ity n he ky - art 5 ing & rayer

After Trimus had dispelled the magic on the fence and Darkhawk had flattened one of the supporting posts they made safe and swift progress back to the Phoenix. Gilbo checked over the other skyship and pronounced that it would not fly again unless a group of talented gnomish engineers could be brought out to repair it.
"That's a shame." Said Trimus. "Perhaps when we return to Serraine you could come out with a few of your colleagues and repair it."
The gnome shrugged, but looked interested in the prospect. Trimus also sensed that they would be all over the ruins of the tower as well.

They took off from the clearing with Trimus in the control chair, the mage first flying slowly over the ruined tower a few times. Through the shattered walls fires still burnt and much of the stone at the heart of the ruins glowed a cherry red. As they headed back in the approximate direction of Serraine Colloran pointed out a strange shaped group of hills.
"I think I have heard of this place." He said. "Something to do with the 'Legend of the Blackheart Beast'. It is said to have destroyed a number of villages in this area. Some say it was a large creature from below the ground while others say it flew in the air. I wonder if it had anything to do with Heydrech and his master. If I wasn't in such a hurry to return to my Brothers in Specularum I would suggest that we spend some time investigating the matter."

After a while Ako took over the controls while Trimus moved back to the cabin where the others were examining the items they had found in the previous couple of days. Trimus cast a spell and pointed out to the others the items that had been enchanted. He and then used spells to analyse the items they had found. After carefully removing the lamp from the sacks, Trimus placed it on a bunk using his ring of telekinesis. He studied it from all angles before setting back on his haunches.
"It appears to be able to animate the dead and bind them to the will of the wielder. It has other powers as well but I have not the wit to comprehend them." Said the young mage. The other items turned out to be an amulet of spell storing which Trimus took, a ring of protection which Ako placed upon his left hand Jodotha took the girdle which protected the wearer from fire.
"I wish I had had this a few days ago." The rogue joked. "Then I would have shown those hellhounds who was boss."
"This is interesting." Said Rellan holding up a plain looking sword. "Look at this device on the blade." The elf pointed to a design etched into the steel, it appeared to be the feather of a large bird of prey. "It seems that the bearer of this sword has the ability to fly, only once per day but it could get you out of a sticky situation.
"I will take that." said Darkhawk, "Although my amulet allows me to fly when I am in the form of a Celestial Knight this would protect me if for some reason the power of the talisman was not available."
Colloran took another of the enchanted blades along with a powerfully blessed lance. Gilbo took a warhammer that appeared to have special powers when wielded by one of the shorter races. He bowed to each of the companions in turn, thanking them for their generosity.

A short while later Ako spotted a skyship ahead and turned to follow it. As night was falling they saw the flying city silhouetted against the reddening sky. Ako removed the invisibility spell that had cloaked the Phoenix and flew over the city in preparation for landing. Just then he was distracted by shouting from the cabin and a gust of chill wind whipped around the cockpit.
"What's going on!" shouted the cleric. "Have we been attacked?"
"No", called back Rellan. "Gilbo has put on a bummerchute and leapt out of the door. And he's taken Tarras with him."
"Quick." Urged Jodotha, donning a bummerchute himself. "Use the dimension door to put us below the gnome."
Ako obeyed the rogue and placed the skyship just below the gently falling gnome. Jodotha swung out of the door and clambered up onto the high wing of the skyship, just as Gilbo landed on the other. Darkhawk changed into a Celestial Knight and flew up beside skyship.
"Don't be a fool!" Called Jodotha, shouting into the wind as he desperately tried to stay upright. "Don't be a fool, give me the tortoise!"
Suddenly a fireball exploded less than fifty yards away causing the Phoenix to buck slightly.
"It's the city defences!" called Trimus from the door. In desperation Jodotha ran across the wing and made a lunge for the gnome. However Darkhawk's speed was greater and he plucked Gilbo and the tortoise into the air just as Jodotha's hand was about to grasp the gnome's ankle. The rogue struggled to get his crossbow out from behind his bummerchute and by the time he had cocked it the gnome was some distance away. Still he aimed at the tortoise and squeezed the trigger. The bolt sped away but fell well short of the target. Cursing, the rogue swung back into the skyship and gave a spare bummerchute a hefty kick that sent it spinning across the cockpit floor. Another fireball exploded off the starboard bow and Trimus performed evasive manoeuvres that took the Phoenix away from Serraine. Trimus then cloaked the skyship and landed it at the far end of the runway.

After about half an hour Darkhawk returned, alone.
"Tarras is in the hands of his peers." He said in reply to a number of harshly worded questions from Colloran. "They will know what to do with him. I imagine he can tell them many tales of his master."

Once Colloran realised that he would get no more information from Darkhawk he apologised.
"It has been a difficult few days. I think we all deserve a few beers and a large meal at a good inn." He said warmly. "Does anyone disagree?"
No one did and they spent a couple of very happy hours trading tales and singing songs in one of the better inns in the flying city.
During one of these tales Rellan confided in Trimus.
"I am a follower of Aeder. Our order collects spells and magical items, to be used in the service of law." He said quietly. "To become a member of our order requires a recommendation from an existing member who has to vouch for the supplicant's good behaviour. Trimus, I am prepared to recommend you to the masters of the order."
"I am flattered, Rellan." Trimus replied. "I would welcome becoming a member of such an exclusive order. What would I have to do?"
"Nothing. Except that the order could call upon you at any time to retrieve an item. To give information to the order regarding unusual spells or items that you come across." "Then please recommend me." replied Trimus holding out his hand.
"I will, next time I return to headquarters. In the meantime I see no reason that we should not divide the contents of the spell book between us. Any duplicates or spells that we don't require to be given to the order. Is that acceptable?"
"Most certainly. I have had a little too much to drink this evening to study the book but I should be fit to carry out any spellcasting that is required tomorrow morning." Replied Trimus.
"Tomorrow morning it is then." Agreed Rellan clinking his glass against Trimus'.

The following morning while the others were still sleeping off the night before Trimus and Rellan studied the spell book. Although the edges of the pages were scorched by the fire, the heavy binding had protected the tome well. The elf and the human's eyes gleamed as they leafed through the book. There were many spells that Trimus had long desired; fly, web, hold person and some he had only heard as rumours from his time at the School of Magecraft; stone to flesh, power word: stun, and animate dead.
Trimus took the last one though he vowed he would do his best to find a way of reversing the spell into a form that would destroy undead.

Towards lunch time they bid farewell to Gilbo and Parboo, took one more look around the fabulous city then returned to the skyship.
"Cain." Said Trimus as they waited to climb aboard. "When we first arrived in Serraine you seemed to detest gnomes, now you almost appear sorry to be leaving, am I right."
"No comment." Replied the mystic with a smile.
Trimus closed the door and Ako took the Phoenix into the sky and soon the fabulous flying city of Serraine was no more than a grey smudge against the blue sky.

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