The Library of Palanthas
An Aesthetic shows you to a small reading room.
Stories of Ansalon from the view of Lahrag.
Bookmark Ansalon MUD's Author Lahrag!












A little gully dwarf runs by and says 'Wordwrap Off 65 80.'
The gully continues 'Eyes hurt? Turn Color OFF!! (regular story dates)

Astinus says ' Enter the main library here to view only the author list.'

Astinus gently places a large tome on the table in front of you.
You note the spine bears the word 'Lahrag' scribed in faded blue ink.

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Shinarai, the Month of Reorxmont, 18 19:09:43 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     The Calling (part II)


It was shortly after dusk as Lahrag walked into the aul carrying a small
sack of trinkets. With the heavy rains it was almost too easy this time it
was dark much earlier and the rain covered all hope of detection. He'd been
out to the nearby aghar village again, looting their useless trinkets. He'd
gotten a fair share this evening but as he was finishing up one last run in
a smaller home his tummy rumbled a little too loudly. He was gone before the
poor dwarf even bled out. 

As he strolled through the aul on the way to his tent he noticed a peculiar
troupe approaching the murza's main tent. The way they held themselves left
no doubt they were seasoned battle veterans and were in no mood to be
dissuaded from their course as the lone sentry found out. He was laid low
with one swift, rock-solid punch to the jaw that sent him flying after he
mistakenly stepped out to question the group. 

'This should be interesting' Lahrag thought to himself as he carefully crept
as close to the heavily guarded tent as he could get to watch what unfolded.
He was very careful on his approach despite the heavy rain. This tent was
not one for eavesdropping on easily, however as he came closer he noticed
all eyes were focus on the band of dark clad warriors calling out to the
leader for an audience. Gasps came from all around the tent as the impromptu
request was granted, something never done in the past. Quickly the gasps
were hushed and several of the bands' members were ushered into the large
tent. The majority of the remaining guards fortified the entrance to the
tent. Silent and as cold as the rain they stood and waited. 

Lahrag was already close to the tent but he felt he could get even closer,
so he scanned for more cover and noticed a large stump just outside the back
wall of the tent. He slowly snuck forward as the guards were distracted and
he crouched low against the rotting stump. From here he could almost make
out what was being said in the tent. He had to get closer! So, using his
natural abilities he crept even closer, right up to the back of the tent,
near a couple of chests and barrels. He squeezed in between two large
barrels and congratulated himself, for not only was he hidden but it was dry
as well. He settled down to wait for the show he knew would come, for the
murza was a fiery one to be sure. 

It took longer than expected but after a while the visitors came full into
the tent and began to describe the situation to the murza. It took some time
to decipher the dialect used but eventually the conversation began to flow
more easily. The leader of the troupe began with harsh tones and subtle
demands, but the murza wasn't dumb and he saw the ruse for what it was. He
countered with questions as to who the band was and why they had come to the
Sikk'et Hul region. The leader angered quickly, slamming his fist to the
table and growling something indecipherable. The meeting went on for quite a
while and Lahrag actually dozed off for part of it when the conversation
wasn't nearly as heated at certain points. He awoke to a shout from the
departing party of heavily armored men... 

 "Remember this night, Goblin! Remember my face. You WILL see me again...
and when your aul lies bleeding and dead from the full fury of the Queen's
armies, remember that you could have protected them."  

Shortly after the departure Lahrag scrambled from his hiding place and snuck
back out of the aul to return to his tent from another route. He was
probably being overly careful but that was what kept him alive all these
years. He came upon his tent and called his friends closer together for a
meeting of his own. Lahrag rubbed his hand together and sat down at the fire
pit and began to tell his tale "I heard what they said..." he grunted and
continued...

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Luindai, the Month of Reorxmont, 21 14:08:34 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     The Calling (part V)

Lahrag rubbed the tiny ruby figurine of Mwarg he kept in his pocket as he
walked down the road with the other goblins and his friend Zopzer. He had
stolen the trinket from an unworthy goblin he'd laid low some time ago and
was drawn to it ever since. 

