well as what appeared to be an old staff hanging on the fireplace wall. It might come in handy if he could figure out its magic.

"Well, I'm not really sure. It's so cold we won't be able to survive for more than a few days out there. We can't leave! What about all my stuff?"

"Look out the window. We have to leave! I have an idea anyway."

Garanagar grabbed a few things and then dragged his wife out the backdoor. Passing by the woodpiles, he waved his arms in a wide arch. "This whole forest behind the cottage contains several hills of rocks and trees we can hide out in for now. Unfortunately, there is no way down the mountain through the forest. A large precipice blocks the path. The trolls won't go much farther in than what you can see. That is one of the reasons we chose this location."

Jeryaldar surveyed the area. It was really dark, but he could see the forest that lay ahead. It seemed to climb higher up the mountain and into the darkness beyond. "We have to be fairly high already. How much farther is it to the troll caves?" They started to hear the troll's footsteps as they retreated into the darkness. Only moments after they entered the forest did they see the trolls begin to surround the cabin.

Garanagar grabbed his bag and rummaged through it, making considerable noise in the process.

"Shhh! If you keep it up like that they'll hear us." Jeryaldar whispered fiercely.

"Don't worry, they won't come into the forest." Garanagar found the bread he was looking for and began to tear pieces off and eat it.

Jeryaldar frowned. "You already ate and we need this to survive, possibly for the next few days."

"But I'm still hungry! I didn't get a chance to finish my meal. Why do you want to head towards their caves anyway?" He stopped in mid bite as he heard shouts and groans from the direction of the cabin. It was the trolls. They had heard their conversation!

Gathering their things, they run as fast as they could, farther into the trees. The trolls began their pursuit, climbing over the log pile and past the forest perimeter.

"I thought you said they couldn't enter the forest!" Jeryaldar shouted back to Garanagar, not bothering at this point in whispering.

"They can't! At least they couldn't before! Who cares, we need to loose them! Don't you have anything up your sleeves?"

Jeryaldar thought fast, as the trolls were in hot pursuit. Those clumsy bodies didn't look like fast runners but they sure were keeping up with them. Thinking fast he remembered the staff that was in Garanagar's cabin. Most of the spells in his book would have done nicely with a one on one confrontation. He was way outclassed in this case. Pulling out the staff from his bag, dropping some of the other items he brought with in the process, he tried fiddling around with it to figure out how it worked. Most staffs he knew about had an impression or marking that signified the general operations of it. This one didn't have anything except for a knot in the wood almost at the base of the staff. Not knowing what else to do he pressed the knot. The staff began to grow warm and then shoot sparks at the end. Then it seemed to hiss with more sparks flying out. Then the warmth ceasing. Either he wasn't operating it properly or he wasn't experienced enough in one way or another. You figure that being a part of the Arcane Knowledge that he would know every kind of staff out there.

He was going to try again, but then Garanagar shouted from up ahead. They were entering a particularly large thicket, with walls of rocks forming a thin passage up the mountain. Trying to run while looking back he tried pressing the knot again. This time it seemed to kick into life faster, with more warmth and sparks flying everywhere. It was so intense for a moment he couldn't see where he was going. Before recovering from his blindness, he felt his foot snag on a root and his whole body being dragged down to the ground. The rocky ground felt hard against his face as his body landed. The staff flew from his hand, flying high in the air as it continued to emit sparks.

As his head cleared, he found his face smeared with dirt and his arms scratched up to his shoulders. Garanagar and his wife were standing over him with worried looks on their faces.

Garanagar let out a particularly loud laugh. "You look in terrible shape my friend. Here let me help you up." Garanagar brought his arms around Jeryaldar and heaved him up in what seemed like a particularly easy manner. He was able to get a much better view of what had happened. They obviously weren't being chased anymore. The staff was gone but in front of them he viewed what had to be the funniest sight ever. All the trolls had turned into ugly two foot tall frogs! They were hopping around in no apparent order, probably confused from the transformation. Jeryaldar began to giggle a little. It was kind of funny. Then he spied the light blaring through the forest and frowned.

Garanagar threw a small axe he was carrying towards the frogs. It missed. "Before they transformed and came after us they managed to set the cabin on fire. It's all gone now."

Jeryaldar patted Garanagar on the back. "You have your wife still; you should appreciate that at least." Garanagar gave a small smile. Then he too frowned again after noticing the frogs hopping around. He nudged Jeryaldar in the direction to their right. One of the frogs was almost convulsing. Then it began to grow larger and start to change slowly from a frog into something else. The magic was already wearing off! Without hesitation they ran farther into the crevasse and followed the thinning path up the mountain. More of the frogs were turning back now, with one of them almost appearing as a troll again.

