LONG LIVE THE HACKERS! the end...oops..the beginning.

Chaos ensued as the remaining army companies were assembling on the palace grounds so that the few remaining commanders could take stock. That damn General Terrak had influenced nearly a third of the Haalkitaine army to follow him to glory. Well it wouldn’t be as easy as he thought despite the thousands of Lugroki careening through the trees of Eirye’s pass.

Sir Kerten Murel, sat back and his chair and poured himself a large draught of amber nectar from his fancy crystal decanter. A lot of good this fine cherry wood desk and other acoutriments of the wealthy would do him if the Iron Wind were allowed to take hold again. Lifting his glass up in a silent salute the intelligence minister drained the fine brandy in one pull and gently placed the glass back down on his desk. He silently wondered at how well the Haalkitaine Hackers would do with their latest assignment. With Lerland leading a contingent of wizards, Skouser and Sparhawk leading the bowman, and Ryndan leading a contingent of knights they would be stretched to the limits of their abilities….it wasn’t like he had much choice however. The Necronomicon was basically disbanded after two of the members openly supported Terrak…and while IronHand, Zelrath, Damra, and Demetrius still had much of the skills they had when the four of them adventured as the Hackers had…their ability to take calculated chances was….off somehow. Come to think of it…his must be too. He should have seen this coming and pushed for a bolder move against Terrak…shit….The Baron of Five Oaks…that evil bastards. It was so easy to look at them individually on not consider them that much of a threat but alas the havoc they were now wreaking was on the wings of the Iron Wind.

Hearing a disturbance outside Sir Kerten Murel pulled back the heaving velvet curtains that could stop arrows from coming through the windows and dared to look out on the scene below….A smile spread slowly across his face as Lerland, Skouser, Ryndan, and Sparhawk were barking orders as they floated on some flying carpet. Not the conventional method to be sure but damned effective.

After watching the rapidly organizing contingents below the minister turned and opened the bottom drawer of his desk and disarmed the trap and secret compartment. Pulling 4 pure white wafer thin disks he sandwiched them together carefully as he considered this bold move looking out as the carpet wizzed by with it’s young commanders. Time to pull out all the stops and make a bold move…with that he gently snapped the four wafers and waited for the ensuing chaos. With a prismatic flash Zelrath’s hairy but came into view. “By the Ohran gods man, can a man not diddle his new bride in Peace one more time before being summoned unceremoniously to battle.” Asked the former potion maker as he pulled up his leggings from around his ankles. “I suppose the others aren’t far behind?”

With that statement Damra placed his hand on Zelrath’s shoulder making him jump and turn…”I always hated it when you could do that!” said Zelrath turning to Damra…”Well Kert…what’s up?” As the entire group assembled Sir Kerten Murel turned to his former adventuring clan.

“It’s time for “The Iron Hand” to once again join forces gentlemen..as…” started Kerten
“Ok Kert, cut the shit” started Damra, “we know what the fuck is going on now cut to the chase so we can kill these dumb shits”
“Oh, as eloquent as ever my friend.” Chimed in Dorn, “Listen, let’s get right down to business…my son and his friends are out there showing us up.”
“Ok, Here is the plan….” Continued the minister of Intelligence.

With a final shake of his head and a chink of upraised glasses Zelrath propes the toast “See you on the other side of the pales gentlemen!!” . With a final pop of air the room lay empty but for the 5 crystal glasses unconsciously laying in a circle pattern on the table. They were off again.

Sparhawk leaned against the wind that buffeted the group this high in the air and yelled to be overheard over the sounds of the wind crashing over them, “Slow Down!! I see the encampment.”

Lerland looked out and saw nothing but slowed the carpet anyway, he had learned to trust the Ranger’s senses in these instances more than his own….it was part of what made the group of them so effective, “Where am I headed?”
“There.” Barked Skouser as he pointed to a small rock outcropping, we can make our attack from there.

Landing the carpet with ease Ryndan shook his head, “I still can’t believe were trying to do this....man…if we pull this off they’ll have to make me a knight for sure!”

