Inkebah

~ A Traveller’s Tale ~

Foreword:

Sorry for the formatting problems, MS Word made a horrid mess out of things... when I get more time I will fix up the formatting. However, I wanted to get this posted as soon as possible, so... please read on!

This is a story of my good friend, Inkebah. And the time I spent with him between 1 P.Y. -to- 9 P.Y.

I will start this Biography of Inkebah by first introducing myself:

My name is Hal’lembicus. But my friends call me “Hal.” Like us all, I am from our native land of Ispar. A young aspiring Mage of Gharu’ndim origin, I had just recently begun my practices in the school of Life Magic when I was summoned to this island of Dereth by an unknown force. Some say it was a wizard named Asheron that called us here. But I have trouble believing that such a powerful magician can, or could have, ever existed. I have seen much poverty and despair in my life on Ispar, and I have committed myself to helping others in need. I currently do not have the resources to aid as much as I would hope to, but I help as much as I can with my limited power. Now that you have a somewhat good idea of what I am like, I can begin my biography of Inkebah. It should be noted that he was reluctant to have his experiences in Dereth written down on paper.

However, he finally agreed when I told him the subject would be treated respectfully.

I first spied Inkebah in the local tavern at Holtburg. He was slouched over a wound that he was nursing, wincing in pain every few moments. From my table I could hear him mumbling something about “Drudges.”

I moved to a table closer to him, to get a better perspective of what he was doing. From my new angle I could see he was trying to disinfect his wound by pouring Ale on it, taking occasional sips from the mug. He didn’t seem to be having much luck. I decided to intervene.

“Hail, good fellow. Is there something I can assist you with?” I said, in the friendliest tone I could muster.

He jumped, surprised to see me - He must have been too preoccupied with his injury to have noticed that there was anyone else in the tavern. Quickly, he turned around in his chair, still holding a piece of cloth to his wound.

“I am in no need of assistance. Thank you for your offer.” He turned back around, facing away from me, once again, unsuccessfully trying to bandage his wound with the piece of cloth.

“Excuse me, sir” I said “But it looks to me as though you do need my assistance.”

He sighed heavily. And still facing away from me said “I do not need your help, I have this under control. Now, please, leave me be.”

“As you wish...” I said, reluctantly.

I wondered why he wasn’t using special healing bandages, or even a kit. It then struck me, I looked at the tattered clothes he was wearing, and his mangled old sword. He hadn’t the finances to purchase any proper healing equipment.

As I turned to go back to my table, I discreetly left twelve Pyreals beside him on the table, more than enough for a crude healing kit. I then went back to my table, and my warm meal.

I watched him for quite some time, and he still hadn’t yet noticed the Pyreals I had left on the table for him.

Then, as he reached up for his mug of Ale, his hand brushed the Pyreals, and a few of them fell to the floor, making a loud tinking noise. He turned around quickly to see exactly Twelve Pyreals on his table, and on the floor. He hurriedly picked them all up and put them in a previously empty pouch. Then he looked around, puzzled at how they could have gotten there, but he didn’t seem to care much.

With his new found small fortune, he hobbled over to a provisioner who was selling goods in the tavern.

I saw the provisioner reach for a crude healing kit from one of the shelves in his inventory, and hand it to the man I would later find out was named Inkebah.

I was happy to see that he was doing well with what little I had given him, and I let a small smile spread across my face.

As he turned around to go back to his table, his eyes caught my smile. He quickly looked away, and paced over to his table, still clutching his wound. By now he had no doubt made the connection; that I had placed the Pyreals on his table earlier.

As soon as he got to his table he unrolled the healing kit bandages to reveal the small disinfectant powders and healing oils in the centre of the roll. He quickly went to work on his injury, dropping the bandages, and mumbling from time-to-time. Finally, he finished tending his wound He tied up the remaining amount of bandage that he hadn’t used with a small string and gingerly placed it into his backpack.

I was glad, I had clearly helped him greatly by giving him those Pyreals.

A few hours later.

I had forgotten about him, and I was reading some Arcane Scrolls, hoping to learn a new life spell.

*fizzle*

*fizzle*

*fizzle*

Blast it, I’ve burned my last bag of Hyssop. I suppose I’ll have to pay a visit to the Arch-mage, to buy a few bags.

As I got up, I glanced about the tavern, expecting Inkebah to be gone. I was surprised to see him over at the barkeep’s Inventory, arguing about something, I could not tell from where I was standing though. I moved in closer, not drawing any attention to myself. I could hear them speaking clearly now.

“I’m sorry, sir. But I cannot do what you are suggesting. Now please, move along, there are others waiting to be served.” Wilomine the barkeep said.

Inkebah protested “Please, ma’am. I promise, I will repay you later.”

“I’m sorry, but that is not how we do business here.”

It was clear he was not getting anywhere.

I layed down an “I” note, worth one-hundred Pyreals, on the counter between the two.

“Wilomine” I said “get this man a warm meal, I will pay for it.”

