Once you were happy young people. You all were children of coastal villages in the kingdom of Vasquenta- the West Continent of Arveta. Raiding parties of the fierce Baldor Barbarians took you from your land of peace and brought you to this cave. You have been beaten and thrown in chains. Your suffering made the memories of home pass away like wisps of smoke in a fall breeze.
Now, you are a thousand kai from home and across a vast ocean: the Azure. The Drogs, the men (If they can be called men because of their cruelty) crack whips above your heads. You crush some more rock and sweat profusely.
Alhough you have lost track of time, it has been about four months since your abduction. Eventually, something amazing happened: Your shoulders and arms developed massive muscles from heaving the heavy rock crushing mallets and chisels. As a result, even the snap of the whip became more of an annoyance than a pain. A clear singing slave voice could be heard in your group: It was Longsilver. He chanted working songs and fishing songs; a reminder that the ending must be better than the beginning.
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"Circle wide and HEAVE, Oh!
Circle wide and heave!,
Draw the net around we go,
Circle wide and heave, HOH!"
It was in this setting that a fateful day arrived:
NOTE 1
(You are all dressed in burlap loincloths. Your feet are chained together by one and a half foot long lengths of link. You can not move very fast, but your upper torsos are free for the laboring. Tools available are one- 1 foot long chisel and a heavy single arm mallet made to be used on both sides by either hand. There are also mallets with steel edges and four foot long oak handles- 1 per man- usually lying at your feet...)
NOTE 2
(You are all standing in the positions shown.)
STORYLINE
Cher was tapping along the rock wall ahead of everyone. One last time her one arm mallet came down. It hit the chisel and sent it out of her hand and right through the wall. "What???," she said. Everyone in the room turned around to look at her. Suddenly, a crack appeared where the chisel had vanished. The crack splintered and popped into a door sized hole! In seconds, an arrow darted out of the hole. The arrow hit your Drog guard in the lower right chest, piercing his lung. Only a hiss of air uttered from his lips. The Drog grasped the arrow and fell down on his face. Both his whip and short sword lay by his side.
Next, an Elf, dressed in green tunic with blue feathered hunting cap, jumped out of the door. The Elf put his finger on his lips and motioned for them to follow him...
HINT 1
(There is something unique about each rock. The yellow one has a finely polished edge of some hard metal. The grey one is hollow and has something inside that rattles when you shake it. The red one is hot to the touch and smells like some substance found in fireworks. The black one is a powder like substance...Good Luck!)
HINT 2
(Noise will definitely alert the other guards...)
HINT 3
(All the rocks may be picked up and carried with ease...)
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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