LXVIII. The Land of Himm

A month after leaving Uf, Lina, Green Arrow and the traders returned, wagons laden with new and exotic trade goods and purses bulging with profits. The adventurers’ share came to ten thousand gold pieces per person. "A tidy sum!" noted Edward.

Five days later, Zeff and the rest of the caravan informed the adventurers that they were ready to return to Kanak. "We thank you for accompanying us," said Zeff. "We could never have come so far without you. If you ever visit Kanak again, please look for us!" With that, the caravan departed from the Oasis of Uf. After about four months, including a lengthy visit with the brass dragons and the Enterprise security agents stationed at the dragons’ mine, the caravan reached its home in Kanak, where they became very rich from the sale of the trade goods they had obtained from Uf and points beyond.

Meanwhile, Lina couldn’t resist the urge to go shopping. She dragged Edward and Green Arrow along with her. Eventually, she came to Mojo’s House of Scrolls, an establishment selling scrolls, tomes, and maps, both new and antique. Piles and piles of scrolls, tomes and maps. Shelf after shelf stuffed full of scrolls, tomes and maps.

"Where did all this stuff come from?" Lina whispered to Green Arrow. "Looks like this is where all the lost books end up! I could browse here for days."

"Well, take your time," said Green Arrow. "This is your quest, after all."

After several hours of examining the available goods, Lina settled on three items that seemed more interesting than the rest: an old, painted parchment, an ancient and somewhat damaged tome, and a map. All the texts were in languages unknown to Lina.

She brought the items to the proprietor and asked if he knew much about them. He picked up the parchment first. It depicted an ancient king, taller than other figures on the parchment. The king seemed to be going to war. "This is an old, old parchment, from the days before the Rain of Colorless Fire," said the proprietor.

The tome was next. According to the proprietor, the volume described the ancient Suel Empire and its neighbors and surroundings. It was written in ancient Sueloise, which the proprietor did not speak. Hearing this, Edward left the establishment. After a short time, he returned with another man. "I found us a cleric," said Edward. "He’s agreed to help us read this tome." The cleric nodded, then, in return for a contribution of one hundred gold pieces from Edward, cast comprehend languages on the paladin. He began to quickly peruse the tome.

"Anything on Khemri?" asked Lina as Edward read through the ancient volume.

After about twenty minutes, Edward announced, "Ah! Here we have it!" He pointed to a section of the tome. "This is information on the ancient kingdom of Khemri. It seems to be in the same location as our notorious land of Himm!"

Lina immediately inquired of the proprietor (Mojo himself), "How much for this tome?" After vigorous negotiation, Lina pulled out five thousand gold pieces, and the tome was hers.

The third item was a worn, torn map on what started off as fine vellum. Edward translated the various inscriptions and legends on the map. It showed the far western area of the Sea of Dust (in which Uf was located), as well as the Dry Steppes. It also showed, at its left edge, the far eastern portions of lands named "The Celestial Imperium" and "Orkreich". There was also a notation, in an area far to the northwest of the Sea of Dust, beyond the Sulhaut Mountains, and extending from the mountains east of the Celestial Imperium, referring to "a dangerous land. Traders advised to proceed with extreme caution."

"How interesting!" said Lina. She had to have the map, and eventually reached an agreeable price with Mojo: two thousand five hundred gold pieces. The proprietor threw in the parchment for an additional thousand gold pieces. Edward thanked the cleric for his services.

Leaving the establishment, the adventurers found lodging (again at The Dusty Rug), and began their preparations for the journey to the land of Himm.

Next day, the adventurers sought out a cleric for hire. "Probably going to need some healing before this is all over," said Edward, "and I can’t do it all." Eventually they came across a moderately experienced cleric by the name of Aloysius, who was willing to accompany the party. He agreed to join the adventurers for a fee of one hundred gold pieces, plus two percent of any treasure obtained. The party instructed him to obtain the create food and water spell daily, so that they could travel light. Finally, the adventurers decided to look for a rug merchant who might have a carpet of flying. "Best way to travel over the desert," observed Lina. They were fortunate enough to find a dealer who had such a carpet, and paid a handsome sum to obtain it. It was good for about thirty-two miles per day, which should get them to the land of Himm in about a week or so, conditions permitting.