“Very well, sir.” Said Wilomine to me, casting a coy smirk at Inkebah as she turned around to prepare the meal”

“Come with me, my friend. Let us sit together” I said to Inkebah.

“Uh... Thank you.” Inkebah said, almost sheepishly.

We went to the table that I had been previously seated in.

“Thank you, again.” Inkebah said. “I will repay you for this.” I could tell by the conviction in his voice that he had every intent to do so. But it would not be fair to charge him for the meal, he could barely afford the Ale he had purchased earlier.

“There is no need to repay me, friend. It is a gift.” I said to Inkebah, hardily patting him on the shoulder.

“No... I will repay you, this, I swear.” he said, in a very stern voice.

“Very well. If you wish it so.” I surmised that it was a mater of pride. This did not look like a man who enjoyed uninvited charity, even though he required it. So I decided, let him agree to pay me, although I doubted we would ever meet again.

At this time Wilomine arrived at the table with Inkebah’s meal ready.

“Here you are, sir” Wilomine said to Inkebah, laying the plate down on the table in front of him.

“Thanks...”Inkebah said, not even looking up from his plate to speak to Wilomine.

As she was about to walk off Inkebah spoke out. “Wait!”

Wilomine turned to Inkebah asking “Is there something wrong with your meal?”

“No, not at all... It looks delicious.” He reached into his pouch to pull out his last Pyreal.

“Here, this is for you.” Inkebah handed the Pyreal Wilomine.

“Thank you, sir.” Wilomine said, politely before going back to her bartending.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your meal, my friend. I have to go fetch some Hyssop. Brb.” I say to Inkebah as I got up to leave.

“Brb?” He said, puzzled.

“Oh, it is one of the terms people use around here. You will find many people here have taken on a completely different dialect than that from our native home of Ispar. It stands for ‘be right back’.” With this I walked over to the door, I looked back as I was exiting the tavern to see a riddled expression on Inkebah’s face. I gave a slight chuckle as I walked out onto the stone patted road outside the tavern.

As I walked down the small road to Holtburg proper I saw a merchant carrying goods in a wagon pulled by a cow. We both politely nodded to each other.

A few minutes later at the Arch-Mage’s I heard I screams coming from near the tavern. I ran up the small hill leading to the tavern, wand at ready, fearing perhaps that a group of Banderlings might be invading the town.

Instead as I near the top of the hill I see Inkebah, with one foot on the cows corpse, brandishing his bloody sword waving it in the air, yelling

“Fear not, fair citizens, for I have slain the wicked bovine menace that hath plagued this berg!!”

The burlier of surrounding civilians rushed in to restrain him.

Inkebah protests “Wait! What are you doing?! You should be cheering, I have dispatched the evil that was endangering this town!”

They finally gain control of him, and he ceases to flail wildly. Only questioning why they are holding him down.

“You may keep him in here until the Sentinels arrive.” shouts out Wilomine from the entrance to her tavern.

“Thank you, Wilomine.” Says one of the civilians restraining Inkebah.

They hold him up and push him towards the tavern.

“Go on.” One of them says to him.

“I’m am going. There is no need to push me!” Inkebah says to them.

He walks into the tavern, followed by at least four people.

Meanwhile, I am still standing maybe four feet from the scene, appalled by what has just happened.

I see the merchant, which the cow belonged to, picking up goods from his turned over cart. Inkebah must have knocked it over in the fury of “slaying” the cow.

I rush over to help him in reacquiring his displaced merchandise.

“Thank you, kind sir.” He says to me, looking up from gathering his things for a moment.

“That vagrant has made this errand now impossible for me. The best I can do is gather my stock, and maybe I can buy another cow to pull my cart.”

“Where is it you were taking these items?” I ask the travelling merchant.

“Glendon Wood, they have a great demand for these long sturdy sticks, I think I can make a weeks worth of Pyreals in just one trip there.”

“Well, best of luck to you.” I say as we tie down the last bundle of sticks onto his cart.

“Thank you, and good day.”He says over his shoulder from the front of his cart.

At this point it was nearing Evensong, the Sentinels would be here for Inkebah soon. I decided to go see him where he was being held; the tavern.

As I enter the tavern I see the people that had restrained Inkebah scattered about the room, guarding doors, keeping watch for the Sentinel. Inkebah is stooped over on a small wooden chair. His rusty sword and backpack have been removed, taken away from him, being held by one of the guards.

I step in closer, and pull up a chair beside Inkebah.

“Hello, my friend.” I say “What is it that has driven you to slay an innocent cow?”

“Innocent?!” He scoffs “That cow would have killed us all if he had the chance. Luckily, for these villagers, I dispatched it.” He goes on “No one else seems to see the evil intent in these cow’s eyes! They are the root of all evil!!”

I wondered how someone could come about to detesting cows so much, he truly thought that cows were the root of all evil.

“Why is that you loath cows like this?” I queried.