They were at least five miles up the mountain from Garanagar's cottage when they discovered a small cave on the left. The area was increasing turning into a large gorge. It was almost as if the mountain had a huge crack in it. At least it was finally morning with the light seeping in through the gorge. They rested for a while outside the caves entrance and ate what was left of the bread.

"Once this is gone were going to have to eat what I can summon. I'm afraid it's not as tasty, but it will keep us alive." Jeryaldar took the last piece of fruit they had brought. It was already turning too ripe. He ate it anyway.

"What kind of spells do you have in that fancy book of yours?" Garanagar spoke between bites. His wife sitting beside him was watching the cavern entrance with a worried look on her face.

"Well, what's left of it isn't much. Most of the spells were rendered useless when the book was torn apart. I can still summon food and water for us, as well as a few spells such as clothing and a few defensive spells. Nothing much that will do us good in a large battle, I'm afraid. I kind of expect to go into a fight with more than this."

They finished their food and then slowly began exploring the entrance to the cave. A warm breeze came from somewhere inside, along with a scent of musty rotted fruit. "That's odd." Garanagar commented.

"You're right. Usually caves are pretty cool, even high up in the air like this."

"What? No. I'm talking about the smell. It's awful!" His wife nodded in agreement, holding her nose closed.

Jeryaldar had to agree. "Well, we can't let that stop us. This is our best chance to retrieve the book I am looking for and I will not pass it up." He proceeded to enter the cave. Garanagar ran in front of him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You're crazy! We have little to no protection, the trolls know where we are, and I have my wife with me. I don't want her going through all of this."

His wife came up to them as they continued to argue the situation. "I can take care of myself, thank you. I won't leave my husband." She crossed her arms, clearly ending the debate of the matter.

Well, that settled it. They had come too far to turn back now. He knew that if they did manage to gain their hands on the book they would have a far quicker way back. Most of the books in the collection had one teleport spell or another. This one was likely to have the same.

He was interrupted when the wife pushed past them and peered farther into the cave. "I hear someone in there!" She strained to hear. "They are calling for help!" Without waiting for them she grabbed one of the pieces of wood she had and tore off a part of her skirt, wrapping it around the end of the piece of wood. Jeryaldar tried hard not to look down too far as the skirt was now considerably shorter. It was difficult due to her immense height.

The wife turned towards him. "I suppose you don't happen to have a spell in your book that can light this thing?"

"As a matter of fact I do. Give me a moment please." He flipped through the pages and found the one he was looking for. Holding out his arm he spoke a few words, twisted his fingers and a small ball of flame leapt out towards the piece of wood. The cloth caught fire, illuminating their surrounding area. She thanked him and turned to head farther into the cavern.

Jeryaldar and Garanagar stood there for a moment. "She really can take care of herself can't she?"

Garanagar starred ahead and nodded. "That she can. Come on, we don't want her to get too far ahead." Pulling his arm, Garanagar dragged Jeryaldar forward into the cave.

The walls throughout the entire cave system appeared to be seeping some sort of yellowish fluid. It was altogether rather disgusting. It also made the floor precariously slippery. The odor inside didn't appear to be improving either. Rounding another corner they finally spied where all the commotion was coming from. Garanagar's wife seemed to have a key sense of direction as she led them directly to the noises source. It was a man caged up high above a pit of lava. Every time the man rattled the cage it swung unsteadily back and forth. The whole chain system that kept it up there groaned in protest. It then dropped suddenly about a foot. The thing was on some sort of timer and it was dropping every time the guy shook the cage too much!

Jeryaldar waved his arms and shouted. "Hey, Behind you!" The man turned around suddenly, spying the newcomers.

"Oh thank god! Someone has come to save me at last. Those nasty trolls tied me up in here and left me for dead. Frankly I'm a little surprised they didn't kill me on site after what I did." The cage shook again and dropped another foot. The man sat down clutching the bars for support. The lava was hissing with steam coming up through the surrounding floors cracks. It looked to be a natural well. This whole mountain could in fact be part of a volcano.

Jeryaldar was impatient. They hadn't seen any trolls in the cavern yet and that made him worry. The man had established this was the caves Jeryaldar was looking for. There should be swarms of trolls even after the incident back at the cabin. "Who are you and what did you do!" He desperately tried to think of a spell he might have that would get the man out of the cage safely.

