Trounce: goblins and gods, #1

Prologue

Sometime after the sun had set on the first day after the new moon of spring, dancers enjoying the moon were springing around, happy and nude beneath a beautiful stark oak tree by the lake. This story is not about them. A fair distance away, in the town, behind a local tavern, two men were made visible by the moonlight. This is their story.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? inquired one of the men, dressed mysteriously in a grey robe, which blended with the gloomy light. A wizard.

The money first. You promised. replied the other man, wrapped in rags, a beggar of sorts.

You do know what I can do to you? The wizard threatened.

Yes, you can give me the money. If I feel any hocus-pocus I’ll clap up faster than an unpaid whore. The beggar responded through a grin, exposing perfectly out of place teeth.

Fine! But was that vulgarity really needed? That’s just gross.... and don't whores get paid afterwards? The wizard reached into one of many small sacks on his person and pulled out two silver coins.

Ah hem, your act of ignorance does not fool me. I traveled two days to give you this information. The beggar pulled back his open hand. The wizard sighed, then retrieved one more silver and gave three coins to the beggar.

That is better. The beggar smiled and shoved the coins into his ragged clothing. Then his expression turned serious. They met as you said they would. They did not see me. Well, maybe they did, but who notices a beggar? The general is a good man and still needs to be convinced. He is hesitant. He sees it as a pointless exercise of unnecessary aggression, but it’s only a matter of time. He will give in eventually. They will come. Be prepared.

How many? asked the wizard. 

All of them. The beggar pronounced while turning to leave.

Frog! whispered the wizard under his breath while watching the beggar walk away. He disappeared into the nighttime gloom.

Now what? asked another hooded figure, emerging from the hidden shadows. The wizard paused in thought. Eventually he answered.

This is not good, we will need help, the wizard said trembling.

Help is coming. You will be introduced to them at the meeting.

The Meeting

The Barmy-god Tavern is one of those places where people find themselves with no intention of ever visiting or ever going back. Yet it was always full. Full with those kind of people. Those kinds that are avoided by normal society, those kind that we all have been at one time, on one of those evenings. The Barmy had an unpleasant smell that lingered like the beggars outside. Although unpleasant, it was as tolerable as one’s own body odor. Everyone knew of the Barmy-god, this made it a popular meeting destination in the town, especially for travelling visitors.

Two men sitting in the dimly lit tavern were staring at the same mug of ale. The large burly man, sitting directly in front of the mug unknowingly streams a soft glowing flow of energy into the mug, his energy. This flow was only visible to the other man, who was watching with interest.

Occasionally the burly man sipped the contents of the mug, taking back some of the glow, absorbing back little of what was put in. Across the gloomy tavern the other man, a wizard, was sitting by himself at a large table. He noticed that too much energy was being given to the mug, until it could hold no more. Steaming, glowing, energy floated around the mug, not being absorbed by the designated object.

The wizard looked with white eyes, allowing himself to see energy. He looked around the tavern, which tonight was not bustling as it normally did. The cold air from the winter still lingered, encouraging early nights. The chill enhanced other factors. The top-heavy tavern host delighted customers with extra attention to her escaping bosom, the attention only a cold breeze could grant. The wizard noticed more than hungry eyes being drawn to the host. Wisps of steaming, glowing energy were being pulled from customers as she bounced around clearing tables and taking orders. This energy was obviously, what kept her going all night. The wizard realized what he needed and brought his attention back to the same mug of ale.

Waste not, want not whispered the wizard to himself. Unnoticed, he held tightly to his living staff that was leaning against the table. Inconspicuously he opened his other hand, his palm in the direction of the glass. The overflowing energy, only visible to the wizard, floated around the mug and then it started to change, to move, to flow like smoke towards the wizard. He smiled, closing his eyes and allowed it to flow into him.

Filling up on the energy, like others fill up on liquid, the wizard felt energized. He decided to use it and take a trip into time. His company was only due to arrive later. Why not kill some time through time. He knew which era, and which consciousness in the future he wanted to visit, or rather to view through. He had been there before, but only in mind, not body. The future was bubbly and blurry, constantly changing according to events in the present.  Regardless it was a great place to visit and learn. He was a little addicted to it. He put his addiction down to a thirst for knowledge. The wizard searched for the consciousness or mind he wanted to visit. The mind he wanted was his own, in another body, another life, in an incredibly far future. He could only witness what this future self experienced. He focused down, glazed his eyes and kept drawing from the energy.

He found the consciousness. He opened his mind to the thoughts of this future self. The thoughts, as always, floated and bounced, but occasionally he picked up pearls of wisdom. He heard the thoughts, felt the emotion, looked through the eyes and listened with the ears. This time he was witnessing the mind viewing an image on a stone-like tablet, shining an image from one side. A voice spoke. I dig it. This was followed by feelings of admiration, with a tingle of jealousy. He studied the image for the brief moment with the mind. It was a sort of colorful, horse-less wagon. The wagon seemed impractical, being so low. Never mind the heavy looking wheels. He soon learned that this did not matter, and these odd wagons could move across land faster than the birds in the air. A hand moved in front of the image. A finger touched the image, flicking it away, only to be replaced by another image of a beautiful woman wearing a pointless outfit that served no use. Apparently, odd wagons and impractical women go hand in hand. I dig that too, the voice spoke again. Obviously a futuristic praise of approval.

What the hell are you smiling at!? The wizard snapped back to his present mind. He opened his real eyes to witness the burly man from the mug standing up and moving towards him. The wizard was still pulling energy, but now the smoky wisp was coming from the man. In return, the man was unknowingly tugging at the wizard’s energy. He immediately cut off the man’s pull and concentrated, pulling more from him.

Your coat, I dig it. Stated the wizard, smirking at the huge framed person standing in front of him. Dig what!? Why do you want to dig my coat? What’s wrong with you? Replied the man, his large hands reaching beneath his coat. The wizard pulled more invisible energy, and then pushed wisps back towards and into the man.

It’s a compliment, I’m not from here. The coat reminds me of a man I knew from my travels in Anotherfartown. His wife made a tasty chicken broth, and I guess I just miss those times. The burly man, looking at the wizard, broke out in an awkward smile.

I’m from Anotherfartown. These coats are common over there, but you would not enjoy my wife’s broth. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No problems friend.  Join me for a pint? replied the wizard while pulling at the man’s energy again, draining the man.

No more for me tonight. I appreciate the offer. I, I have to go. The man turned to make his way quickly out of the tavern, leaving behind the half-drunk mug of ale.

MAKING FRIENDS SILOU? Asked a short, dark man who was sitting next to the wizard. The man, a hood hiding