Lahrag considered his actions in the tent when Zopzer charged in. True he
had expected to talk to his friend at a later time, to privately voice his
concerns. It made no difference now, but he felt shame for angering his
friend so openly. He had to be sure, they all had to be sure and Lahrag knew
the other goblins needed strength to bolster their resolve. With the
information he had given them they were ripe for the taking but he knew they
lacked a leader figure and in his eyes, that was easily Zopzer.

They walked in silence for a long while, each contemplating their choice and
each solidifying their thoughts on the future. Slowly, the other goblins
began to chatter and bicker amongst themselves. It was harmless until it got
out of hand. With one sharp "Quiet!" from Zopzer, and it was abruptly ended.
Yes, Zopzer was a good choice.

They hadn't much time to gather belongings so most of the goblins were on
the road with little in the way of gear and supplies. Fortunately the band
of representatives hadn't been gone more than an hour after Lahrag's meeting
concluded and he figured they would soon meet up with this crew. He would be
ready to stand confidently by Zopzer's side while he negotiated with the
representatives. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Boreadi, the Month of Reorxmont, 26 19:51:27 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Training

CRACK! The whip sounded again. The goblin had gone in and out of
consciousness several times during the beating and it was no surprise when
they had to stop and revive him again. "Training these vermin is always so
tough,"  the soldier said as he spit in the goblins face for the third time.
"Ahh but my whip does get a work out don't it?" The other guards watching
all gave a gruesome laugh together. After a few more strikes the goblin
passed out again, and would not be revived. Two of the guards untied him and
dragged his limp body over to a small pit. They summarily threw him in,
allowing him to fall the ten or so feet to the dirt floor below giving a
chuckle when he 'bounced' at the end.

Lahrag awoke some time later to a horrified wail. Not unlike the one he'd
given upon the first few strikes of that wretched whip. Lahrag had never
felt such agony in all his life. Even growing up there was never punishment
like this. His back was ripped raw, with countless deep gashes, many
crisscrossing over one another. Some had begun to scab over but he was too
weak to notice, he just laid there, cringing with every strike of the whip
above before blacking out once again from the immense pain he was
suffering.

SPLASH! Lahrag was startled awake again, this time he was also soaking wet
and he heard a cackle of glee above him at the edge of the dark pit. He'd
had a rough night dozing in and out of sleep, attempting to gain some
semblance of comfort with his back on fire. He'd had a lot of time to think
during those long, dark hours and he had studied the prison well. There was
no way to escape the pit it was too high for him and coated with a slick
slime. It smelled awful, but that hardly bothered him. He did notice a small
barred drain on one side of the pit but it was no use, the bars were closely
spaced and think as his arm. While examining the prison he did find a sharp
piece of bone and kept that with his person. He ended up curling up in a
soft (relatively) pile of garbage and debris to get some sleep. That is when
he began thinking about Zopzer and what had happened earlier.

He went over everything in his head many times before drifting into a
restless sleep. He thought of what the Emperor said and how he treated
Zopzer. He thought about what he did himself and why he attacked the man. He
came to no real conclusions on the matter and quickly gave up on it.

He had lost track of how many days he was in the pit but eventually he was
released and began to train with some more experienced goblin forces. They
went through basic drills and commands and orders. This helped him adapt to
the life style he was to live in this compound. The other goblins talked
with him quite easily, all of them understood the adversities Lahrag had to
overcome being just over three feet tall. So, over the course of another few
weeks the training grew tougher and tougher as he was moved from group to
group. Eventually he showed enough skill to advance to a smaller group of
individuals. By this time he'd learned, quickly, the rules and how ranking
worked in the compound. He was able to understand and carry out orders and
became conscious of awarding respect to his superiors at all times. During
his training he had little contact with Zopzer and only towards the end of
the training did he finally see him more regularly. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Soldai, the Month of Reorxmont, 30 04:52:05 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Reconnaissance

Sweat dripped down his brow, for perhaps the hundredth, no, easily the
thousandth time. He was drenched in it and it was hardly past dawn. This
place was foul even for him. It left a nasty taste in his mouth and gave him
a pounding headache no matter how much water he drank. Thankfully the
commander thought it prudent to send a priest along who could summon water.
That alone made the trip almost tolerable. This wretched place, the blasted
sun, the deadly heat.. it was enough to kill a man, or a goblin in this
case. Lahrag was never much for the sun and he cursed it still as he trudged
across the barren wasteland, scouting for his commanding office and the
contingent of soldiers following behind. 

