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January 16, 2001
Tales of the Alchemist, Episode 1
THE FALLEN ONES
The Alchemist looked up from his mortar and pestle with a slowly spreading smile. After years of labor, he had finally been able to concoct a potion of poison with a much greater effect than any he had previously made. He stood up from his workbench and walked excitedly around the room mouthing exclamations of joy. He then sat back down, carefully poured the poison into a bottle, and began to gather his things as if to go outside.
Wanda the noblewoman looked anxiously up and down the street. She looked with disdain at the peasants and lower folk of the city of Trinsic. They still put their trust in the worthless paladins of Lord British. Had they not been defeated once by the Archlich Jou'nar? Had they not fallen as easily as the shopkeepers? When the diaspora to Trammel had come, Wanda's family, enamoured by the power of Lady Minax, had opted to stay behind and rule as a new class of nobles.
Now Wanda was hoping to find someone to escort her to the Island of Occlo. This was a test, she knew, of both her abilities and of the citizens of Felucca. The beast British, in his foolish brand of wisdom, had allowed no vigilante justice in the land of Trammel, so most highwaymen attacked travellers in that facet. The bigger danger in Felucca was apathy.
The alchemist walked warily through the streets of Trinsic. His thoughts were filled by the darkness of Felucca like an empty hole. A darkness that allowed him one thought: REVENGE. The nobles of Felucca must die. He saw one ahead, a haughty female of the species with thin cruel lips and a fancy dress. She looked him over and explained her quest, but before she could finish, the alchemist whispered, "I will take thee".
Quickly, then, they went to the Dyn Region, an island outside of Trinsic connected by a long bridge. An island unprotected by guards where, the alchemist had explained, his boat was moored. As soon as the bridge was out of sight, however, the alchemist struck. Quick stab of kryss, parry of shield. Wanda fought hard, but she was soon poisoned. This is it, then, she thought, I lose. The alchemist was soon standing over her corpse, hastily grabbing her backpack and looking for a place to hide. It seemed to him that the corpse was almost smiling.
Lord Slimely looked around the island. He quickly located the ghost of Wanda and was preparing to leave, when he saw a strange creature hiding in some bushes. Ahh, he thought, Wanda's murderer. With some curiousity he noted it was not human. He revealed himself to it in order to get a better look.
"You there," he hissed, " in the bushes. You can come out. I won't kill you."
The creature didn't move so Slimely intoned, "Wis Quas."
And he saw that it was something cloaked in an alchemist's robe. "An Ex Por," he spoke and the creature was frozen, unable to move. Slimely circled the thing and said, "You are a marshwiggle, I believe. I had no idea any of your race aspired to anything other than a life in the mud."
"You have done us quite a service, " he continued, "killing all of our precious nobles. How many have you killed? One hundred? Two hundred? More? And do you know what happens to all of those poor dead Feluccan nobles?"
Slimely paused now for dramatic affect. "Why, they become liches in service of the Lady Minax. It was such a perfect plan, you see. Kill nobles in Trammel and the beast British loses a few, kill nobles in Felucca and Her Ladyship gains a few. All the while creating a larger criminal class with more resources at their disposal. I must say, I rather liked the plan."
The alchemist could only stare in horror.
But now Slimely looked irritated. "But the beast British is on to us and has concocted a scheme to guard the nobles of both facets and regain their loyalty. It will fail, of course."
"Lies, all lies," the alchemist was finally able to choke out. "I killed them. They are gone. They cannot serve you."
Lord Slimely looked amused. "Of course I lie, but I don't lie all the time." He smirked and vanished.
Posted by Keith at January 16, 2001 7:28 AM