Rolling his eyes at Ryndan’s comment Skouser hunkered down, “Ok boys this is how I think we can take out the General and the Baron”…

Placing his hand on Skouser’s shoulder Sparhawk whispered into the thief come businessman’s ear, “Not yet. We need to make sure both of us fire our arrows at the same time and we want to be right on top of him”
With whispered annoyance Skouser looked back, “This aint the first fuckin’ time I dun this you know!”

“NOW!”

As Skouser and Sparhawk let loose their arrows they saw the expected flash in front of both the Baron and General as they rode high above the ensuing army on great beasts of burden.

Looking down in hatred and anger both evil kin leading the Iron Wind’s charged yelled out, “Kill those two”.
With his arm upraised and staff pointed down Skouser, and Sparhawk looked at each other, looked back at the General and promptly stuck out their tongues.
Incensed the General cast his most powerful spell to ensure the two insolent pigs suffered while they died but in the process lowered the shield that protected both him and his evil father.

“NOOO!!” With a look of horror General Terrak saw the rapier point of his nemesis, Ryndan Arda pierce his fancy armor as though a hot pin through cloth. Floating high above Lerland smiled as the Baron stuggled against the invisible bonds that allowed him only to look at his son dieing at his feet.

With a double twang from each heavy longbow four arrows pierced the heart of the evil Baron of Five oaks as one.
“Die you shit!” cried Skouser and with a bound up the beast opened up the head of the former Baron like a ripe melon with a viscious kick.

Picking up both swords Ryndan raised them in the air snapping the pieces asunder and crying out, “Father, I avenge you. Stand now vile creatures and look to the East and North. Your leaders are dead, the Dwarves pin you from the flank and the human mercenaries that followed you less willingly already leave your sides. Let it be known that the Haalkitaine Hackers have crushed your spirit…run now….for surely you are all about to come to a dishounourable loss in battle.”

Floating down from the lofty heights Lerland landed gently beside his friends….”Heh..it’s working. The mercenaries are spread to the four winds and the Lugroki are running en masse to the Southern pass.”

“Well, what now?” asked SparHawk?
“Wanna do some huntin?” grinned Skouser eerily.
Grabbing the extra quivers of arrows from the bodies SparHawk and Skouser waved up to Lerland and Ryndan after felling yet four more Lugroki….
“LONG LIVE THE HACKERS!!!”

Epilogue

“Baron Arda, there are some gentlemen here to see you” said a shuffling old man some knew as Mr Noam
“Ooooo. We’re gentlemen now!!”, piped in Sparhawk as he sat down in the overstuffed chairs along with Skouser and Lerland.
“So, Minister of Intelligence, knight and pompus ass. What the fuck do you want!” smiled Skouser.
“Perhaps the new Headmaster of the new University of Magiks could tell you.” Said Ryndan turning to Lerland.

Raising a crystal glass of amber nectar Lerland, the former potion brewer of Pottent Pottables turned to the rest of the Haalkitaine Hackers…..”Gentelemen we have a problem!!”

A lovely day at the park...

Skouser finished reading the note and sighed.

"Well Damra's pretty pissed. I should have seen that one coming…"

Mo's eyes bugged out as he replied: "He's more than pissed off Boss, he's furious! And what's more, I heard that he's so unhappy, if something wuz to happen t'ya, he might have some gold for the person who done made you leave dis world."

"What?!? Are you telling me there's a contract out of me?"

Mo seemed less confident. "Well, it's not exactly dat…just stuff I'heard on da street y'know? I ain't heard nuffin bout price er'anythin. But there's more than that I gots to tell ya."

Mo looked very uncomfortable. "I heard dat you placed a contract on Damra's head too. 50 thousand gold…"

Skouser whigged out. "What?!?…..well that's fucking great. I gotta fix this right now. It's just bullshit! Why the fuck would I wanna off Damra? I just wanna do my own shit and let him do what he's always done."

Skouser took the back of the note and strarted writing a message. He folded it and, took his Hacker seal and sealed it up with wax.