He and a group of other goblins, apparently under his command, for they
seemed to defer to him at every turn, were operating as a forward and
flanking scouting unit. He took point himself to feel important, if nothing
else. It was a routine he was well accustomed to performing, having done so
on many occasions for the group Zopzer frequently traveled with. As he
walked, he thought of the city he was leading the troupe of soldiers
towards. He had gone to the city on several occasions in the past to speak
with the goblin clans located north of Tarsis. It was a perfect location to
gather information. 

On this trip he was to scout ahead and meet up with some contacts already
planted in the city. He would then report to the commander waiting out in
the field, just beyond the city limits. It was a simple task and besides
that, he felt most at home inside the city itself. 

His thoughts had brought him to the edge of the city territories and he
realized it was already dusk. He relayed a message to his liaison and
quickly dashed into the city through an entrance in the sewers, out of sight
from the gate. It was always best to be cautious, especially at city gates.
It took him no longer than an hour to meet up with the contact and, after a
quick meal on the Dragonarmy's purse, he was back out heading to report his
findings to his commander. He carried a scroll with him which was still
sealed upon delivery. There he retired to his camp, the same group of
goblins who had been scouting all day with him. They were exempt from guard
duties because of their other talents. The desert cooled dramatically at
night and so he quickly feel into a deep sleep. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Manthus, the Month of Hiddumont,  1 14:34:53 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     In the Fray

We crept into the city slowly at first, a few at a time, gathering
numbers. We traveled in groups of no more than half a dozen to keep things
quiet. Lahrag started out leading a small pack himself, but before long a
big brute of a man stood and claimed that responsibility for himself. Before
long we were moving quickly through the streets in search of our target. We
had crossed paths with several other units, all reporting the presence of
those foul knights in the area. One such group carried Zopzer with them and
a higher ranking officer. The officer, upon receiving new orders to
eliminate the Solamnic intrusion quickly dispatched half his men with us to
their last known location. To Lahrag's surprise one of the soldiers with the
new recruits was Zopzer. With a quick greeting and an exchange of orders
they regrouped and were on the hunt.

It happened so fast, the group came into an open square and there before
them was their main target. Something was wrong though, he was being
attacked by another. The group quickly rushed to the aide of this stranger,
who was quickly identified as a Dragonarmy operative upon closer inspection.
It was far too late for pleasantries however, because before they could
fully close the gap, Lahrag's group was intercepted by a group of knights.
The skirmish was brutal, Lahrag landing a couple of fine blows to one of the
knights who, oddly, looked familiar to him. Before he had time to
contemplate this discovery however he was struck heavily in the back of the
head. Head pounding, feet wobbly he some how managed to stumble away from
the battle before blacking out completely.

The sound of weapons clashing and the rough, almost frenzied shaking of a
soldier woke Lahrag up quickly. He found himself in an alley, just outside a
full scale battle. It was crazy; the city was turned upside down with the
commotion. He took a moment to gather his things and began to search for his
party, and more importantly Zopzer. It didn't take Lahrag long to find the
small band, they were resting in a safe house a few blocks away. It had been
a bloody first foray for them and they were regrouping.

Within minutes of his arrival they received word that the Emperor had joined
the battle and that all units were to converge on the main target, last seen
near the docks. With that the band quickly set off towards the docks to join
the fight once again. They saw very few knights along the way and it looked
as if the Dragonarmy hordes had driven them back from this part of the
city.

They came upon the scene and with little hesitation, and with typical
goblinoid lust charged into the battle head long. Within moments the target
was surrounded by troops and severely outnumbered. Lahrag had no trouble
slipping in where he was needed since most of the combat was done just above
his head. He slipped in behind the target to deliver a nasty cut across his
shoulder. With a quick swing and an abrupt turn from his foe, Lahrag was
sent flying. The figure quickly regained his footing and turned to meet the
remaining foes. Lahrag came back at the figure but this time he focused on
kicking and tripping the foe. This would set him off balance and make him a
much easier target. The strategy worked marvelously and before long Lahrag
saw an opening he could not refuse. Whipping a dagger out, after knocking
the foe to the ground, he brought it down and low striking hard at the back
of the neck and laid the fellow out cold.