At dawn on the following day, the three adventurers and their hired cleric departed Uf. For two days, they traveled at speed to the southwest. Weather conditions were fair. On the third day, it was very hot and dry, but the day after that was again fair.

The fifth day began fair, but toward mid-day a large dust storm developed. Heavy winds prevented the carpet of flying from making any headway, so the party landed. Edward carried the cleric, while Lina and Green Arrow made their own way. After about four hours, the storm let up, and they re-mounted their carpet and continued.

It was now the sixth day out from Uf. "I think we’re in the general vicinity now," said Lina. The party began to search for any signs of the weathered mound of stone that would mark the location of the land of Himm.

Two hours later, Edward spotted something. A small bump on the horizon. The party immediately flew toward the location Edward pointed out.

Lina was suddenly reminded of the rest of her vision: "Four triangles and a square guard Thutep’s pride."

The adventurers reached the structure. A roughly square, tiered structure, formed from large rectangular stone blocks, having a flattened top, emerging alone from desert sands that extended for mile after mile in every direction. Marks on the sides and top of the structure seemed to indicate that some kind of external layer, or capstone, had been pried off the remaining structure.

Suddenly Lina has an insight. "It’s a buried pyramid!" she exclaimed. "And my vision! "Four triangles and a square"! A pyramid has a square base and four triangular sides!"

The adventurers landed. Edward folded up the flying carpet and stowed it. "Well, what now?" asked Green Arrow.

LXVII. The Lure of Power

To ME? thought Edward. Why would an assassin sent to take me out be carrying a medallion that he didn’t want me to handle? "Can I take a look at it?" he asked Gelasius. The wizard held it up before him so that he could examine it himself. It was a large golden disk on a chain. The disk bore a relief image of a large tome of some kind. The tome was surmounted by a spider.

"Do you know what the image means?" asked the puzzled paladin. Gelasius pondered the medallion for several minutes, then asked, "Didn’t you bring some kind of tome back from Erelhei-Cinlu?"

"Indeed I did!" replied Edward. "And someone doesn’t want me to handle this thing, so I think I’ll handle it!" With that, he took the medallion and placed the chain around his neck.

And ten seconds later, Gelasius was astonished to see Edward vanish!

Everything went dark for Edward. Shortly, though, his eyes began to adjust to the darkness. Soon he could see that he was in a large, darkened cave, and was standing inside what appeared to be some kind of magic circle. He could hear no sounds or see any other objects.

A voice rang out from the darkness beyond the magic circle. "You were very foolish, Edward Gallahand," said the voice, "to carve your name on the floor of my quarters!" And out of the darkness stepped a figure that Edward instantly recognized.

The Inscrutable Redactor!

The drow wizard regarded Edward, confined within the magic circle, with a mixture of contempt, anger and amusement. "Glooms have their uses," he began, "but they are simple enough to thwart, if you know their weaknesses." He opened his hand. Edward saw, to his surprise, that the medallion he had been wearing was now in the Redactor’s hand!

"It seems that you do," he continued. "Hence, my back-up plan. In case the gloom failed to eliminate you. A simple trap, really, for an overly-curious paladin," the drow sneered. "You have caused me an incalculable amount of trouble. Now, we are going to have a reckoning, you and I."

Edward surveyed the darkened cave, but saw little beyond the magic circle and the Redactor standing just beyond its boundary.

"I think," said the Redactor, "you shall start by telling me where you put it."

"It’s dark in here," Edward responded. "Can I brighten it up some?" And he cast daylight–to no effect. "Not a very gracious host, are you?"

"Among my people, you would be correct," said the Redactor. "Perhaps you would like to experience drow hospitality?"

"I doubt it," said the paladin. "I wouldn’t tell you anything anyway."