"Take this to Damra. Time to fix this shit."

……………………………………………..

Skouser sat on the bench smoking quietly. The park was one of the few green spots in the city of Haalikitaine. Well manicured lawns, rose bushes and ancient elms and maple trees lent the place a small degree of serenity.
A carriage pulled up to the entrance of the park and three men got out. Two were very large. The smaller one motioned for them both to wait, and headed down the brick path towards Skouser. His eyes darted left and right as he moved. Quickly assessing the layout and the situation. Except for the two, the park was deserted. Eventually he came to a stop in front of the bench.

"Have a seat Boss," said Skouser.

Damra waited a moment, shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the bench next to Skouser. They both contemplated the flowing rose bush for a moment.

"After this latest shit Skouser, I don't know why you'd even call me Boss anymore." Damra replied, the tension and anger thinly disguised in his voice.

Skouser replied carefully, "Didn't mean to piss you off, just wanted to do this thing. I've had….I dunno…a change in thinking."

"Well for fuck's sake, that the fucking understatement of the year you asshole! What the fuck were you thinking? A school? What the fuck? You shoulda cleared dis wit me first dipshit!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know…didn't think it would affect you much though so…"

"Affect me much! Every pimp in town is asking me for your fucking head! Belok's lost his best pickpockets to your fucking Academy. I got word from city bosses that yer rockin the fucking boat and I tell ya Skouser…that boat your on is gonna tip the fuck over!"

Skouser's teeth clenched and his eyes narrowed.

"Yeah well…they're all gonna have to suck it up. Hacker Academy stays. I'll toss you some bucks for what you lost in your cut, but those other fucks are just gonna have to deal. Would you believe one of those fucking pimps showed up at the school and tried to drag two young girls outta there? Damn right that fuck is dead. And I'll kill any asshole who tries sumfin similar."

Damra stared at Skouser incredulous.

"I'm tired of it Damra. This city is the worst I've ever seen, and I've seen a few now. We got kids livin in shit and here I am rolling in gold. And I can't just sit there and ignore it. Yeah, maybe I'm getting soft, whatever…but eventually I'm gonna kick from this world and I'm gonna try and do sumfin decent before I go."

Skouser looked at Damra and said quietly, "I didn't mean to fuck with your business, but looking at it now, yeah….I guess I did. You got my apology. I'll pay you what ever bucks you lost out on. But Hacker Academy stays."

Damra, reached into his pocket. Skouser's right hand strayed over to his other sleeve where a dagger in a wrist sheath lay waiting. Time hung for a long moment.

Then Damra pulled out his pipe and started stuffing it.

Skouser reached into his pocket. Damra stiffened.

Skouser pulled out a box of matches, lit one and offered it to Damra.

Damra grinned and lit his pipe.

"So Boss, what's this shit about it being profitable for someone to take a shot at me?"

Damra's eyes widened. "That doesn't come from me kid, honest."

Skouser gave his boss a long measured look. "Yeah, well just so y'know…the other side of that story is bullshit as well. I didn't put no contract on you either."

Damra nodded his head, "yeah I know…wasn't your style. You'dda just killed me yerself if you wanted me dead. Chances are, dats the only way you coulda dun it anyways."

Skouser and Damra shared a grin. And then as they both heard a sound….ducked and rolled away from the bench. They came to their feet, weapons in hand and looked at each other. Waiting to see if the other would make a move. After a moment both their gazes turned to the remains of two shattered arrows that lay on the ground ten feet away. At the Carriage, Damra's bodyguards were sprinting towards them.

"Nice shield spell Damra. I guess you were worried about Sparhawk eh? Looks like we were both gonna get it though."

Damra scanned the trees and shrubs of the park. "Heh I'd figure if you were gonna do something here that's how you'd do it. That was meant for us both."

Damra shouted to the guards,"Wait right there boys! You'll fuck up my shield spell!"

The bodyguards came up short, weapons in hand and looked around.

At the edge of the park Skouser caught sight of a body falling from a tree. Then another.