The soldiers all around were amazed; half of them hadn't even noticed the
goblin in the fight. With a quick survey of the area, the battle was won and
Lahrag was carted off on shoulders with the celebrating band, back to the
camps outside the city. He had not even had the chance to speak with the
Emperor. It didn't matter, he would soon enough, he was sure of that. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Luindai, the Month of Hiddumont,  5 03:54:29 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Again to Tarsis

Lahrag nodded his understanding to his brutish friend as he headed off
towards the east entrance of the city. After Zopzer left he turned to assess
his troupe of goblins. With a few quick hand signals they were off into the
tunnels below the city. Zopzer didn't know the city as well as the goblins,
particularly Lahrag. As they walked through the wet tunnels goblins peeled
off one at a time, turning down side tunnels. Soon goblins were appearing in
dark alleys and shadows all over the city. There were only six of them
including Lahrag and each quite skilled at stalking and scouting, especially
at this dark hour. 

Lahrag came out of the sewers near the docks and made his way up to Harbor
Street. He began looking for a local, low profile tavern where he could go
relatively unnoticed as he probed for information. He found a pair of
'tin-cans' as Zopzer would say, walking down the street and he quickly
ducked down a side alley out of sight. He poked his head out after they
passed by and began to creep along, pacing them. It didn't take more than a
few minutes for them to approach an inn. The sign outside said it was 'The
Stormy Sea Inn.' Shortly after they entered he went around back down a side
alley. It was a simple matter to slip in through the stables and into a
dark, unused corner of the half empty tavern. He would observe these fellows
and learn what they might know.

After a few minutes he began to listen in on other conversations, the
knights had went on about some drabble concerning someone named Coria, the
name didn't register and Lahrag quickly moved on to another group. He crept
right up behind a small table of rowdy drunks all yelling about the recent
events that transpired in the city. Lahrag found it rather amusing as he
slipped a bag of coins from one of the men in his pocket. Suddenly he froze.
A dark cloak hung on a peg just behind the men. He recognized the emblem on
the cloak. He snuck closer to get a better look. It was indeed the very same
cloak he'd seen before. He quickly rolled the cloak, complete with a scorch
mark on it, into a ball and retreated back to the alley behind the inn.

It was getting late by the time he made his way back to the rally point just
outside the eastern gates. He rolled in quietly to find a handful of goblins
waiting for him, but no Zopzer. Just like him to be late, Lahrag thought to
himself. So, he sat down, at the small fire made by another goblin and
pulled a flask of wine and some bread he had borrowed from the drunken fools
at the inn. He absent-mindedly patted his pocket and smiled at the extra
weight there. Soon after Lahrags meal Zopzer stormed into the camp with a
sinister smile upon his face, dragging something, or rather someone by the
looks of it by a foot. It was time to return to Neraka, and with good news
by the looks of things.

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Nuindai, the Month of Hiddumont, 20 15:21:59 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Plains of Dust

Such a foul place he thought to himself for the countless time that day
alone. He had been ordered into the great desert, yet again, to search for a
reported oasis. Lahrag had no idea what an oasis even was, and had seen
enough sand to last a life time, no ten life times. At least this time he
was with Zopzer and company. There had been quite a few excursions that had
split the two apart. Apparently Lahrag's scouting abilities were becoming
well known around the legions and many commanding officers requested the
wily pack of goblins, typically run by a brutish hobgoblin to accompany
their own missions.

This was much the same; he had been assigned to shadow a group of soldiers
lead by an upcoming officer in the Dragonarmy. It all meant little to Lahrag
and from what he could tell even less to Zopzer. The whole ranking system; it
was too complex for them. Just point them in the right direction, give them
some basic orders and off they went. That was how they worked best, the old
adage of keep it simple stupid, really did apply to the goblinoids in this
case. 

