Origin Scroll

    "When do you want this meeting?" asked Mordac.

    "I want the meeting set for sometime after you have gained the information that we need to ally him," answered Sarac. "Tell him six months from now. If you have not found the information by then, make some excuse to delay the meeting another six months. Do not give Guldar any clue as to what the meeting will be about. I do not want to rush the attack this time. If Egam realizes that we are using these attacks to flush him out, he will purposely stay hidden. I would rather wait and guarantee that we can find Egam, than rush it and foil another attempt. I will be spending some time in Lanoir. I have heard through one of our Black Devils that there is a large library at one of the temples down there. I will gain admittance somehow and peruse their volumes. If you need to contact me, send the message via our Black Devils unless it is urgent. Remember, the use of mind speak over such distances would expose us to detection."

    "Your will, Master," submitted Mordac.

    Sarac had a long journey before him. He could not use magical means for this trip without certain detection by Egam. Very few magicians had developed their powers to that extent and he was sure that Egam would take notice of such an event. Still he would be free to use many spells that could be detected only by someone within the general vicinity of the caster. Sarac grabbed his cape and staff and went to the stables.

    It had been a while since Sarac had been on a long trip with Cauldron, his great black horse. Cauldron was a Sordoan stallion, the finest available anywhere. Sarac dug his heels into Cauldron and set off for the coast. His first sizable town would be Bordon on the border with Cordonia. There he would have to start disguising himself. Not only did Egam have spies everywhere, but he didn't want to be recognized by any of his own Black Devils, lest they inadvertently give him away. He would check with some of his Black Devils along the way, but only those who were considered the most reliable.

    About a week into his journey, Sarac ran across a band of Yaki scavenging for food. The Yaki had simple minds and were easy to control, but these Yaki were starving. They would not be controlled. Their minds had shut out what little thought they were capable of and raw instinct for survival had taken over. Sarac blasted the first few with simple fireballs and lashed Cauldron with his staff. Cauldron took off at a gallop. The Yaki might out sprint the stallion, but they would never be able to maintain the pace. Sarac looked back and cast a couple of Tree Mines. The Tree Mines hit their target and two giant trees exploded in a mist of wood slivers. The slivers sliced into the ranks of the Yaki. Those that weren't immediately torn to shreds hesitated long enough to ensure Sarac's lead. Sarac mused that it would be in poor taste to be eaten by the very Yaki he had unleashed.

    On approaching Bordon, Sarac chose his first disguise. He chose the bright green tunic of a Cordonian courier and rode into town. He looked forward to a fine meal and decent bed for the night. He dismounted in front of the Wagon Wheel Inn as it was the most gaily painted building in town and looked fairly new. He was not interested in sleeping in an old musty room. He tossed the reins to a small boy outside the inn and told the boy to feed and stable the horse. Sarac went into the inn and ordered a meal and a room. The meal was satisfying and Sarac lay in bed feeling elated. It actually felt good to be off traveling the land for a change, not studying or reading old scrolls. Sarac contentedly drifted off to sleep.