The Glatoph Adventure

(13 Eorgaen 5114: The Landing)

That man at the Adventuring Guild sent me out to find some wanna-be noble’s crown that they lost on Glatoph in an attack by steel golems. I do not know if the owner fled or was killed, because really, either is possible.

Way up the mountain there was a ruin, of some structure, all steel, where people had lived once. It looked as if that was a very long time ago, and it looked like they left suddenly. I don’t think they packed up and moved, whatever happened. I will see if there is a library somewhere which records what happened there.

I was warned it would be a difficult encounter for me, “They are fighting machines,” Mister Drektor had said. But I was feeling spunky, and figured I better try it before I lost my new-found courage. (And while Mister Jeril’s spells were still around me from the night before.) Getting directions to the mountain, I found it on my map as I navigated my way outside of town.

The sun’s last light sat upon the ruins, illuminating it as if there was a golden lantern’s rays on everything. But the wonder of that moment was cut off by my first view of the golem. It was a mean-looking mechanical monstrosity, a cruel twisted mockery of something alive. And then it hit at me. I wobbled under the blow, but stood my ground.

I tried negotiating with it, “I am here for the crown you took. If you hand it over, I will let you live and just go back to the city.”

In the space of time it took to blink, I had its answer. BAM! It said no, evidently. So, the decision was made, and it wanted to dance.

“Fair warning, I am a Bardess, I know my dancing steps very well,” it was bravado, but gosh, what is the fun of being a bard if you cannot try to bluff your way through something dangerous?

BAM! It struck right at me. Were it not for my shield, I expect I might have been flatted out.

OK, I got the message loud and clear. It was not impressed. I was going to have to do this the old fashioned way.

I still was not sure I could do this, but armed with the feeling that he would not have sent me to certain death, I steeled myself (no pun intended, honest) to find out if I could. Timing my strike carefully to take advantage of the beast’s swing, I offered him almost my best shot.

And I missed. But sometimes you miss, right? I would just have to apply myself. I relaxed and stood in the position I was taught to take the next blow, protecting every bit of me. Surviving that, I was whole, and swung my handaxe at the creature.

It was a great shot. I could tell that. And … it scratched the thing. Inwardly I groaned. This was going to be a very long, tedious adventure, and I proceeded to scratch the thing to death. But it was not the one who had the missing crown.

I wandered around and found another one. We started out the same as before … negotiation, refusal, warning, and another blow of indifference. Then suddenly he hauled off and I was sprawled out on the ground, stunned. My brief life passed before my eyes as my heart sank. I was in so much trouble.

But as I came to my senses, instincts alone kept me dodging, I think, I realized I was not hurt at all. I sure could have been, but I was not.

Did I run to town and get a new task? No. I vowed to stay there until I found what I came for. I really was feeling as lucky as my Song of Luck promised I could be.

What would turn out to be halfway through, my armor slipped, and I groaned inwardly. But I figured it was just a little while longer, and I kept at it.

Many more close calls later … and countless golems in the almost 90 minutes it took, I finally searched the last dead steel golem and found the missing crown.

I have never taken that many stuns in any hunting adventure. But there was not a scratch on me. Yeah, luck today was on my side!

I think I will wait a few more trainings before coming here again for a casual hunt. This was a great deal of work. A great deal.

But it was a success!

 

 

Author: GSBardess

A young bardess named Luxelle is currently learning her trade and hoping to one day make a name for her songs in GemStone IV. Follow along with her adventures in life and song.

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