"Looks like it's been taken care of…shall we go take a look?"

Damra motioned to his bodyguards to follow.

Lying at the base of a tree was a middle aged man. A dagger was sticking out of the centre of his chest. Skouser walked over to the other figure lying in the grass. He sighed and shook his head.

Mo lay there, without any apparent injury. His body was rigid and frozen, though his eyes darted around wildly.

"You can come out now Abrielle" Skouser said quietly. The air shimmered on the other side of Mo and Abrielle appeared. A small staff in her hand.

"Looks like you were right, Mo has indeed turned rotten."

Hacker Academy

Sparhawk rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I hadn't thought of that. Likely to be hundreds of em out there, starvin, or at least gettin close."

Skouser nodded his head emphatically. "And it's as shitty as it's always been right here in the City as well. Fuckin tired of it...time to do something. I've spoken to Mo. He's arranged to lease an estate about three miles out of town. A little worse for wear, but it can be repaired. Didn't tell the owners what the plans were though. Old school nobles, they shouldn't care as long as they get their money."

"It'll take a few weeks for me to get the word out." Sparhawk mused.

"Well, it'll take a few weeks to get up and running, even if that's just covering the locals, we'll need to work hard to get ready for the influx. Mr. Noam thinks I've lost my mind by the way."

"Mr moneynumbers? I don't get him. He's a weird 'un!" replied Sparhawk, his head shaking.

"He doesn't see the profit. He's right...at least in the short term. Fuck it, if there's any profit it at all it would take years....maybe decades..."

"Thought of a name for the place yet?" asked Sparhawk.

"Yeah...been rolling a few ideas around my head...but nothing seems to stick. So I've decided to call it Hacker Academy. Yeah I know...not very razzledazzle...but it should work. Once the repairs are done and the furniture and staff have been lined up...we open for business."

"Think it'll fly?", Sparhawk was clearly dubious.

"Three square meals a day, training in a trade or profession, healers if yer sick....yeah it'll fly. I'll probably have to build extra wings on the place."

................................

Two weeks later word was out. The lineups outside Hacker Holdings stretched nearly a full block. It appeared every urchin and child that called the Haalikitaine streets home had heard the news and wanted in. Free food, a place to live, no more slumming. The Hacker Academy was open for business, but not everyone was pleased.
Two pimps were discovered dead....with an arrow each in their right eyesockets. Word on the street was they didn't like losing their newest 'workers' to this new Academy. Word also on the street was that anyone who didn't like the idea of Hacker Academy had better keep their trap shut.
Everyone in town knew Skouser the Lucky had lost his mind. Why pay to feed and house the poor? The idea was ludicrous. And what's more, rumour had it he'd even sent people out searching for those orphaned by the recent battle at Eyrie's pass. It was madness.

The thing was....everyone in town also knew Skouser was prone to killing people that didn't agree with him. The two dead pimps was lesson enough. At least for those who were even mildly streetwise.
The Noble who leased the property to Skouser needed additional persuasion.
Once he had learned what his property was being used for he attempted to back out of the deal. His disappearance was a topic of much discussion amongst the Nobles. Still, Skouser had a contract and a signature. And more importantly...an alibi.

He had indeed made a splash with this new uncharted course...but unfortunately for Skouser, he'd also caused no small amount of consternation amongst the powers of the city. One of the most important being a tavern owner that went by the name of Damra.

Grumash of the Bone Crushers

Grumash sniffed the air with his twisted Lugroki visage snarling, “Bring Him to me or I smash you”. The hobnailed boots of the messenger Lugroki scampered away from the cruel General of the Bone Crushers, most feared of the Lugroki war divisions, to fetch the scented evil man.

Smiling malisciously Grumash pulled out his spiked cudgel that was oft covered with blood and smashed it down spitting the head of the sow near him splattering like a pomegranate. The Lugroki’s evil laugh was muffled as he tore a piece of raw flesh and allowed the blood and juices to flow freely while the body still twitched.

Looking up from his meal the war general spat a large ball of gristle at the approaching human, “You stink and ruin my meat. Give me Gold.”

