The Crimson Storm (Ch. 4)

Ooh....what a story so far. Let the Adventure Continue!

Chapter Four: The Snowbound Journey

         “Stealth.”

      Grand Almen

The newly formed party rode towards a Crimson Supply Camp northwest of South Village of Sing. They rode Celtìca, her dragon form...which Ven loved immensely, and flew nearby the camp. The party soon took cover near a rather large boulder overlooking the campsite.
“What’s the plan old man?” Ven asked snidely. He didn’t take kindly to following orders but knew it was in his best interest to kill off the Crimson scum that surrounded them. It grew harder and harder to find liquor in town.
“Stealth.” Grand Almen spoke. He had a devious plan that involved diversion and cunning. He continued to tell the group of his plan.

Celtìca would fly as a tiny bat inside the camp and get within the cargo hold where all of their weaponry and shielding was, which they stole from the people of Sing. While she is doing that, the other four would mount an attack to draw their security towards them. With Grand Almen’s Shielding and Shaman Teiliman’s potions, they would survive the attack. While the attack progressed and all of the guards were forced to protect the cargo, Celtìca would then use her magic burn down all of the cargo that was in the hold. It would mean that the entire village of Sing wouldn’t get back their belongings but it is better than letting the Crimson League have them.

“Sounds like a terrific plan” Degriţito said.

“Suck up.” Ven spoke softly to Degriţito.

The party agreed on the plan and mounted their attack. The four yelled and ran towards the camp as Celtìca flew as fast as she could to get inside the cargo hold. The tiny window, which was ignorantly left open, was the perfect place to fly inside. Celtìca changed into a Vexen (she had fought one before), a three foot fire-breathing dragon (which was tiny enough to fit in the Cargo Hold and could breathe fire), and set the place ablaze. She then changed back into her Giant form. As Celtìca was changing from Giant form back into a bat, she saw a glowing, albeit tiny, blue orb on the floor. It wasn’t glowing when she arrived but it was now.  She quickly, as the guards were coming because of the smoke and fire seen, swooped it up into her pocket and turned back into a bat. She quickly got out of there as the fire was starting to spread.

The other four saw her bat form return and Grand Almen and Shaman Teiliman signaled the retreat. Degriţito and Ven fought off more guards as they tried desperately to get out of there.
Grand Almen, with his staff, set a fire perimeter between the guards and the two of them. The five of them quickly got out of there as men with buckets of water tried to put out the barrier flame. It was no use. The fire barrier is magic and could not simply be doused with water unless of course it too was magic.
The five rushed off towards a nearby forest to set up camp, turning back every so often to see if any Crimson had followed them there. They were safe, for now, and new that the storms would worsen, both fighting-wise and weather-wise. After everyone caught their breath the five settled down to get some sleep. The sky grew dark and, as the five slept, the orb Celtìca had just obtained glowed even more. It pulsated in Celtìca’s pocket a bright, bright blue that awoke the other four (Celtìca wasn’t asleep anyway).
The four rushed over to her as if they were drawn to the glow of the orb, though not the orb itself. It glowed…happiness. Dazed and bedazzled, the four (Celtìca not effected greatly by the orb) reached out to it while Celtìca held the orb to her body to protect it. The orb suddenly stopped pulsating, though still glowing, and everybody returned to normal. Everyone had no clue what had just happened, that is until Grand Almen saw the object Celtìca held closely towards her.
“Is that the Økfen orb?” Grand Almen spoke with great shock yet joy. He reached out to Celtìca so she could hand him the orb. She didn’t want to. She still didn’t trust the look in their eyes. She was a cautious mother to this orb.
Everyone settled down on their blankets and rested while Celtìca gathered her breathe. She still held the orb firmly in her hand. The orb began to change colors from different shades of blue to different shades of green and back to blue. Changing within all of the colors in between. Teals and ocean floor colors, and many more filled the orb. It was pulsating a little bit then it was when it rested. It was as if the orb could feel what Celtìca was thinking.
The orb slowly calmed down Celtìca and she returned the orb into her pocket. She began to lie down on her blanket as Degriţito came to comfort her. Grand Almen began pondering about what that orb was doing at the Crimson campgrounds. Shaman Teiliman went over to grand Almen to ask.
“What’s with this orb that has got you in a tizzy?” She asked him. He just stared at Celtìca and Degriţito sitting down and just kept thinking why.
“I-I…I don’t know how this is possible, if it actually is.” Grand Almen spoke and finally made eye contact with Shaman Teiliman.
“What is this orb anyway? Is it something from your culture? You said Økfen and I know that is your order, so what is it all about?”

There is a story, and I don’t know it to be true [spoke Grand Almen]. The story goes that, in my order, there was a strong and mighty mage that initially started the order. In the beginning of the endless war between Økfen and the Crimson League, Khendaar (the mage’s name) was stricken down by the head leader of the Crimson League…Halibaar. My order rushed him to see an ancient Shaman, whose name remains a mystery. The Shaman imbued the soul of Khendaar into an orb. It was a sacred and blessed item as all the high mages and priests blessed the orb. The orb glowed blue and was inside the temple’s forbidden room for years. Then, one summer, the Crimson League stormed the castle and broke into the forbidden room and smashed the orb to pieces. It is said that the soul escaped into the heavens…some say. Others say it found a new orb. And some conspiracy theorists think that the Crimson League did not break the orb but stole it for their own use. You see…Khendaar was still alive inside that orb. He performed magic all the time in that room. He did daily chores and helped new mages into the order. He was a father to most and when the Crimson League smashed his orb, we all shattered with it. (Well, I wasn’t in the order then but still).

“That is a fabulous story.” Ven sarcastically said…rolling his eyes. He was leaning against a tree sharpening a twig with his pocket knife. The others looked at him and gave him a serious look. Then the three turned back to Grand Almen.
“It is a tale and we don’t know it to be true…but we should find out what this orb is. If it is the Økfen orb then we should return to your order immediately. If not, then Celtìca may keep it as an aide.” Shaman Teiliman spoke. The orb glowed in agreement.
“Ok” Celtìca said siding with the orb. The five decided it would be best to rest some more before heading out again.

Everyone relaxed on their blankets and rested, with the fire still going. It was still winter, although the storms were settling. Perhaps it was because of the fact that this party has a new found advantage…the orb.

Morning came and the fire had faded out on its own. By the time everyone was awake, Grand Almen had prepared a morning snack before they ventured off to the Økfen order.

“Mmm…I smell eggs.” Shaman Teiliman said, being the last one to wake up and join the others.

“Sit…eat…enjoy...” Grand Almen said motioning for her to have a seat by the newly lit fire. The five ate their grub and drank what water they had in their bags. The wind suddenly rushed by rapidly.

“The storms…” Ven said as he got up and looked to the skies. Suddenly you could hear screeches of birds flying away in the direction of the wind. All birds were flying away trying to get to safe shelter before the storms came.

“Quick everyone…” Shouted Grand Almen as the winds blew faster and faster and quickly blowing out the fire. “…get your belongings and hold on to my robe. We need to get out of here fast.” Everyone got their gear together and held on to Almen’s robe.

“Deripus Erimus Domé Gochem.” Grand Almen shouted at the winds. Suddenly all that was left of the party was a mound of snow as the five were transported to the Økfen order.