Six are Summoned

Fred quickly shuts his eyes, but is blinded by an intense flash of white light. He crouches on the ground, helpless and frightened. An odor of lavender lingers for a few seconds, and Fred can hear the whistling of a gust of a warm wind blow across the cave. A unnatural silence falls over the cave for a minute, and Fred can hear his heart beating. Then the natural sounds of the cave return. Fred opens his eyes. At first his vision is bleached, with most of the colors faded and pale, but he can perceive that slowly his sight is returning to normal.

Before Fred and Belboz stand six creatures.

The first is a short woman of some age. There are a few strands of sandy brown hair in a mass of silver. Her face shows some wrinkles - she had an snub nose, and thin lips. Her bright brown eyes and quiet yet assured expression compel respect from Fred. The woman is dressed simply in a linen tunic, breeches, and heavy boots, and heavy cloak, but she stands with an air of authority. She wears something that looks like a large leather pouch.

The second creature is a man of indeterminate age. He is moderately tall, but appears quite strong. The fringe of hair around his head attests to the fact that he is a tonsured member of the clergy. His face is red from spending much time outdoors, and looks a little like that of a pig. He has a large smile on his face, and appears to have a merry disposition. He wears the simple garmets of a monk, and appears to have no weapon. He carries with him instead a couple of books, and a stylus.

The next is a striking young lady. She is very fair, buxom, with fiery red hair, pale blue eyes and a stern expression. She appears to be a warrior of some sort, well-protected with chain-mail, and a leather hauberk.

The fourth is a young man with massive forearms and a huge chest. "He probably weighs eighteen stone, and most of it muscle", Fred thinks. His curly black hair covers his exposed arms, as well as his chin and cheeks. He appears to disdain armour, wearing only what appear to be the clothes of some sort of tradesman. Fred's attention is drawn to a heavy mace that the man carries at his side. "He would be good to have in a fight."

The fifth is a slender woman, with reddish-brown hair and black wings attached to extremely thin arms, like those of a bat. For a second, Fred thinks that she might be a vampire, but when he looked at her she smiles nervously, and he can see did not have the stereotypical extended incisors. In fact, except for the wings, she appears to be little more than an unremarkable young woman. She is armed with a long spear.

The last creature is a stray dog that the spell must have picked up somewhere. It is a little black terrier, that would perhaps come up to Fred's knees if it stood on its hind legs. The dog wags its tail in a friendly way when Fred looks at it.

"This is auspicious, Lord Fred. Normally the scroll will only summon one. Let me introduce these people. These are Baroness Beatrice of Saltpan [21016], Father Eusebius of the White Mountain, Princess Astra of Aqualaria [38], Francis, a blacksmith of the Free City of Rinberg in the Western Kingdoms, Checkers, a Dolomite Glider[20991], and Velus, a Scottish terrier [9]."

Fred marvels at this collection. Beatrice and Eusebius have long been dead. If they really do live again, Fred can take great heart from the will and resourcefulness of the first, and the wisdom and knowledge of the second. Astra is known to Fred as a princess of the blood of Aquaralia, and outranks him. She can be difficult to handle, but would be good in a fight. This is the first that Fred has heard of Francis, Checkers, or Velus. Fred will have to learn more about them.

1. Fred introduces himself.
2. Belboz speaks.
3. The summoned wonder what the heck is going on.

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