“Because, they are evil creatures, and they wish us nothing but harm. I will tell you my story, then, perhaps you will understand.

When I was young, on Ispar, my family owned a farm, and a cow. I had no hate of cows then, but that is simply because I did not know what evil thoughts brewed behind their eyes.

I first started suspecting our cow was evil when I was on my way out the door one morning, to tend to my chores, and I slipped on a cow-pie. I could see the cow there... starring at me, almost mocking me with its very silence!”

Inkebah was beginning to raise his voice now “I knew it had planned it! But my parents did not believe me, so I let it pass... but I was determined to prove what this cow was up to.”

His hands now in thight fists, and his face turning to a slight reddish hue.

“The trick was, making the cow think I had slipped on one of its elaborately placed excrement patties. This was my plan: I would go on the opposite side of the barn that the cow was on, and pretend to slip, the cow would then rush over to mock me... It was fool-proof.”

He went on.

“I put my plan into action, the scenario, just as I had planned it, this would be the moment of truth... I yelled out, saying, ‘Oh darn, I’ve slipped on a cow-pie; how clumsy of me’. I waited for the cow to come running, where I would confront it about its evil ways. I waited... I waited for more than five minutes, nothing... The answer was clear: Obviously, the cow had demonic powers! How else could it have known that it was a trick?! I quickly told my parents of what had just happened, surely, now the would see it my way. But alas, the cow had blinded then with its evil cow-magic. They simply sighed deeply and told me to go about my chores as normal. As I was cleaning out the barn, I saw it again... The cow, starring at me, with the same void look on its visage. Yet, I knew it was cackling on the inside.”

Now Inkebah was shouting.

“I never did kill that cow, but I should have! Right there!! But as I grew up, I saw more evidence of cow-evil, and I was certain it was THIS cows doing!! He is the ruler of the other cows! He commands the legion of bovine terrors! It is to late to slay the master cow, he has died... or so he wants us to believe. The only way I can stop this threat is by killing each and every cow I see!!!”

At this point Inkebah got up raving so madly I could not even understand his words. The guards bolted over to restrain him, trying to inhibit his movement. They finally gain control of the ranting

man.

Just at that point, I hear the door to the tavern creak open, there is a sentinel here. He has come for Inkebah. He speaks.

“Is this the man who has slain the merchants cow?”

They all snap to attention, leaving Inkebah sitting in the chair. Inkebah settled down.

“Yes, this is him, sir. We believe him mad.” says one of the guards.

“I see...” says the sentinel, stroking his beard, wondering what action he should take.

“What is your name, vagrant?” Asks the sentinel.

“My name is Inkebah, and I have saved this town from the cow!” he says, raising his voice slightly.

“Well, Inkebah, if we take no action in prosecuting you, will you promise never to do anything like this again?”

Inkebah looks around, as if weighing his decisions.

“No” He replies. “I will slay every cow that I see!!!” He yells jumping up from his chair. But the guards push him back into the chair with a thump.

“Well” the sentinel says, in a slightly exasperated tone. “If you continue to be a disruption to Dereth then we will have to jail you until you change your mind... being aware of this, do you still say you will go on slaying innocent cows? ”

“Yes” Inkebah says, clearly worried about what will happen next.

“Alright then, it is your choice. You will now be portalled to one our prisons”

The sentinel raises his hands, preparing to cast his spell, but I bellow in.

“Wait!” I say, the sentinel stops in mid-spell.

“What is it?” he says to me, I can tell he has other things to attend to.

“This man is a new arrival, he is disoriented, and jailing him will do no good.”

“And what do you suggest we do? Just let him keep on killing peoples cows’?” The sentinel says, quite annoyed at my interruption.

“No... I could take him under my custody.” I say. I know it is a long-shot, but I do not think jail would help this man.

“...And you would make sure he did not kill any other cows?” The sentinel says, quirking an eyebrow.

“Yes, of course.” I say, amazed that he is considering my suggestion.

“Very well. But you do know that if he is caught killing another cow, you will both be jailed.” states the sentinel.

I pause and think about this... I do not want to go to jail, but what choice do I have? I want to help people, and how could I live with myself, if I knew I let this go by without me intervening.

I declare “Yes, I will make sure he does not kill another cow.”

“Very well then, I have others who need my assistance, good day to you, gentlemen.” He raises his wand and is gone in a purple mist.

Whew, this was a day I would rather forget, but now I have a new responsibility, my new companion, Inkebah. He will no doubt be a challenge to keep out of trouble.

One of the men in the tavern hands me his backpack and sword, and I walk out the door with Inkebah.

“This way.” I say to Inkebah, as we exit the tavern “I have some things to pick up im Glendon Wood”

Inkebah only nods and follows me. I do not hear a single word from him as we walk off to the path leading to Glendon Wood.

More to come...

(If you enjoyed my little tale, and have any comments, critique or generally just anything to say, you can contact me at DAubry1@HOME.com )

-Hal :)