So, they found themselves out, searching, in the daylight, and the hot sun,
for days on end. It had been so long in the desert for Lahrag that his body
had finally gotten used to the stress of the tremendous heat during the day.
The goblins had learned to wear very light clothing early on, to blend in
with the environment, but quickly realized it also warded off some of the
terrible heat as well. It was an endless search at first and the company
crossed many miles of terrain devoid of life except for a few spiny cacti
and some rarely seen poisonous snakes and scorpions. And just when it didn't
seem it would get any worse, the land soon turned to scorched earth with red
colored sand, it was dry and cracked, and the environment indeed became even
worse to traverse.

After several days of this miserable climate and many empty reports to an
increasingly frustrated commanding officer, Lahrag finally arrived with what
seemed to be promising news for Yrkril. Reports came of a small watering
hole just ahead and to the south of the troops performing the highly
ineffective grid search of the land. The scouting party had not ventured
close to the location but decided it was better to inform the commanding
officer since it was off his intended path quite a ways to the south, even
deeper into the plains. That was the task of the goblin pack, shadow the
main party and keep a wide circuit around them to cover more ground. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Soldai, the Month of Hiddumont, 28 15:00:48 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     A Timely Encounter

The sandstorm whipped around violently, obscuring all visibility. It was
so dark it nearly blotted out the sun at its peak intensity. It lasted for
over an hour. Lahrag and the pack of goblins he always seemed to have in tow
were crouched high on a dune among some large rocks, using them as a meager
shelter to weather the winds and sand. They had been watching the caravan
for most of the morning, having tracked them several miles from the
Dragonarmy camp. It appeared they had just come from the very oasis that
Lahrags band had found not three days past. By the clothing worn it was easy
to tell they had come from Tarsis recently. It was a rag-tag group with only
few armed guards; who would really need many guards in this desolate land
anyway? They looked like slave traders with a few cage-wagons full of people
and some nasty looking animals chained up as well.

Shortly after the intense storm began, Zopzer had arrived with more
soldiers. After a brief meeting with Lahrag and on strict orders from Yrkril
to capture, not kill, anyone they found, the band had surmised a strategy.
Once the storm was in full effect and the caravan was forced to stop and
seek shelter among the wagons, the band of goblins would surround them. They
would wait out the storm and seize the mangy beggars before they could
recover from the storm. It was a simple plan and proved highly effective and
was easily executed.

A while later, after the merchants were secured, word was sent to the base
camp, Yrkril himself returned to further question the merchants. The wagons
had not been searched and none of the merchants were harmed up until that
point, however they were angry with the delays and their subsequent capture
during the storm. They had no idea the danger they were in or the severity
of the situation. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Nuindai, the Month of H'rarmont,  3 16:03:48 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Wretched Desert

Lahrag nearly choked on his evening meal as he overheard a high ranking
priest of the order demand that the company, his company, head back into the
desert once again. He had been casually listening to the commanding officers
over his meal; it was always pleasant watching them squirm under the pressure
of dealing with one of the arrogant priests. He had worn a smirking grin on
his face up until the conversation turned sour. So, it was with much
trepidation that he grudgingly nodded to his next in charge (of the goblin
pack he seemed to lead) to ready the others. He knew full well the priest
would not have him, or any of the others wait a moment. By the sounds of it,
his screeching that is, it was even more important than usual. And, as he
thought, within the hour a large band, much the same as the previous trip
not so long ago, was headed back out into the filthy plains again.

He palmed his ruby statuette as he walked, thinking to himself. They had
barely left Stone Rose more than an hour ago when he was approached by an
office with his expected (and well known) duties to the band. Lahrag had
already detailed the orders to his group of scouts before ever leaving the
gates, but nodded to the office anyway, attempting to look like he cared
what the man said.

It wasn't more than a few days of travel the priest had said, just like the
last priest, and the priest before that and the captain and well it didn't
really matter at this point did it? He would walk the sandy wastelands a
thousand more times if needed, though he hoped it would not be needed. At
least they had left at dusk for he was most comfortable traveling this
wretched place at night. The priest had ordered another of the order to
accompany the troupe explaining something about knowing the exact location
or having a tracer beacon or some prayers or some such nonsense. It didn't
concern Lahrag in the least. He could not have cared less about the details.
Just point and he would go where ever was needed.

