DORULL SAGA - SWAMP OF DEATH
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Roshnak lifted Uggut in the air, shaking him like
a rag doll. Sorcerer had no chance in resisting, attempting to defend himself. He immediately realized, he was too weak. His eyes rolled in fear, as he was gasping for breath.
“What’s wrong?” Grodish whispered.
He knew shaman wouldn’t charge at
Uggut, without a good enough reason. But he had no clue what was this about.
“Our friend here is a liar. A false
diviner.” Roshnak growled, “I was just thinking of showing him a couple of real
tricks.”
“No please, have mercy.” Uggut
cried, “Let me explain.”
“Speak.” Roshnak let the sorcerer
go, allowing him to stumble back to his chair.
His hands were shaking, as he
grabbed the bottle from the table, hastily taking several large sips of the
orcish sour wine. Uggut looked much older than he actually was. He looked tired
and weak. He was ashamed of something, Roshnak noticed it immediately.
“I am no fraud.” Uggut barely
whispered “Simply put, I lost my energy.”
“In any normal circle of flow, it’s
usual for energy to drain.” Roshnak reasoned, “No one can channel magic without
the rest.”
“He should rest and meditate.”
Grodish had learned something from shaman.
“You don’t understand.” Uggut
covered his face in despair. “No amount of meditation can help me, I lost my powers for
good.”
“What happened Uggut?” Roshnak
asked.
“I was too greedy, and I paid the
price for it.” the sorcerer nodded “My ego got the best of me. And at the end,
beside my energy, I lost something much more important. My family.”
“How come?” Grodish asked, sitting
at the table.
“All because of the damned pearl I
found in one cave, far to the north.”
“What pearl?” Roshnak leaned
forward in interest.
This might have been connected with
that goblin’s inquiry. Moorg was well interested in the area, as if he knew its
secrets. Roshnak presumed he was looking for some magical artifacts. The pearl
Uggut mentioned, could have been one of them. If so, shaman had to grab it,
before the goblin.
“Several months ago, I explored the
caves north of Khoill. And there I found it. The shiny, white pearl.” Uggut
said silently “A precious stone, like many others, I thought. But, it wasn’t
long after, I started feeling ill and weak.”
“And that was pearl’s doing?”
Grodish asked.
“Before I figured that out, my
energy was gone. Only thing left was to take care, no one else shared my fate.”
“Did you hid it somewhere?”
Roshnak frowned, “I’d wish to look upon it.”
“Somewhere, I thought, it could not
hurt anyone.” Uggut shook his head “I tossed it, in the chasm near Khoill.”
“But it got worse?”
“Soon enough, a big curse struck
the city. Folks got sick, some of them died.” Zhinnaeg sorcerer sighed “I
angered the spirits, by throwing the pearl in the abyss. Turning everyone in
Khoill into mindless, empty shells. Only I managed to escape.”
Roshnak leaned back into the chair,
a bit disappointed. This could’ve probably helped him in the understanding of
Moorg’s plans. He felt he was close to finding out the source of the goblin's
power. Unknowingly, Uggut perhaps did them all a favor. For it also meant the
end of the road for Moorg. Nevertheless, Roshnak couldn’t find peace. He
couldn’t just let it go. He was displeased he missed the opportunity to learn
this strange, new kind of magic.
“I wish I knew how to help you.”
Roshnak said silently.
“I’ve been Zhinnaeg’s sorcerer for
over the last three decades.” Uggut looked straight into Roshnak’s eyes “I love
this town, its folk. I’ll do anything you ask, if you keep my secret.”
“I might think of a few things.”
Roshnak smiled, “We could surely use some help in raising the army.”
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