"Oh, you would," retorted the Redactor. "And I shall enjoy getting it out of you." He grinned evilly at Edward.

"Evil won’t win, and Lolth will get you anyway," said Edward.

The Redactor snickered at Edward’s show of defiance. He cast detect magic, and commenced to examine Edward. The paladin attempted to leave the circle, but was blocked by an invisible barrier: the circle was surrounded by a spherical wall of force.

After a short time, the Redactor began to analyze Edward’s magical augmentations. "Death ward, eh? A wise precaution." He paused. "But what is this? Such incredible power! You shall have to tell me all about this."

Edward responded by threatening dire consequences to the Redactor should he refuse to release him.

The Redactor had a scroll case by his side. He reached for it, and pulled out a scroll.

"Hey, now," Edward called out. "We’ve been through some times together. Can I at least know your name?"

The Redactor stared at the audacious paladin. "You cannot possibly be serious," he replied. "Names give power over their possessors."

"How about a nickname them?" Edward persisted.

"Human, you are wearing my patience thin," said the Redactor, "and I am known among my people for my patience. You may refer to me by title."

"OK," Edward answered. "You’ll be "SDE"". Stupid Dark Elf, he thought to himself. "Or just "Sid"".

"Disrespect," snarled the Redactor.

"So, Sid, I get it," Edward continued. "I’m in a fix. But surely there could be compensation for what we took?"

"Only the Libram," replied the Redactor.

"I don’t know where it is or where to find it. What else?"

"Once I recover the Libram, my power and influence will be greater than ever among my people," said the Redactor.

Edward suddenly had an insight. "Sid, here’s a proposition. We took it. Can’t offer it back. But, we can offer one thing." He paused, then boldly suggested, "Help in killing Lolth!"

The Redactor’s eyebrows arched. He was nonplussed. Of all the things he had expected to hear from a captive human paladin, this was not one of them. He quickly restored his previous domineering expression.

"That’s an exceptional boast from a mere human," the Redactor began, eyeing Edward. "Do you really expect to be taken seriously?"

"Answer this first: what do you conclude about the spell on me? The one you can’t identify? The one with the "incredible power"? Someone has given me great power!" He paused to let his challenge sink in.

"And besides, I beat you once before."

"More likely due to my own carelessness," retorted the Redactor, recalling how Edward’s opportunistic strike had brought him down.

Edward pursued the proposal, hoping against hope to somehow play on the Redactor’s fear of Lolth, resentment of female rule, and characteristically drow greed, ambition and duplicity.

"Think about it," the paladin suggested. "Combine our powers, and your name will be feared above all other drow!"

But the Redactor was not so easily co-opted. "Your god is a human god," he noted. "Success is speculative."

"I’ll be in this fight to the end," Edward continued. "Think about it: if Lolth is gone, you would gain great power over your people–even without the Libram!" He exerted every persuasive ability he possessed to break through the Redactor’s skepticism and mistrust.

The Redactor pondered Edward’s proposition. "If Lolth were overthrown," he mused, "the priestesses would lose power. Females would no longer be in control."

"Yes! Of course!" agreed the paladin.

"I’m marked by Lolth no matter what," observed the Redactor. No surprise: all drow fell to Lolth’s insatiable hunger and were torn apart and devoured eventually. Even those who did not allow the sum of all drow knowledge to fall into the hands of invaders.

"What assurances do I have from you?" the Redactor demanded of Edward.

What assurances to any drow have from any other drow? Or anyone else for that matter? And when have drow ever honored any assurances they give anyway? Edward thought to himself.

"I swear as a paladin of the mighty Hieroneous," he answered, "as a man of unchallenged honor. Also, you will have asylum with my friends and colleagues, and their protection as well. Of course," he added, "I must consult with my colleagues, but I have no doubt they’ll be agreeable. We all hate Lolth."

The Redactor was surprised by this last statement. "Why would humans hate Lolth?" he demanded.

"She is pure evil," answered the paladin.

"Many evil powers exist," replied the Redactor. "Why her in particular?"