“Ah, soon enough my ugly friend, soon enough. The pass is clear and your route towards the West should soon be clear”, said the Baron of Five Oaks. “My son will join you in battle on the fields of Nortagle turning his black guard on his own men”.

“I trust nothing you say. We will smash them without you, and eat their hearts! We will burn their huts and torture their women, horde their treasures and rape the lands.”

“Yes, quite, Just the small issue of Magic, Military, and a few powerful humans to stop you.”

“But you smash them for us right? Or do I kill you now.”

The cold trickle of sweat rolling down the Baron’s cheek made Grumash laugh evilly all the while watching for the first signs of magiks.

“We have a deal then?”

“May the tribes let me die of old age if we don’t”

Mounting his horse the Baron finally sighed a relief to be away from the General. Despite his own considerable power the cruel Lugroki of the Bone Crusher’s was known to have gathered considerable protections in his conquests. Lets hope they were enough to kill the likes of those meddling adventurers. First Damra, Ironhand, and the knight and now their bretheren as well. Ah well, their deaths would be as sweet as the knights had been….oh did he scream so nicely for his family. The Baron smiled, he had set the Iron Wind free again to wreack havoc.

An epiphany for Skouser.

All the way back from Sir Kertin's office Skouser considered the latest turn of events.

The last piece of the puzzle of this Ohran becursed staff was nothing more than an excercise by the powers that be to keep the Hackers busy and to test our metal and worthiness! Skouser's countenance darkened at the manipulation. Then his face brightened as he remembered the Minister's comments about the possibility of Damra perhaps taking a 'promotion' to another city. Skouser had learned much from his mentor, but it had become plain that he had outgrown the role his boss had given him, and he was itching to take serious control of affairs here in Haalikitaine.

As he made his way through the streets his eyes rested on the familiar sight of beggars and urchins in the street, and the rampant poverty. Here and there, the finely dressed and well heeled went about their 'important' business, oblivious to the suffering around them. Haalikitaine was a cold city, and not just in damp and chilling weather. The classes were rigidly divided and those who were unlucky enough to be born on the wrong side of the docks...well, if you were sharp enough you could survive, if not, eventually you fell prey to the various predators that called the city home.

Skouser keenly felt the injustice. It drove him to rages and helped fire the motivation that made him fight harder, work smarter and plan, plan, plan. He scowled in disgust as he remembered the debate in Kertin's office. Ryndan had been all for getting another ten thousand peasants killed in his grand scheme to trap the Baron and the Arch Prelate. His bile rose as he thought of his friend's disregard for the lives of so many people. People like his brother Fredo. Sure to be dead these many months now. Perhaps his corpse still buried in a snowbank at Eyrie's pass.

And then the idea came.

Just an inkling at first. As he watched yet another urchin scurry under an awning, sodden blanket in hand, shivering from the cold.

His compatriots had always accused him of being too direct. Of lacking subtlety. Well, his latest idea was sure to set both Lerland and Ryndan off. Coddled little princelings, they'd be aghast at what he proposed. But no matter, he would use his own money and see that it was done.

With vigour Skouser opened the door to his office, and he flung his wet jacket to the couch. A servant appeared immediately, warm tea on a tray.

"Send for Mr. Noam!" barked Skouser. He poured himself a cup and added liberal amounts of cream and honey. All the while his plan formulating in his head...

"You called sir?" Mr Noam stood in the doorway, his eyebrow raised in inquiry.

"Ah yes, Mr. Noam. Please have a seat. Some tea perhaps?"

Mr. Noam accepted the cup and sat down across the desk from Skouser. His curiosity apparent.

"Mr. Noam, I have just recently had an idea. How much again is in my personal accounts from Hacker Holdings? Oh yes, and there is some more gold coming as well. We had some success on our latest um....outing."

"Well Mr. Cedric....I'm not sure quite what the amount his...but you should have over a hundred thousand gold in various forms available. What is it you have in mind?"

