Gateway to Nifleheim (26 page)

Claradon's head still spun from an almost unbelievable tale Ob told him the previous night while he stood by the wounded gnome's bedside. He had to push that story aside in his head, however hard that might be. The last days seemed a maddened dream. Claradon pulled himself together as best he could. He splashed water on his face, combed his hair, strapped on his sword belt.

“How is your arm?” said Claradon, though he only glanced at Ob as he spoke—his attention focused on waking up and getting ready. “After how you looked last night, I thought you would be bedridden for days, but you seem as spry as ever this morning.”

“Mister Fancy Pants’s witches’ brew did the trick,” said Ob. “It's not natural, that stuff. Must be some sorcery; some stinking potion made of who knows what foul gunk. Probably black sorcery whipped it up—with my luck, the kind what sucks a man’s soul out. I would rather have a bad arm, or no arm, than risk that.”

“It was just a healing draught,” said Claradon. “Herbs and such, I’m certain.”

“You think so?” said Ob. He pulled up his sleeve, exposing his forearm. “Take a look.” There was no wound; no scar, not a trace. “It feels a bit stiff is all.”

Claradon's eyebrows rose. “Well, if it is sorcery, you should be grateful. It was an ugly wound. If it had gotten infected, it could have been the end of you.”

“Take more than an infection to put me down,” said Ob. “All the same, I should be grateful, but I’m not. Such things always come with a price, but it's usually a price that you wouldn’t want to pay.”

“Maybe it was just a powerful healing draught,” said Claradon.

Ob’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe.”

In the interests of secrecy, knights guarded the Odinhome’s doors and only admitted ranking knights who knew the truth of what happened in the wood. When Ob and Claradon arrived, Theta stood on the central dais addressing the men who were seated about the hall. The knights rallied around him, bristling for a fight, enraged as they were over the loss of their lord and their comrades. Each time Theta spoke the knights quieted down to listen.

“We must destroy his body,” Theta boomed in his strong, steady voice. “When we do, we will be killing Korrgonn, not Gabriel, for Gabriel is already lost to this world; his body now nothing but a stolen shell, occupied by a monster—a true monster out of Nifleheim. Destroying it won't be easy. Korrgonn not only has all of his own knowledge and skills, but he may also have Gabriel's. That would make him far more dangerous than ever before. No one will be safe until we put him down. And do not forget the skull-faced demon—that creature was Mortach of Nifleheim. He must be put down as well.”

“Two Lords of Nifleheim running about,” said Tanch. “It is the end of the world for certain. We’re all doomed.”

Artol stood up. “We must find them and kill them for what they've done, however difficult the task.”

“We will track our enemies to the ends of Midgaard, and beyond if need be,” boomed Theta. “We will cleanse the world of their plague.”

A cheer erupted in the hall; the knights rose to their feet and shook their fists.

“There can be no other course of action,” boomed Theta.

After the noise died down, Tanch spoke. “It sounds as if we are about to embark on a major undertaking. Though it pains me to say it, my delicate back isn't up to the challenge, for old battle wounds plague me. No doubt, I can do far more good remaining here at Dor Eotrus, supporting young Sir Ector, than I could in the field.”

“Are you the stinking House Wizard or not?” shouted Ob as he and Claradon made their way down the steps.

“I suppose,” said Tanch. “Though no formal appointment has yet been made.”

“Par Tanch,” said Claradon when he reached the dais, “I will need you in this. You will come with us. We will go back to the Vermion, to the circle, and pick up the trail of the Nifleheim lords. We will make them pay dearly for what they did. We’ll not return until we rid this world of them.”

“All right, Mister Fancy Pants, move aside,” shouted Ob as he and Claradon approached the lectern. Theta glared at the gnome, stood his ground, but said nothing.

“Claradon is here now and will be taking over.” Ob faced the gathered knights, his arms upraised. He motioned for quiet. “Brother Claradon, as first son of House Eotrus, and upon Lord Aradon's passing, is now Lord of the Dor, and Patriarch of House Eotrus. You will serve him with the same respect and honor with which you served Aradon afore him. And if you don't, I'll rip your stinking heads off and feed your dead corpses to the dogs.”

“Long live Lord Claradon,” boomed Artol from amidst the knights.

“Long live Lord Claradon,” shouted all the knights in response.

“And death to the Lords of Nifleheim,” boomed Artol, raising his fist to the air.

“Death to the Lords of Nifleheim,” boomed the whole company in retort.

“I guess we won't be going home anytime soon, Lord Angle,” whispered Dolan.

“Not for some time, I think.”

“When do you think them evildoers will leave us be so we can live like regular folks?”

“When I have killed them all; not before.”

END

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GLOSSARY

PLACES

The Realms

Asgard
: legendary home of the gods

Bifrost
: mystical bridge between Asgard and Midgaard

Midgaard
: the world of man

Lomion:
a great kingdom of Midgaard

Nine Worlds
, The: the nine worlds of creation

Nifleheim
: the very hell of myth and legend

Vaeden
: paradise, lost

Places Within The Kingdom Of Lomion

Dor Eotrus
: fortress and lands ruled by House Eotrus, north of Lomion City

Odinhome
, The: temple to Odin located in Dor Eotrus

Outer Dor, The
: the town surrounding the fortress of Dor Eotrus. Also used generically as the name for any town surrounding a fortress.

Riker's Crossroads:
village at the southern border of Eotrus lands

Vermion Forest
: foreboding wood west of Dor Eotrus

Guymaog, Temple of
: ruined temple located in the Vermion Forest.

