Elsewhere
The dead end cave surprised Vorodon. It had been outfitted with the finest in stolen furniture. Thick rugs covered the beaten cave floor. Fine silk tapestries and masterful seascape paintings hung from the walls, giving the cold cave an almost regal feel. A four-poster bed took up much of a large nook to the south, and nearby stood an oak desk with a matching armoire. Alas, much of the furniture was damp and ruined, spattered and stained with gore, and deeply scarred by swordplay. Against the opposite wall from the bed, stood four massive chests. The combined hoard of Jervoe and Mingo, though only Mingo was now left of the two brothers!
The scarred, pale, red-haired man did not have his brother’s charisma, but what he lacked in people skills, he made up for with an unmatched ruthlessness, most of the men feared Mingo, whereas most ‘loved’ Jervoe.
Vorodon had accompanied the shouting Mingo and his handpicked cronies to the cave. The whole way, the wicked man was perversely grinning, happy to have been rid of his brother, at the hands of these crazed ghouls! He screamed to the impressive hulk, promises of gold and fortune, trying to recruit Vorodon to his cause.
With them were three others, two of Mingo’s chosen and an unwanted, sniveling wizard, who called himself Hamako. The “wizard”, as Vorodon learned by overhearing snippets of conversation during the earlier birthday feast, had charmed his way into Jervoe’s good graces, but was for some reason, reluctant to cast any magic, as proof of his powers, providing various excuses in lieu of arcana.
Tib the Terrible, swung twin horseman flails, in the air, impressed with the whistling sound they generated, as he stood by Mingo’s flank, while the new bandit leader, desirous of new men as he was, fiddled and ogled the four chests, while holding an oil lamp in one hand and his thick, snaggle-toothed broadsword in the other.
Bigbones, a woman who stood a head above six feet, was Mingo’s lover. A huge, fearsome woman, who’s grim countenance was backed up by a formidable bardiche, a colossal wide-bladed pole-ax, which she was now leaning on, while looking suspiciously at Vorodon. She had never seen one bigger than herself.
Vorodon noticed that she did not seem intimidated by him, in fact it almost seemed as if the moose of a woman, was casting amorous eyes in his direction!
Mingo was busy examining the chests and did not notice.
“What did I tell you ogre! Treasure! It is mine now, and some for you as well. Keep an eye on the entrance. I don’t want any more surprises this night! If anything, or anyone enters, you have my permission to slay them.”
