The Scrolls of Skava

Return to the Emerald Oracle - Part 4

     “But anything might have happened to them by then!”

     “There’s nothing we can do,” repeated the cleric. “We’ll be no good to anyone flying around in the dark, getting hopelessly lost. We’ll find them tomorrow. Tomorrow!”

     Thomas knew she was right, but he couldn’t help fretting and worrying about what might be happening to their companions at that very moment, and about what the Oracle might be doing. And of course they didn’t know for certain that the Oracle was where they’d gone. Maybe Diana’s first idea had been right and they’d just gone off exploring, in which case they could return at any moment. He searched the valleys and mountain passes all around them, straining his eyes for any hint of movement that might be their companions returning to camp, but there was nothing but a small herd of wild goats nibbling absent mindedly at the short cropped grass about half a mile away.

     “There is something you can be doing,” said Shaun suddenly. “Use the Farspeaking spell to tell Resalintas where the Scrolls are. It should be safe enough here.”

     “Yes,” agreed the wizard, glad to have something to do. He took the sheet of paper out of its carrying case, unrolled it and stared at it in fascination. “There’s some incredibly powerful spells here,” he said in wonder. “Spells that Resalintas himself might have used to get himself out of a tight spot. Most of them I’ve never even heard of. Listen to this. The Shield of Truth. Dallaro’s Spiritual Lancet. The Halo of Shap Tarrow. I couldn’t begin to tell you what they do. Wizard scrolls usually have a few words of explanation above each spell, so that non-wizards know what they do. Resalintas apparently didn't think it necessary, though.”

     “I could try praying to Samnos," suggested Diana. "He might be willing to shed some light on them. If we're ever in such dire straits that we're driven to use them, we'll need to know what they do."

     "Only if Caroli doesn't mind," replied Thomas. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with Her, praying to another God."

     "Of course She won't mind," said Diana, smiling. "I've prayed to other Gods lots of times. They don't mind their worshippers occasionally praying to other Gods, so long as we remain faithful to our patron deities. I mean, Samnos doesn't mind His priests being healed by clerics of Caroli, does he?"

     "No, I suppose not. Okay, in that case, please give it a go." Thomas returned his eyes to the scroll. "In the meantime, the Farspeaking incantation at least is pretty obvious. Here goes,"

     He cleared his throat, then began speaking, intoning the words clearly and carefully as though he were casting a magic spell and adding the name of the old priest in the space left blank for it. "Mighty Lord Samnos, I humbly beseech Thee, carry my words to Thy faithful priest, Captain Resalintas, for he is far away and yet we are in desperate need to speak with him. I beseech Thee in the names of Thy most glorious yet sadly departed followers. Preemus the Pious. Ardentus the Unforgiving. Fraggilan the Undefeated. Darwen the Farsighted. I beseech Thee by these most sacred names. Adonay, Eloim, Tagla, Mathom, Almouzin, Arios, Pithona, Tabots, Terrae, Coelis, Godens, Aqua. By these names, Mighty Lord Samnos, I beg of Thee to grant me this boon. Praise Thy name, for as long as Thy glorious realm shall endure."

     The words of the incantation flared on the sheet of paper as the holy power the unknown priest had impressed upon it was released, and Thomas felt the divine link beginning to form, connecting him with the old priest over a thousand miles to the north. Suddenly, though, the scroll burst into flames in his hands and he dropped it with a yelp of alarm as the power contained in all the scroll’s other incantations was released. The three of them ran for cover as ribbons and streamers of light flashed out in all directions, some of them soaring hundreds of feet into the air like skyrockets, and a shrill whistling sound reverberated around the valley like an orchestra of banshees, so loud it threatened to burst their eardrums. Deafening bangs and blinding flashes followed in rapid succession, each of them echoing from the surrounding mountains and sending the goats running in wild panic, and the darkening sky was lit up an angry purplish red as the spectacle was reflected from a low layer of cloud. It must have been visible for miles in all directions, and anyone happening to be in the area must have thought that some great battle was going on between dragons and wizards, so great was the energy being released by the burning scroll.