"When I became a paladin of Hieroneous," Edward explained, once again exerting all his persuasive powers, "I dedicated myself to destroying evil. Lolth is evil. Assisting in her destruction would please Hieroneous."

The Redactor remained doubtful. "Corellon, I could see. Why Hieroneous?"

"Hieroneous hates all evil," replied the paladin. He continued to expound on the reasons he and his colleagues desired Lolth’s downfall.

Finally, the Redactor had heard enough. "You would have made a good drow!" he told the paladin. "I know you have more in mind than you’ve told me. But still, your offer is interesting. I will consider it." He turned and left the cave, leaving Edward to the confines of the magic circle.

It seemed like hours before the Redactor returned. "I accept your offer," the drow master wizard informed Edward. "As long as Lolth remains, I have no place, and less life expectancy. But such a plot may require years for its completion," he observed.

Edward nodded. "It may indeed. Likely will. We will need to establish some means of communication, so that we can both act when the time is right. Or when you need our aid."

The two spoke for some time on that subject, eventually coming up with an appropriate communication protocol.

"We shall speak again when conditions warrant it," said the Redactor at the conclusion of the discussion. "Now, I shall return you to the location you desire." Edward nodded, and the Redactor spoke words of power.

Suddenly, the paladin found himself back in the oasis of Uf!

Edward proceeded immediately to The Desert Wind to locate Abelard. He wanted to put the cleric on long-term retainer. The two men soon reached an agreement. "I could use a little more excitement!" said Abelard enthusiastically.

Having made arrangements in Uf, Edward next teleported to Greyhawk. The Enterprise had to be informed of the recent events without delay.

At the Enterprise’s hidden base in Greyhawk, Edward requested to arrange a meeting. With Vessa herself! "It’s that urgent," said the paladin. "I’ll pass it up the chain," the station chief told him.

Next day, Edward returned to the Enterprise base. "A meeting has been arranged," the station chief told him. The meeting would be on the Enterprise’s own demi-plane, to ensure security.

Edward accompanied the station chief to the secure room containing the portal to the Enterprise’s demi-plane. He walked through the portal to enter Enterprise headquarters.

Jacobus Catena, director of Enterprise intelligence, was there to meet him. He and Edward chatted briefly. "I have an urgent matter for Vessa’s ears only. For the safety of the Enterprise, among other reasons," said Edward.

"You’re here now," said Catena. "I’ll take you to the Tower. Vessa will meet with you there."

Shortly, having been escorted to the Tower, the highest (literally) level of the Enterprise, and been cleared through security, Edward was taken to a meeting room. A very plush, well-appointed meeting room. A few moments later, Vessa entered.

"Edward!" Vessa exclaimed. "It’s been a while." She smiled at the paladin. "You’ve got news. I’m interested. Do tell!"

The paladin briefed Vessa on the events in Uf, the gloom’s attempts on his life, his transport to a stronghold of the Inscrutable Redactor, and his alliance with the Redactor.

When he had finished the briefing, Vessa observed, "We really did well to recruit you, Edward Gallahand."

With that, Vessa disclosed certain information to Edward that he had not previously imagined to be the case. Including aspects of the long-range goals of the Enterprise. "This alliance with the Redactor should prove to be useful. If, of course," she added, "he’s serious about it and isn’t just using you to get to us or advance himself without actually taking the promised action. In other words, if he isn’t completely acting like a high-level male drow."

"The thought has occurred to me too," admitted Edward.

"Well, we’ll keep an eye on the Redactor," continued Vessa. "The time may be closer than you think."

"I should consult with my lord Hieroneous," said Edward. "This may affect his interests too. And I did refer to him in my negotiations with the Redactor, after all."

"When the time comes, we’ll take that into consideration," Vessa assured the paladin.

Edward and Vessa discussed certain other matters before the meeting ended. "You’re one of my top agents, Edward," Vessa praised the paladin. "Keep up the good work." After that, Edward was escorted back from the Tower to the portal, returning to Greyhawk and thence to Uf.