It took only two days, less than the priest predicted at first, which made
it a pleasant surprise since they usually grossly underestimated the time
allotted to the task at hand. It was nice to be at one of these 'oasis'
locations again. There was something soothing about them, especially after a
hard couple of days march. The priest and commanding officer went ahead and
approached a small cabin, to speak with whoever was inside. They would
probably 'question' the occupant mercilessly even if he did cooperate.
Lahrag shrugged to himself, not his business, and turned towards the small
spring to sit in one of the few shaded areas in all this desolate land. He
took out his ruby figurine of Mwarg and held it gently as he leaned against
a great palm, soaking in the shade, he waited. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Nuindai, the Month of H'rarmont, 17 02:12:08 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Tempered Resolve

Sitting atop a ledge high above the city Lahrag sat idly, feet dangling
over the edge. It was easily a thousand foot drop to the jagged rocks below
but he didn't seem to mind his precarious perch. He was transfixed, looking
at the masses below. He studied the landscape carefully. The shape of the
city, a bowl dipping down between three massive mountains, all of which were
active volcanoes, was lain out clearly below. He was in a meditative state,
having just met with several high ranking officers and the Emperor himself.

He had come up here to ponder the upcoming war; a war well past due by his
understanding. In the distance another horn blared, a long rumbling call.
With it came the soldiers, like ants running drills and exercises. They ran
those day and night constantly training. His gaze drifted over the valley
below, silently counting the camps and tents. He estimated several legions
in one clearing alone. His gaze continued past the battalions, out over the
citadel towards the walls and the watch towers. All of these were heavily
armed and fortified quite well. He finally surveyed the harbor, with its
array of finely crafted war galleys and quick running schooners. It was an
impressive fleet and growing by the day it seemed.

He sighed to himself; sitting alone up there he wondered what role he would
play in this epic campaign. His gaze continued to roll past the harbor back
around to a more secluded area higher up on the hillside of the valley
below. It was where the dragon riders and their counterparts were kept.
Lahrag shivered at the thought of what they were capable of on the
battlefield. 

Lastly he focused on the temple district. As he looked out at the scene
before him he reached into his pocket, as he often did and grasped the tiny
figurine in his small hand and for just a moment he thought he felt it pulse
just once. After a while, he walked back down the treacherous trail, past
the slow moving lava flows, back down into the city below. He had much to do
before departing with his commanders on the morrow. He was confident that
their victory would be absolute. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Boreadi, the Month of H'rarmont, 21 03:11:58 353 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Frustrations

 He had been out to sea for a long time and once he finally got a report
from the mainland troops he was disappointed. It seems there had been a few
battles in the early stages of the war already. Nothing too concerning but
he was upset that he had not been a part of these obvious slaughters. The
sea travel was nauseating to say the least and many of his troops, goblins
mostly were getting antsy with the wait. They had to strike some where soon
or he would have trouble keeping order. It was quite frustrating to sate the
bloodlust of these wretches when he himself had as much, or more of his own
thirst building.

Within the same day Lahrag and his troops landed and were immediately
dispatched inland to meet up with other forces. As they traveled he heard
countless tales of some of the other commanding officers and their triumphs
over the pathetic Solamnic knights. This was fast turning into a rout and he
wanted some action.

Upon arriving at the main camp, where nearly a third of the front line was
entrenched he spoke with several higher ranking officers and it was decided
they would make a move to attack further inland still. It was a quick
meeting and before long the entire camp was packed and ready, each heading
out within an hours' march from each other. They would all arrive at their
location ready to crush those slow moving, dim-witted dolts.

Lahrag wore a sinister grin during his entire march that day and he assured
the goblins in his troop of the glories they would see when they finally got
to shed some blood in this devastating war for the Solamnic lands. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Luindai, the Month of Aelmont,  4 17:02:18 354 Post Cataclysm
Subject     A Quick Skirmish

The streets of Palanthas were quiet that day as the goblin walked along
Garnet. He had just come from the dock district and decided to stop in at a
few choice shops to pick up some supplies. As he rounded a corner he noticed
someone of interest. He crept back out of the shop entrance hoping he had
not been seen. He was using some minor devices to prevent just such a
sighting but he held little faith in magicks. 