"My name is Cartein. I'm from Qeynos. I was originally from Freeport before I managed to get myself out." Cartein paused. "I um, I took a little trip out here and um, well, I was able to take." Cartein never managed to finish he sentence as another voice, one rather rough, came from somewhere inside the cavern.

"You stole our book! And you will not get it back, I can assure you of this." They all turned around to view what had to be the ugliest troll ever conceived. It was also clearly the leader of the place, with the rusted crown on top and unclean robes it wore.

Other trolls entered the cavern and surrounded them. They poked and prodded each of their party, looking for weapons and anything they could use against the trolls. They also took the book and staff from Jeryaldar, there last means of defending themselves. So much for being a great keepr of the arcane knowledge's, Jeryaldar thought to himself. It wasn't like him to get into situations like this.

"You're going to come with us and answer for your crimes." The king troll spat.

"But we did nothing! We only came in here and found him up there caged like some animal." Garanagar waved his hand fiercely at Cartein.

"You trespass through our caves, attempt to steal something from us, and then lie! You will answer for your crimes. Take a good look at that cage as you will soon be in one too." The troll licked his lips. It appeared to be sizing them up for its evening meal. It spied Garanagar's lady. She scowled at the troll. It smiled with nasty rotting teeth showing.

Garangar's wife turned to Jeryaldar and whispered in his ear, "What is the troll saying! I can't make out the language. You sure got us into some trouble for sure! That I can tell without any spoken language." She kicked him in the side of his boot. The troll laughed, spitting out more decaying food.

Before anyone could say anything further, the ground shook violently from under their feet. Jeryaldar had a hard time keeping his footing. The caged man was also in serious danger as the cage had fallen several more feet and now was only a few feet away from sinking into the lava below. They all looked around as the ground continued to shake. Explosions were heard in the distance and then trolls running through the passages. Something was going on out there.

Then appearing around the corner had to be one of the loveliest ladies Jeryaldar had ever seen in his entire life. She had the most gorgeous hair that flowed down to her hips. She also wore a nice blue cape and had an extremely polish staff with her. Jeryaldar was instantly in love. He looked over at Garanagar who was also starring intensely at the wizard. His wife caught his eyes and gave him a sharp jab in the stomach.

Each one of the trolls also seemed entranced. They stood there like statues just starring blank at the wizard. It was after a few moments that Jeryaldar realized they weren't entranced by her beauty but were somehow frozen in place. The wizard walked around each one and right up to Jeryaldar and the rest of the group. She nodded and then turned towards the caged man and waved her arms while chanting something and holding her staff up with her other arm. Jeryaldar watched as the cage broke loose and slowly drifted toward the lava. At the same time the lava also seemed to turn a darker color. As the cage touched the lava, it was hard enough and cool enough for the cage to set down. The door to the cage flew open and the man ran towards the wizard, almost tripping in the process. He flung his arms about her.

"I told you not to go looking for that damn book. It would get you in trouble some day." The wizard frowned at him and then turned to Jeryaldar and the others. "These spells wont' last long. I suggest we make a hasty exit.

Jeryaldar was about to suggest the way they came back when she raised her arms, waved them in the air, threw some white powder around and then the world disappeared. When things cleared a moment later he realized she had teleported them. It was no teleport like he had ever been through before. He took a moment to look around. They were back outside but nowhere he remembered being. It also appeared they were considerably farther down the mountain side.

The wizard walked around them and then over to what remained of a small camp fire. "I stayed here waiting for the Cartein's return. When he didn't show, I went looking for him." She frowned at the caged man. "You really do need to tell me more of where you are going."

"I can take care of myself! I was just the wrong place at the wrong time. What were you doing following me anyway?" He attempted to defend himself to no avail.

Without another word she retrieved the book from her belongings and handed it over to Jeryaldar. He didn't know what to say, taking a moment to look over it, noticing the familiar markings that the other books in his collection had. This was indeed the book that he was looking for.

"Take it, it is yours to keep. I have a feeling the Arcane Knowledge will be most pleased to see that you have returned with it."

"That is my book. What are you doing?" Cartein protested.

The wizard spun around angrily. "I told you this book would get you into trouble. Did you listen? We're going home and I don't want to hear another thing about this book again." She turned towards the others. "I think it's a good time to leave. We're almost at the base of the mountain. I can teleport us out of the immediate area once we get clear of the forest. This way." She pointed towards the path that leads down into the forest beyond. Cartein was glad to leave this place behind them. Following her down the path he studied the new book in his hands with great interest.