The Muck Pond

[El_Skwidd]

Xev turns around and winks. "Well," he says, "wealth is always a good start, isn't it? Besides, if you're as wise and strong as you say you are, then you should be able to keep us from wasting it."

Vex interrupted. "Provided we were going to waste it to begin with."

[Nixit]

Briker nods cheerily in agreement.

[Schme]

"Wasting what?" asked MushBall. "You've nothing. And I've no intention of trying to control any thing you might find. Although, if you ask me, the chances of you finding anything of value, like, for example, this stick I have, are rather slim. At least, if you continue to search around here. Oh, I know you'll just love Bassus, a right good chap, him."

[AoM]

Ao grumbles in earth-speak, producing a tremble in the ground beneath his feet and those of the sorceress. He wanted this one to know she was "barking up the wrong tree."

"I warned you to regard my friend Kikkik with more respect. I warn you now for a second time to act cordially with the servants of Eriadina. There will not be a third warning."

Ao looks towards the cards that she's holding out in front of him to see if there is some sort of detail about them.

"And since he doesn't trust you or your cards, then I don't trust you or your cards. So keep them to yourself and stop pushing them on us. Lower your barrier and let us be on our way."

[Razorlance]

Tek stood very still behind the sorceress as he listened to Ao's warnings and gripped the ground as he shook the earth with his rumbles. He wondering what would happen if he did take one of her cards, but deciding Kikkik was probably right, he looked at the barrier she had put up instead, examining it to try and see if there was any way around it.

[Fleegle]

(For El_Skwidd, Schme, and Nixit)

The trio walked along the path towards Bassus' clearing, greeted by the chirping of songbirds. Presently they came upon the clearing.

"Mushy!!!" Yanisha exclaimed, running over to MushBall and kissing him.
Bassus, who had been reclining in his throne, stirred suddenly and clambered out of it. He stumbled over to the new arrivals.
"Ish MushBall, an, an, ah new fella, er, fellas. Wha... wow... two headsh... mus be pretty damn smart! Haw haw haw!" He bent over laughing.
"Jilly... come! Bring deesh guysh some wine!"
Jilly obediently skipped over with the decanter and three cups. She poured one for each of Vex/Xev's heads and one for MushBall.
"Oh! Whasdis... a liddle ant I see! Awwmoas misshed ya! Don' 'spose ya can drink very mush.. much..sh..sh."
Jilly dipped a finger in the decanter and held the wine-soaked digit out to Briker.
"Aww, dash a good host, Jilly-lily ish. Havva taste, liddle ant! Oh! I'm sorry... I fergosh ta tell yas my name! I'm Bassus, lessher god of this here foressht. Bud I 'spose MushBall 'ere tolds ya a'ready."
Jilly winked at Vex/Xev.

[Schme]

MushBall embraced Yanisha as she came forward, and hailed Bassus’s happily. “Greetings from your humble servant, your lordship! I hope you’ve been well. Ah, why thank you Jilly.”

He accepted the wine most enthusiastically, and set about drinking in the reckless and naïve manner that he did. “A most excellent reception as always.” He said. “Is not Bassus the most generous person you’ve ever met, Xev and Vex? Is he not, Briker? I told you you’d love him! Try some wine, oh, you really must. Most wonderful stuff.”

“And how have you been, my lovely friend?” he asked Yanisha contentedly. “Staying out of trouble, eh? I’ve just been rekindling the pink people’s faith, so to speak. So good to see you again! By the way, is there any more wine?...........”

[Nixit]

"Well, if you insist!" Briker mind talked to all of them. With a quick bob of the head, he dipped himself in the wine, absorbing all he could.

Slowly, he got out of wine, feeling a little dazed. "It is mighty tasty..."

[El_Skwidd]

Vex and Xev both dip their mouths into the wine. Vex makes a face and sprays the wine back out.

Xev, on the other hand, sucks down his glass, then, noticing that Vex had left his, sucks it down as well.

The two feel happy, but just a little disoriented.

Vex tries to clear the taste from his throat. "Ack," he says. "Wow... I don't know how you can drink that, MushBall."

Xev cries out indignantly. "It's positively delicious, that's how! Oh, I love it! Perhaps it's worth something to the other creatures?"

[Fleegle]

(For AoM and Razorlance)

Ao could only see the back of the cards, that were made with a very thin bronze-leaf. They had intricate geometrical designs on them, that seemed to mesmerize if you stared at them.

"Fools! You doom yourselves." Liniaschezaraphon scolded.

"Lower the barrier at once!" Kikkik commanded. "Eriadina will not stand for this!"

"Pah! Useless creatures!" The sorceress spat. She stepped forward and slipped into nothingness, leaving no trace of her presence. Moments later, the barrier fell away. The door on the side of the tram slid open by its own power, revealing a luxurious, softly-lit interior.

"That was far too easy." Kikkik commented. "But let's take advantage of this while we still can, and get on the tram. She may have alerted the other wizards to our presence."

[Fleegle]

(For Nixit, Schme, and El_Skwidd)

"Oh you are so brave, Mushy!" Yanisha exclaimed.
Bassus interjected. "Don' waisht yer time, MushBall... they're damned... damned I shay! No good, rotten... but ho! Lesh not talk about deesh thingssh."

Jilly bent over and topped up Xev's cup. "Have some more, Vex is it? I'm so confused already!" Jilly giggled.
"S'ok, Jilly-lily... we don' loves ya fer ya brains!" Bassus exclaimed, laughing as he spoke. Jilly blushed, embarrassed by Bassus' rude comment. Bassus slapped her on the behind, and stumbled back to his throne.

[AoM]

Ao quickly took Kikkik's advice and moved to enter the tram.

"Without us playing her little card game, she probably had no advantage over us. But you are right, Kikkik, let's not wait for her to gather her friends."

He entered the tram and made room for Tek.

[Razorlance]

Tek, astonished and relieved that she disappeared without incident, quickly followed Ao onto the tram, pulling his limbs in as tight as possible as he clambered on board. "Where's this going to take us Kikkik?"

[Fleegle]

(Global statement)

Storm clouds started to roll in, but the rain had not begun to fall. The sun was obscured, but one could tell it was around late afternoon.

(For AoM and Razorlance)

The inside of the tram was very luxurious. Fine lace curtains hung on all the windows. Finely crafted wooden benches with comfortable red velvet coverings were arranged against the sides of the tram. There did not appear to be an operator, but there was at least one occupant not in the present party. A slight figure lay sleeping in the back corner of the tram, brimmed hat pulled down over its face. It was bundled up in rag blankets, so one could not make out any distinguishing features. Indeed it was difficult to tell whether there was anything living under there at all, save for the slow rising and falling of the rags in time with its breathing. It evidently had not been awakened by the commotion outside.

"This will take us to the base of the mountain. Ring that bell and we will be on our way." Kikkik indicated towards an ornately tasseled rope hanging from the ceiling.

[AoM]

The tram was something unlike anything he had seen before. It was not natural. Before this, the most awesome sight that he had witnessed was the Old Temple of Ilosep. The stone of that place had been reworked, shaped into a figure of unnatural beauty and function, but this tram clearly surpassed that.

Ao wondered who or what had made the tram. Was it the same lost civilization who had carved out the various tunnels and rooms? What amazing knowledge they must have possessed to create such a device. And what could destroy beings with such advanced knowledge? Only the gods would know.

Perhaps it was the gods who destroyed them? Ao resolved to ask Eriadina about it. For now, it was best to stop wondering and continue on with the journey.

He plodded over to the bell and gave it two solid rings.