Scene 5: Blades of Avernum Forum

Scene 5: Blades of Avernum Forum Dikiyoba
Ephesos, Dikiyoba, and Student of Trinity enter. Student of Trinity stoops to examine a rock.

Student of Trinity: This is a nice rock.

Dikiyoba: What's that over there?

Dikiyoba points to three figures entering from the other side of the forum. Ephesos watches them for a moment.

Ephesos: It looks like Fatman... and Nicothodes... and Slartucker. Is he injured?

Ephesos runs over. Dikiyoba follows. Student of Trinity looks up from the rock.

Student of Trinity: Hey! Wait up!

Student of Trinity follows them. He catches up as Ephesos casts a healing spell on Slartucker.

Slartucker: Thank you!

Ephesos: How did the hunt go? Not so good, I take it.

Fatman: Eh, whatever.

Slartucker: The thing got Lord Grimm and I got stabbed.

Nicothodes: Oh, shut up. It was an accident.

Dikiyoba: Nicothodes isn't as cheerful as Dikiyoba remem...

Nicothodes: I said, SHUT UP!

Slartucker: And Nicothodes was attacked by the thing as well.

Nicothodes: Hmmph.

Dikiyoba: Dikiyoba never thought Dikiyoba would hear Nicothodes talk like that.

Nicothodes: That's because you're just STUPID!

Ephesos: It looks like Nicothodes was transformed into a flamer.

Slartucker: Yes, that's what I figured too.

Fatman: Nicothodes is a flamer? Does that mean that if she gets hit hard enough, she will explode?

Nicothodes: TRY IT AND I'LL STAB YOU, FREAK!

Fatman looks at the rock that Student of Trinity is holding.

Student of Trinity: You know, I think this might be a rough dia... hey!

Fatman grabs the rock and tosses it at Nicothodes. The rock bounces off harmlessly.

Nicothodes: DIE!

Nicothodes chases after Fatman with her mechanical pencil held ready. The others watch.

Nicothodes: I'LL KILL YOU!

Fatman: Help!

Ephesos: I have no sympathy.

Slartucker: Even when she's homicidal, she's cute.

Student of Trinity: Shouldn't someone do something?

Ephesos: If Fatman is injured, I'll heal him. Otherwise, I'm collecting the herbs I need to make more energy potions.

Ephesos walks off. Dikiyoba follows.

Student of Trinity: Aha! There's a sling!

Student of Trinity picks it up. Fatman and Nicothodes run by again.

Fatman: Someone help me! She's psycho!

Nicothodes: I'LL KI... wha?

Nicothodes halts as a rock flies through the air just over her head. Student of Trinity quickly hides the sling behind his back. Fatman hides behind a rock. Nicothodes looks around.

Nicothodes: ALL RIGHT, WHERE'D HE GO?

Student of Trinity: Is he really worth worrying about?

Nicothodes thinks for a moment.

Nicothodes: I suppose you're right. But Fatman had better WATCH OUT!

Nicothodes, Student of Trinity, and Slartucker walk away. Fatman peers over the rock. As he is about to stand up, he senses something behind him. He looks behind him. The thing is there.

Fatman: Oh, great. I just knew this was going to happen eventually.

Fatman blacks out. He wakes up sometime later when he hears Slartucker calling.

Slartucker: Fatman! Where'd you go?

Student of Trinity: I think I saw him last in this area.

Nicothodes: But he's stupid. Let's just leave him.

Fatman stands up.

Fatman: im hear

Slartucker: I guess you've been attacked by the thing.

Fatman: yes wear r ephesos adn dikiyoba

Slartucker: I think they're just over that hill.

Suddenly, they hear Ephesos yell.

Ephesos: What!

Slartucker: What could have happened now?

Student of Trinity: Come on. Let's find out.

Slartucker, Nicothodes, Fatman, and Student of Trinity hurry over the hill. Ephesos is looking at an unconscious Dikiyoba.

Slartucker: What happened?

Ephesos: I only had my back turned for a moment! A moment!

Student of Trinity: It seems that a moment is all the time the thing needs.

Dikiyoba regains consciousness and stands up.

Dikiyoba: Dmknoiygba is fine. At least, Dxtrgrtba thinks that Dbkhgvyfa is fine.

Slartucker looks around nervously.

Slartucker: Clearly, we are no longer safe even in small groups. Do you have enough herbs for a while, Ephesos?

Ephesos: Yes. Let's get out of here.

Slartucker, Nicothodes, Dikiyoba, Fatman, Ephesos, and Student of Trinity exit.