Elroy

Wintersky rides Cinder along the road through Tanglewood followed by SnowShadow on her way to Rebelton.

GM (distant shouting): Go on! Run off, you coward!

She hears the clanging of steel on stone and a howl.

GM (distant shouting): Go get your sorcerous master to beat me down again! I am not going anywhere!

Wintersky casts Warning.

As Wintersky approaches the shouting, a ghostly figure steps out from behind a tree.

Elroy : Trying to sneak up on me, eh?

Wintersky: Sneak up on you? Not at all. I am Wintersky.

Elroy : Hey, you are not an orc.

SnowShadow : Grrrrrrrrr.

Elroy (to SnowShadow): Nice, kitty.

Wintersky: No, not an orc.

Wintersky draws Blessed Black.

Elroy : Uh, oh! Look out!

Wildest-One: Arrrrgggg!

Wintersky: Wintersky looks for the danger.

A wild-one of Gaedracis' Brigands charges up the hill towards Wintersky.

Wintersky moves Cinder defensively and casts Divine Power.

SnowShadow pounces on the brigand.

The wildest-one wildly charges, but misses as Cinder easily sidesteps the attack.

Wintersky fires Blessed Black into the brigand.

Wintersky's arrows bite into the wildest-one.

Cinder stomps the brigand for good measure.

SnowShadow mauls the half-orc from behind and Cinder finished off the barbarian with a hoof from the front.

Elroy : Wow! You are almost as good as I.

Wintersky looks around for more foes.

Elroy : He was the only one left.

Elroy : I have been annoying him for weeks.

Wintersky: You have? He could see you?

Elroy : When I let him, yes.

Wintersky: By the way, what is your name?

Elroy : Elroy Longshanks, former Ranger of Rebelton.

Wintersky: Nice to meet you, Elroy. I believe that I am a friend of your brother Sparta.

Elroy : Sparta!?

Wintersky: And, Ringo, of course.

Elroy : You have seen them? Where?

Wintersky: He is in Rebelton right now, I believe. He teleported there with an acquaintance of ours, Aifos.

Elroy (laughing): Teleported!? He could not even get two arrows off a month ago. Are you sure we are talking about the same Sparta?

Wintersky: Sparta of the Mantysons clan. That is who I am talking about.

Wintersky: Who are you talking about?

Elroy : Sparta Longshanks, my little brother...also of the Mantysons clan.

Elroy (mumbling): He teleported?

Wintersky: Well, he is much improved then. He still puts arrows into the backs of comrades sometimes though.

Elroy (snickering): Yes, that does sound like my little brother. Tell me more. I am not quite convinced yet.

Wintersky: Well, he has been eating the larder of the inn clean and he also throws a good party.

Elroy : That sounds like any halfling I know. Especially a Mantyson, though.

Wintersky: Why have you been hanging around? Was it merely to bedevil this poor misbegotten creature?

Elroy fades a bit, but is still visible to Wintersky.

Wintersky: Do you have a message for Sparta?

Elroy : No, I lost something very important to my clan. Sparta should be helping me find it.

Elroy : You can still see me?

Wintersky: If you are talking about your family's heirloom dagger, Sparta has found it.

Elroy : What!? He has?

Wintersky: Of course I can still see you. I am going to be a shaman.

Elroy : You are pulling my leg.

Elroy : Why should I believe you?

Wintersky: No, I rarely tease. The blade I speak of is Damascus mithril, about twelve inches long with a hilt wrapped in old leather. At the base of the blade is a ruby that contains a dancing light. It also chastizes Sparta from time to time.

Wintersky: Does that sound like your familial blade?

Elroy (surprised): Really? It talks?

Wintersky: From time to time. Mostly when he is considering something rash.

Elroy (thoughtfully): It is only legend that the Heirloom talks.

Wintersky: Legends sometimes have a basis in truth

Elroy : You almost have me convinced. What is our founding father's name?

Wintersky: Rumplestiltskin. But you really should believe me without proof.

Elroy frowns, then smirks, "Spending too much time with gnomes, are we?"

Wintersky: Not gnomes, merely Sparta. I think I like little taunts. I taunted a dragon once, no twice and survived the experience.

Elroy smiles, "You said you are going to be a shaman. That anything like a the funny bards that live in Troll's Bridge?"

Wintersky (chuckles): No, not an entertainer, a spiritual leader. But to lead the people one often as to put on a show.

Elroy : Ah, so you do know his name.

Wintersky: I told you I did. I rarely lie.

Elroy : Rarely, but not right now?

Wintersky: Only when absolutely necessary.

Elroy : Sounds like great papa.

Elroy : Or, so I am told.

Elroy : Sparta always talks like his legends are the Gods' honest truth.

Wintersky: Anybody who has talked to Sparta for any amount of time knows the name of your clan's founder. He takes great pride in it.

Elroy : Oh, no doubt.

Wintersky: You mean Sparta sometimes embellishes the truth. Tell me that is not so!

Elroy laughs.

Elroy : I would kind of like to move along now and be with my ancestors.

Wintersky: Would you like me to sing you on your way?

Elroy : Only if you include his name.

Wintersky: Wintersky smiles and shakes her head as she begins to sing.

Wintersky: Rest easy great-grand child of Manitowoc. Your way is now clear to go.

Elroy brightens up.

Wintersky: Your heirloom is found and have vanquished your foe. There is nothing more that you need to show.

Wintersky: Rest easy and peaceful your honor complete now, it is time for you to flow.

Elroy (fading away): Tell that brother of mine to listen closely to Manty's council. It will keep him from my fate, so he can pass it on to our descendants.

Elroy vanishes.

Wintersky: Go with love, Elroy.

Manty's Heirloom