A Sacrifice of Dreams

[Ordaran]

You tell Sulphax '..my thrall.'

Sulphax tells you 'You got all the snacks your getting from me.'

Sulphax tells you 'I agreed to bring corpses, not be corpses.'

Sulphax tells you 'Clearly a breach of our agreement. As such I believe that voids our agreement.'

You tell Sulphax 'You are worth far more alive, than dead.'

Sulphax tells you 'Now I cannot even get into the pirate ship to complete my quests because I don't parry with this daft little stick.'

Sulphax tells you 'I distinctly remember being told I stabbed myself.'

You tell Sulphax 'Yes, an unfortunate accident..'

Sulphax tells you 'after being sliced, burned, stabbed, pulled, and eaten.'

Sulphax tells you 'Not necessarily in such an order, but all the same.'

You tell Sulphax 'That is behind us. I was hoping you'd join me in everwild.'

Sulphax tells you 'I am ever so curious as to why.'

Sulphax tells you 'I'm running out of appendages.'

You tell Sulphax 'Can those three little fingers knock on a cabinet's lock?'

Sulphax tells you 'They can try.'

Sulphax tells you 'If not I am sure the other five can give it a go.'

Sulphax tells you 'What cabinet might I ask?'

You tell Sulphax 'Oh an ornate, mahogany one. Quite out of place in a tree house.'

*Snip to Sulphax meeting Khordrem in Everwild*

The Tree House

This is a small platform with four walls and a leaf roof rather than a

proper tree house. Nevertheless, it is very cozy and could accomodate two

quite comfortably. A pot of jasmine tea is simmering over a fire and a few

plush cushions are scattered on a rug in one corner. On a shelf on the west

wall are the complete works of several authors.

[Exits: down]

An ornate mahogany book cabinet sits in the corner of the room.

Sulphax rides in.

Sulphax utters the words, 'knock'.

Khordrem looks lovingly and longingly at Sulphax's lovely fat little fingers.

Sulphax utters the words, 'knock'.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I cannot open the cabinet'

Khordrem whispers 'There is a horrificly penned little poem within.. I need to have a look at.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Well everything I scribe is horribly penned now isn't it.'

Khordrem taps a blackened finger against his goatee. 'There must be a way inside.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'No idea.'

Khordrem and Sulphax just can't seem to open the cabinet, but it's not the lock that Khordrem needs manipulated, it's Sulphax's dreams.

Khordrem speaks abruptly 'Tell me Sulphax, what are your dreams?'

Sulphax rummages about in his pack, pulling out a single gold coin.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I want my share.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I spent too much time working for Brambus for nothing.'

Khordrem pushes you further 'Is that all you care about, hmmm?'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Steamblaster? My idea.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'It wasn't. '

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'But I'm too spent on caring about what other people want.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'They can gather riches, or burn in a pit. It makes no matter to me.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I will get mine, and I will be happy about it for a change.'

Sulphax grumbles and growls. You wonder what's wrong...

Khordrem whispers 'What if you were to join me?

Khordrem whispers 'And forsake all of your past.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I'm here for me, you.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I'm done working for anyone.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'My blood, and sweat goes to profit someone else.'

Khordrem whispers 'You do not have to work for me..

Sulphax holds up his three fingered hand as if to indicate his point.

Khordrem whispers 'Just start your life anew, under my guidance.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I appreciate your offer, but I don't quite understand.'

Khordrem grabs your wounded hand tenderly. 'This was your initiation.'

<978/978hp 1086/1086mp 445/445mv 149169coins 0hour> Sulphax utters the words, 'create food'.

A magic steak suddenly appears.

Sulphax winces at the touch of the flesh on his tender hand.

Khordrem whispers 'I sense a greater purpose within you Sulphax.

Khordrem releases your hand carefully.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Don't dig too deep.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Im not much different beneath the surface anymore.'

Khordrem whispers 'You have a mind sharper than most.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'All my ideas stolen.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Brambus saw that I suppose.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Filled me with compliments, and his pockets with gold from my inventions.'

You nod at Sulphax.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I'm done answering to anyone honestly.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'If I want to freeze a lake, and ice skate. Im going to.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'If I want to boil it, and eat fish. MMMMMMMmmmmmm.'

Sulphax smacks his lips at the thought.

Khordrem shakes his finger. 'I do not seek to lead you. I seek to open your eyes.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'To what.'

Khordrem places his hand on your forehead.

Khordrem whispers 'The eye that rests beneath.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'The eye?'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'What now could you mean.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'The two I have need help to work proper.'

Khordrem grins, half smirking. 'Your mind's eye.'

Sulphax ponders the thought carefully.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Now you do have my interest.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'What is it you mean by that.'

Khordrem continues 'The power of the mind harnessed properly, can overcome anything. I sense you might have what it takes to manipulate these forces.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Mind's eye..'

Sulphax sits down and thinks deeply.

You nod at Sulphax.

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Manipulation was a large part of my former employment.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Figuring the metallic reactions to temperature differentials, as well as the effect of adding different alloys.'

Khordrem grins darkly. 'Isn't it fitting that you master it at it's highest level then?'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Hrm.'

Sulphax says with a very cautious tone 'I think you are right.'

Khordrem whispers 'Why waste your talents sitting behind a desk, owning a store? Do you really want Brambus' life?

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'I want to gain my coin by taking it from Brambus.'

Khordrem speaks softly, soothing. 'No you have a much higher calling. They were your ideas.'

With a groaning wheeze Sulphax says 'Yes.'

Sulphax sighs.

Khordrem whispers 'There is a tower, tucked away in the forests of Elderwood.

Sulphax scratches his gut absentmindedly.

Khordrem adds quickly 'Once you have mastered your craft..

Khordrem whispers 'Seek entry there..

Sulphax nods.

You fade out of existence.

Sulphax nods slowly, his eyes flickering with interest. Perhaps even long lost excitement.

Khordrem turns back to the cabinet. 'Now I must figure how to open this cabinet.

Sulphax nods.

Khordrem whispers 'A sacrifice of dreams for the hope of a new beginning..

Sulphax saunters downward, whistling a tune as he goes.

Sulphax walks down.