Death of Moon and Darkness: Part 6

"Come on lad!" Merrik yelled as he started making his way down a path that followed on the ridge.1

Andellin had grown fond of this scruffy old human, he had a warm yet rough friendliness to him. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad on this island after all. But it was all so strange, the voice and the dragon of clouds. Something told him that there was something the spire, something that was calling to him. He had to find out more.2

He turned around and left his point on the ridge to catch up with Merrik. "Merrik, what is all that?" Andellin pointed out across the island, walking along side him.3

"What do you mean boy?" Merrik asked.4

"The ruins, all across the jungle and on that spire?" Andellin specified.5

"That's something I've been trying to find out for the longest time." he chuckled to himself, "The best I could get from the natives was that this place used to be a stronghold. A community of human dragon worshipers. You can find dragon statues all over the jungle floor."6

"So you're saying that there used to be a civilization here. Well, how did the halflings come to be here?" Andellin asked confused.7

"Don't know, never was able to get them to tell me anything about that. You know as much as I know lad." Merrik shrugged.8

Andellin let the conversation fall silent there a moment. He considered a moment before asking his next question, but decided to ask anyway.9

"Merrik, tell me about that spire in the center of the island. What do you know about it?"10

"What, Citadel Peek?" The old man pointed. Andellin nodded. "Can't tell you much, the natives are really supersticious about it. They say a great monster lives there. But I don't really know how they can figure that, they don't ever go very far into the jungle past the wall of the ridge, they say that devils plague the jungle. Personally, I've only been a mile or two into the deeper jungle, I've seen the creatures, nasty beings you definitely don't want to get mixed up with."11

"So you don't know what's there?" Andellin asked again.12

"Unfortunately I don't lad, why the interest?" Merrik inquired.13

"Well ... I get this wierd feeling when I saw it ... something tells me I have to go to it ... something very odd." Andellin trailed off.14

Merrik gave the drow a strange look, "Sounds like those swamp wraiths sucked the sense right out of you."15

They both laughed at the his joke, letting the matter pass for the moment. It was just now that Andellin had noticed that the sun had broken through the clouds overhead. The sun was quite welcoming to him. And as they passed further and further along the path on the ridge he could see out to sea, the entire island was surrounded by a choking veil of fog. It was almost as if it was there to hide island away, keep it away from unwanted travelers. It was no wonder that no ship had ever found Merrik, and it occured to him that the same would be for himself.16

As the afternoon heat began to set in, the two had finally come to the halfling community. It was a small hamlet of rough rudimentary shacks. Despite their primitive appearance they seemed quite sturdy; mad from dried swamp reed and jungle vines. When Andellin saw the first of little people he was a bit shocked. They necklaces of animal teeth, piercings in the nose and ears, dark-skinned, tattered cloth tunics, unkempt hair, and a savage look in their eyes. As Merrik and he passed through the shacks and huts eyes began to fall in suspicious gazes upon.17

Merrik noticed his eyes to dart nevously about, and decided to give him a pat on the back. "Relax lad, they won't hurt you."18

Andellin tried, but still the eyes stared relentlessly at him. "Come on, we're not far from my little house." Merrik led the way.19

His house was easy enough to spot, it was the only one tall enough shelter a human. It was quite large indeed, even for one person. He couldn't be sure as to why, but at this point it really didn't matter much to him.20

Merrik pushed aside the draping palms that divided the interior from the outside. As they passed through Andellin saw a most peculiar sight. The hut was filled with clay pots, several finely crafted workbenches, a similarly crafted table and pair of chairs, a string of lanterns hanging from the brush-weaved ceiling, a cauldron and hearth on the far side, and strewn across the workbenches were tons of vials, flasks, tubes, and other glass equipment.21

"Welcome to my home, and my laboratory." said Merrik.22

"How in the world did you get all this, I thought you said you were stranded here?" Andellin asked.23

"That's right lad." he answered flatly.24

"So how did you come by all of this?" his hand sweeping across the large singular room.25

"I made them." Merrik said flatly.26

"But how?" Andellin asked, further confused.27

"Science provides wonderful advantages. I used my knowledge of elements to find the right mixture of pottery clay, and through experimentation I learned that if you heat sand to a high enough point you create glass and shaping it was easy enough. I learned the mechanics of engineering and the art of carpentry very quickly. How do you think I got this house and the furniture? You think this stuff grows on trees?" Merrik explained.28

Andellin just smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. The old man continued to amaze him. He was far more resourceful and crafty than he gave him credit for.29

"So your a scientist, a carpenter, and an engineer. Is there anything you can't do?" Andellin said while looking at the strange glass containers on the workbenches.30

"Well, you don't get to be as old as I do without learning a few tricks along the way!" The old man chuckled.31


That night, the two of them remained in the shack enjoying the fire and a strange stew that Merrik had prepared. When they finished the old man spent some time writing in a crude book, a stack of several other books had been stacked up next to his workbench. Andellin noticed as well many strange contraptions next to the books; it was obvious that Merrik was a genious of a sailor.32

Andellin had declined leaf-weaved blanket that Merrik offered, and preferred to sleep outside under the stars. Under the light of the shining moon he fiddled with the twisted dagger, resurfacing the feelings of his lost loved ones. But there was more that preocupied his mind.33

There was still voice that had plagued him since he had been stranded on this island. It was a curse that haunted and intrigued him. He still knew nothing. Who was this cloud dragon, who was Orron, the Crimson Claw?34

It was a mystery, he had to find out more. He had to go to Citadel Peek. There were some questions that needed answering. But that would come soon enough, and so Andellin took peace in the moment. Enjoying the celestial twilight as it remined him of the happy memories of his rendevouzes with Lunarai.35

He breathed deeply feeling exaustion pour over him. Sleep came easy, as the expanse of stars and moon twinkled in the distance.36