Dor Lomion
: fortress within Lomion City, ruled by House Harringgold

Dor Malvegil
: fortress and lands ruled by House Malvegil, southeast of Lomion City on the west bank of the Grand Hudsar River

Doriath Forest
: a large forested area south of Eotrus lands

Dover, City of
: large city at Lomion's southeastern border

Dyvers
: Lomerian city known for its quality metalworking

Kern, City of
: a major Lomerian city east of Dor Eotrus.

Lomion City
(aka Lomion): capital city of the Kingdom of Lomion

Tammanian Hall
: high seat of government in Lomion; home of the High Council and the Council of Lords

Tower of the Arcane
: high seat of wizardom; in Lomion City

Tarrows Hold
: known for dwarves

Parts Foreign

Bourntown

Dead Fens, The
: mix of fen, bog, and swampland on the east bank of the Hudsar River, south of Dor Malvegil

Ferd

Karthune Gorge
: site of a famed battle involving the Eotrus

Kronar Mountains
: foreboding mountain range that marks the northern border of the Kingdom of Lomion.

Lent

Minoc-by-the-Sea:
coastal city

R’lyeh:
a bastion for evil creatures; Sir Gabriel and Theta fought a great battle there in times past.

Saridden, City of

PEOPLE

Peoples

Dwarves, elves, gnomes, lugron, smallfolk, svarts

Volsungs
: generic term for the primary people/tribes populating the Kingdom of Lomion.

Orders of Knighthood

Caradonians; Tyrians; Odions
;

House Alder

Barusa of Alder
is the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Lomion.

The Alders have long been rivals of the Eotrus.

House Eotrus
(pronounced Eee-oh-tro`-sss). The Eotrus rule the fortress of Dor Eotrus, the Outer Dor (a town outside the fortress walls) and the surrounding lands for many leagues. Lord Eotrus is a vassal to the king of Lomion.

Aradon Eotrus, Lord:
Patriarch of the House

Adolphus:
a servant

August Eotrus, Lord
: ancestor of Aradon (deceased)

Claradon Eotrus, Brother:
(Clara-don) eldest son of Aradon, Caradonian Knight

Donnelin, Brother
: House Cleric for the Eotrus

Ector Eotrus, Sir
: third son of Aradon

Eleanor Malvegil Eotrus
, Lady: wife of Aradon (deceased)

Gabriel Garn, Sir
: House Weapons Master

Humphrey
(Humph): Claradon's manservant

Jude Eotrus, Sir
: second son of Aradon

Knights & Soldiers of the House
: Sergeant Artol, Sir Paldor, Sir Glimador Malvegil, Sir Indigo; Captain Marzdan (watch captain of the gate); Sir Bilson; Baret; Gorned (a House guard); Sir Sarbek; Sir Bareddal of Hanok Keep; Sir Miden; Sir Worten; Sir Erendin of Forndin Manor; Sir Talbot; Sir Dalken; Sir Glimron;

Malcolm Eotrus
: fourth son of Aradon

Ob A. Faz III:
(Ahb A. Fahzz) Castellan and Master Scout of Dor Eotrus, a gnome

Sirear Eotrus, Lady
: daughter of August Eotrus (deceased)

Stern:
Master Ranger for House Eotrus.

Talbon, Par, of Montrose
: House Wizard for the Eotrus.

Tanch Trinagal, Par:
(Trin-ah-ghaal) of the Blue Tower; Son of Sinch;

House Harringgold

Harper Harringgold, Lord:
Archduke of Lomion City; patriarch of the House; Lord of Dor Lomion

Grim Fischer
: agent of Harper, a gnome

Marissa Harringgold
: daughter of Harper

House Malvegil

Torbin Malvegil, Lord
: Patriarch of the House; Lord of Dor Malvegil.

Landolyn, Lady: of House Adonael
; Torbin's consort. Of part elven blood.

Eleanor Malvegil Eotrus
: (deceased) Wife of Aradon Eotrus; sister of Torbin Malvegil.

Glimador Malvegil, Sir
: son of Torbin, working in the service of House Eotrus.

House Tenzivel (the Royal House)

King Selrach Rothtonn Tenzivel III
: His Royal Majesty: King of Lomion

Other Noble Houses of Lomion

House Tavermain; House Grondeer; House Dantrel; House Tarn

The gods (the Aesir)

Odin (the “all-father”); Thor, Heimdall; Tyr; Frig; Frey; Freya; Balder, Sif;

The Lords of Nifleheim

Azathoth
: god worshipped by the Lords of Nifleheim and The Shadow League

Arioch; Bhaal; Hecate; Mortach

Korrgonn,
Lord Gallis: son of Azathoth

Reskalan:
demonic foot soldiers in service to the Lords of Nifleheim

Zymog
: a reskalan

Others Of Note

Angle Theta, Lord
: (Thay`-tah) (aka Thetan) knight-errant and nobleman from a far-off land beyond the sea.

Brondel, Sire
: father of Sir Paldor of Dor Eotrus

Caradonian Knights
: priestly order of knights

Dolan Silk
: (Doe`-lin) Theta's manservant

Jaros, the Blood Lord
: foe of Sir Gabriel Garn

Krisona, Demon-Queen
: foe of Sir Gabriel Garn

McDuff the Mighty
: a dwarf of many talents.

Myrdonians
: royal Lomerian Knights

Pipkorn
: (aka Rascatlan) former Grand Master of the Tower of the Arcane. A wizard.

Throng-Baz
: an ancient people that used runic script

Valas Tearn
: an assassin said to have slain a thousand men; foe of Sir Gabriel Garn

Valkyries
: sword maidens of the gods. They choose worthy heroes slain in battle and conduct them to Valhalla.