He scurried down a side street heading around to another part of the city as
he gathered his thoughts. What was she doing here? How did she get into the
city? Where are all the guards? - He was interrupted as he crossed through
the square in the center of town and the very same person bumped into him.
He cursed his luck for having not noticed her and being ill prepared for an
encounter. He offered a quick pardon in as polite a tone as he could manage
without spitting in her foul face and dashed down another side street out of
sight, but not before she evoked a mighty hex on him. His head was swimming
as he spun in circles trying to orient himself and figure out what had
happened. He quickly found his wits and darted out the western gate, deep
into the wilderness to recover. 

Before too long he was back in the city searching for the woman, he had a
score to settle after all and he was ready for a brawl. Unfortunately she
was detained at her headquarters and he was unable to locate a safe way into
the stronghold. After a few moments of lingering, and some heckling through
the gates the goblin dashed off to finish his errands at the local shop in
town and near the library oddly enough. He was confident that she would not
be seen in the city any time soon. He reached into his pocket and clenched
the small statuette of Mwarg in anger at his unprepared-ness for the battle
earlier that day.

He would have to speak to a priest of the order regarding that dastardly hex
that was used on him by the knight. It was certainly well beyond her powers
by his memory, perhaps she had grown some in her abilities. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Nuindai, the Month of Aelmont, 19 02:25:14 354 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Damn Mages - A Thief at Heart

"Damn mages,"  he grumbled as he spat on the ground in front of him,
"into the the tower he says..." he kicked aside a stone in his path, still
grumbling. "it'll be easy he says lots of treasure to be had he says..." The
goblin looked up and noticed the gates into Tarsis looming before him. 'That
was quick' he thought to himself. He slipped into the city in a throng of
travelers, completely undetected by the guards and continued on his way to
the lands north of the city. "Mage? Mage you here?" he looked around
carefully for signs of what he knew to be there and before he could blink
the air shimmered and the mage appeared. 'Always invisible' he thought to
himself. 'Damn mages' 

"So we're off to that blasted tower again huh?" he feigned interest as he
looked over the mangy heap of rags and robes covering the mage. A mage he
knew quite well unfortunately, too well. "Well we had best get going it's a
long walk for your soft little feet and it will be dark soon,"  he muttered
the jeer softly under his breath. He glanced towards the mage to see if he
had heard him, and noted the mage was deep in concentration. A moment later
Lahrag was floating gently and seconds after that he couldn't see his hands
or feet, or the mage he noted. He heard a soft chuckle and grumbled to
himself again saying an all too common phrase as of late, "Damn mages." 

After what seemed like hours of walking he finally found the archway to this
elusive tower that always seemed to be hidden in a different location when
he ventured out to find it. A few curses and he turned around several times
looking for the mage and finally, with a sigh, motioned in the general
direction of where he had last heard the noisy mage for him to lead on while
he quickly used a potion to see the invisible nuisance. 

The tower was always a daunting place with its traps and locks and monsters
and mazes. Lahrag didn't mind the locks so much or the traps, or the
monsters or really the mazes come to think of it but with the mage leading
he was on full alert this time. The mage had this crazy idea to pay a visit
to the foul lich deep within the tower. Why ever for was well beyond the
comprehension of a simple goblin thief. It took several hours and quite a
few back tracks to find the location and once there it was a simple matter,
for the mage he noted, to locate a secret passage. A few taps, raps and a
click, a phrase and the wall slide open. 'Now that was useful, ' the goblin
thought to himself. A tunnel climbed up and around a corner to a large room
with some furniture and a small cabinet. A quick inspection revealed no
traps and inside the goblin found a fine cloak. He rolled that up around a
corner to a large room with some furniture and a small cabinet. A quick
inspection revealed no traps and inside the goblin found a fine cloak. He
rolled that up looked around and noted nothing else of value in the room.
The mage had gone ahead to scout out using his magics. A waste of time to
Lahrag but if it appeased this mage so be it.