Skouser smiled and then carefully related his plan to the infamous accountant. Mr Noam listened and before his employer was finished, he was indeed aghast.

"But Mr Cedric, that doesn't make financial sense at all! I don't see how you could realise any sort of return on that kind of investment!"

Advanced Training

" Zaris, can you come over here and smell the Cauldron"

"I'm sure there is something amiss... It smell like gun powd...."

BOOMMMM... Before Lerland can finish his story the Cauldron blows up into a million pieces.
Lerland had been studying hard with Zaris in the Dungeons of Hacker Holdings, with very little success.

" Holy cow, good thing we placed those protective shields around us! We could have been killed" states Lerland

Zaris, after picking herself of the ground, could not help but smile fondly at her student.

"Ah Lerland, it is of no consequence. This is a common mistake Novices make when attempting to create the ingredients required for Anti Magic Spells"

" NOVICE!!" grumbles Lerland " You would consider me a Novice?"

"Well of course Lerland! You may have mastered the basic Wizardry spells, if that. You have yet to even touch the more powerful spells, such as Word of Death or Word of Blindness... we will begin training you on theses spells once you have proven your abilities to maintain the concentration required." " As of yet, you would most likely kill your companions by accident wiht the lack of control you have shown lately! Its amazing your teamates haven't hacked your head off with all the burns I see on tem! Looks like you guys have ben holidaying on the sun, their faces are so bright!"

"Ah Lerland, I see the frown on your face.. Do you understand that most Elves take a decade to even master the spells you have at your fingertips?"

" You rarely even need a spell component for your more basic spells now, this has been seen as a great achievement by your piers in the colledge. I did not want to tell you this, quite frankly your head is already large enough"

" Now, since your such an ambitious young man, I have agreed to teach you the next Aeromancy spell you should learn. The colledge developed this spell as a defense against powerful Necromancers. "

" Now come over here and listen closely, creating Anti magic is a special skill only precious few can master"

"Ah Master, may I inquire, " states Leraland "is this a spell your students could learn and at what stage in there development?"

" Lerland, DO NOT tell anybody you are learning Aeromancy spells, your ability to cast these spells is to remain top secret! Dorn Ironhand and Sir Kerten Murel have instructed me to ... oh.. I say too much!"
"Just sit down, shut up and listen......"

The Iron Wind is Coming.....

My friends, based on my research and recent findings I believe the Iron Wind is coming and should take precedence over our future planning. I have suspected this for the last few months and was moving forward with Paige researching this very issue. But alas, my research partner is gone.

I vote we start discussing the matter with Sir Kerten Murel. As well, I have a feeling we should pay my father a visit soon. Our upper circle of retired adventurers who are protecting us know damn well what’s going on here.

While the armies of the Emperor and the Church move against each other, an Evil has arisen and is being ignored. I tell you my friends, the Iron Wind is coming and the Good people in the land are not ready to combat a legion of Undead and Devil forces.

Having the power of the Rod of Absolution, may help in this matter as well...
If only we could find out how long we have until, well, I’m unsure what exactly will happen, but great evil is on its way….

Traxx, I will send a note to my paid scholars to immediately abandon my "secret" research project (research on Necromancy) and to start learning and acquiring all references to the Iron Wind. Are there indications of when it will arise? What is coming? What happened last time the Iron Wind arose? Where is it coming from? In what form will it take? I want these questions answered, at all cost. I also will send a note to Kerten Muriel and to Dorn Iron Hand (my father) on behalf of the Hackers, identifying our concerns on this matter.

After we destroy this cult and obtain the next part of the Rod, Skouser will have some work to do… remember the list of “bad guys” we found?

Skouser, take this book of names we found, you know what to do. All I ask is that you don’t kill Kelendros’ daughter from the Bath House. We need to use politics on this one… that’s where Rynden and I come in. You take care of the “other guys” and we will start talking to our sources as well.

Rynden, I believe our first step should be to discuss this issue, along with the Iron Wind, with my father as well.

Afterwards, let’s go talk to your new boss, Sir Kerten Murel, and see what he has to say.??