Asherons Call: October Event Teaser - Festivus

October 7th, 2002

"Wilomine, another ale!" Caebyrn bellowed as he leaned over the bar.

"Patience, patience," Wilomine replied from the back of the tavern. "It's coming."

"Telling the tale of how I beat Gaerlan is tiring work!" Caebyrn bellowed back, then turned back to face the crowded bar. "Now, where was I?"

"Something about riddles," said a voice from one of the tables.

"Right, right, the Tribunal. So, the Tribunal posed a riddle to each of us. Of course, I had no problems."

A voice in the back of the room snickered, "Only because someone gave you the answer."

"You know Earnbil, if I were another man, I might have to take you to task for that comment," Caebyrn paused to reach around and pick up the pint of ale Wilomine had placed on the bar behind him. "Anyway, after I answered the Tribunal's riddle, it transported me into this long hallway. At the end there was this barred door; couldn't see any way through other than beating on it with my axe."

Caebyrn paused again and took a sip of his ale. "Then I heard the rumbling. I turned around and this huge ball of fire was rolling toward me. I just barely dodged it in time, only to see another roll out of the alcove next me. It was pretty close there."

"After a few of us beat on that door for a bit, it finally caved in and we made it through the other trials in the Citadel. We found that item that Asheron wanted. I gave it to him and then he sent us off to face Gaerlan."

"What's he like?" came a voice.

"Gaerlan?" Caebyrn took another drink of his ale. "He's a dolt."

"No, no. Asheron," came the same voice.

"Oh him. Seems like a nice fellow. I invited him by for an ale... Surprised he didn't show up," replied Caebyrn. "So, as I was saying, there we were, facing Gaerlan. He was muttering insults at us, swinging this huge flaming sword. People were falling down dead before him left and right. I barely dodged one of his swings."

"And probably soiled your armor in the process," called out the voice in the back, accompanied by a few snickers.

"Earnbil, if you don't shut that mouth of yours, I'll tell everyone about that time a Reedshark snuck up and bit your-" Caebyrn cut himself short. "Well there are ladies in the room."

"So," Caebyrn said, looking back at the crowded tavern, "Gaerlan is swinging that sword, summoning creatures, casting spells. Just about everyone around me is cut down by him, when I finally land my axe on him and he starts to fall. Then, just before he hits the ground--and this is something I'll never forget--Nuhmudira appears."

A few mutters of surprise were heard from the table, and Caebyrn continued, "Aye, I know! So Nuhmudira appears and suspends Gaerlan's body in the air. She goes on to say about how he tried to condemn her to an eternity of torment, or some such. Then she creates this filactrum... thallicum... phillatree..."

"Phylactery?" came from a table near Caebyrn.

With a snap of his fingers, Caebyrn continued, "That's it. So this phylactery grows up from the ground and Gaerlan's body disappears. I look into the thing and see Gaerlan floating around in it. I'll tell ya, he didn't look happy. Then when I touch the thing, a shield extrudes from its surface and I grab it."

A low noise of disgust was heard from some in the room.

"Aye, it was rather unnerving." He paused to take another drink of his ale. "But, I have to say, the shield is respectable. I carried it when I defeated the Harbinger-"

The room erupted in laughter.

"Psssh, if you don't believe me, that's fine." Caebyrn tilted back his head and finished his ale. "Queen Elysa's thanks was more than enough reward."

Wilomine appeared behind Caebyrn and picked up the now-empty pint. "Ok, ok, Champion of Dereth, now that you've saved us all, what are you going to do?"

"Me?" Caebyrn replied, "I'm going to the Festival Grounds!"