After taking quite some time the mage came in a huff, looking pale as a
ghost. "Found him eh?" the goblin chuckled lightly before muttering "damn
mages." under his breath once again. "Well? Where is-" -a piercing wail
broke the silence in the distance and Lahrag found himself standing fully
alert with both daggers in his hands and somehow managing to end up in front
of the pathetic mage. He didn't consider his misfortune for long as he
regained his composure and felt the tingling of defensive spells settling on
him and the comforting mumbles from the pale-faced mage in the corner. With
a sigh he braced for the inevitable attack to come. 

Not to bore you with details, the battle was successful to say the least.
Shortly after the lich had died Lahrag began a more robust search of the
grounds. He found several chests, some with locks beyond anything he had
ever seen, other with locks a child could open. He found several trinkets of
interest, one in a skull, another in a back room and still more things. He
quickly gathered his treasures as the mage poured over some writings or some
other such nonsense. 'Damn useless mages, ' he thought again to himself.
After packing up a large sack of goods Lahrag pried the mage away from his
studies and headed out of the tower the way they had come. 

On his way past a particularly long hall the glint of steel caught his eye,
as it would any reputable thief naturally. He stopped dead and the mage
tumbled into him still studying a book he'd himself pilfered. 'A book?' the
goblin thought. The goblin hardly noticed the collision with the skinny mage
and shrugged it off. He jabbed the entranced mage in the ribs and pointed to
the object made of solid steel in the alcove near a window. "So Ebby, how's
about we take that too?" he moved over to examine the treasure with glee.
The mage sighed heavily before reluctantly following the smelly goblin into
the alcove. After several attempts to loosen the object, a telescope
according to the damn mage, Lahrag surmised that it was stuck. He began to
whittle at the bolts holding it in place and just before he'd begun the mage
grabbed his hand to stop him. "Get out of the way you damn fool mage!" the
goblin roared. Just then the mage showed him the trap that would be set off
if he had connected the blade to the telescope. 

Some time later, the thief and the mage exited the tower and began their
trek back to the city of Tarsis. The goblin was less than pleased at having
to leave the steel contraption behind. It was solid steel after all. 

Dragonlance Author:    Lahrag         
Date:      Gilaedai, the Month of Rannmont, 21 04:32:19 354 Post Cataclysm
Subject     Back to the Roots

The goblin found himself walking along familiar trails again. He had been
some what rogue for a while now but had been assigned to check the goblin
controlled areas near Palanthas and to make a report. So he was out,
scouting with his usual group of fellow goblins in the hills east of
Palanthas.

It didn't take long to make contact with the local goblins, they spoke a
slightly different dialect but it was easy enough to pick up on the
differences and as it turned out one of the goblins in the group was from a
tribe with nearly the same variance in the guttural language of their kin.

After some boring questioning and some dancing around the pleasantries
Lahrag decided to step out of the main tent for a breath of air. And also to
avoid stabbing the poor fool leading this tribe to ruins. They had declined
to completely side with the queen and had instead insisted on sending only
half of their finest warriors to the cause. That would have to be dealt with
eventually; their insolence was appalling to say the least. However, this
close to the Solamnic stronghold it was more difficult to casually slaughter
an entire village with little notice even if it was only goblins. 

A short while later word came of a mage traveling the lands. The description
fit with some other intelligence from the Tarsis debacle many months past.
It was definitely worth a look around for this supposed threat.

Within a few days it was apparent that there was a mage in the area and not
long after that discovery he was located. It was hardly a struggle with the
pack of goblins surrounding the oblivious mage from all angles. Lahrag
reached into his pocket to grasp the figure of Mwarg tightly and steadied
himself. With a simple hand signal it was done. In a sudden rush the mage
wearing next to nothing and looking rather pitiful at that was knocked out
clean and quick. That was the best way to handle these dangerous folk who
cast such potent magic with ease.

It took some time but eventually they group brought the mage in for
questioning and it was later revealed he was indeed one of the same order as
the mage apprehended long ago in Tarsis. That was intriguing in itself, that
he would be tracking the movements of the Dragonarmy again was troublesome.
No matter, he was as good as dead once the interrogating was finished this
time. 
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