The mountain side did come alive as we climb that rock face edifice. Fire of goblin like a volcano. Tormenting tornado forming and crashing against the coming storm. Those mad goblins we’d run into before have half a mind to see with their sight. The Head Matriarch in her plight. Come together that they did. From every crevice and crack and boulder did smolder. 

Demons curse be damned when the head matriarch engages in battle with an equal. They are not sheepol. They force themselves into a trance and sing a song of fire and dance. She has bought us the day and we have to fly away….

“Did you see that?” Nora choked from her throat. As she climb over the next boulder. To gain ground. “The goblins are all coming out in support of her.” 

They look of fireflies hanging on mountain side ushering in a fire tornado. Nothing can survive that. Nora’s heart breaks and the entire crew feels it. Steeling their resolve for what awaits them ahead. 

“I didn’t know magic could do that.” Nora says as she climbs in shock. 

“Yeah well, it’s something to behold right.” Tye affirms. A flame without a name holding fast to him sticking its tongue out at the scene behind them.

“There is a bridge we have to get to but it’s broken we have to cross it to get to the base of the place they delved the head into.” Nora pushes herself to say. Robotically almost psychotically. Removed of emotion.

“They’ll be fine.” Locke tells her. It seems to almost get to her. 

“You’re right. I must do my part and quickly.” She affirms.

It does not take long to get to the top of the cliffs and looking back they just don’t have the heart. It’s an hours track to the bridge in waiting from here. 

“I know the fire loves me but she was something else.” Tye can’t help herself. She says outloud as they hike through the forest jungle. The mist returns as they go further from the fight. It does not fade not that night. Nora draws her strength from that.

Once upon this broken bridge they find themselves confront by a stunted pig of a creature. Idling. 

“Oh hello!” It calls out. 

“Who are you?” Nora demands. Her posey behind her ready to do anything.

“I am but a simple creature. I’ve been stuck here for some time. I do not know how I got here but I do know I need to get across that broken bridge.” It states. 

“We mean you no harm we intend to do the same.” Nora replies back. Tye thinks to speak but Nora’s will holds her back. All of them are mentally told to hold their tongue. 

“I see you too, by chance do you have a name?” The creature spits back as it bows its head. Lifting off a hat.

“Tell me yours.” Nora replies. 

“You’re’s first my dear. It’s rude to be impolite.” The creature returns still bowed.

“You cannot have it I am a summoner and you are nothing to me but in my way. Begone with you and I will fix this bridge and you can pass if you wish but stay away from me.” She states

“A summoner, you say?” He lifts his head in excitement. Bewilderment. “Those days are long gone, young lady. They’ve been abandoned to history.”

“State your name be enemy.” Nora insists. 

Locke and Tye look to eachother. Oh brother. Are we gonna have to spank a pig?

Brent stomps his foot down hard to then ground. And everyone is shaken. 

“Oh don’t do that again you might bring the whole place down with you.” The pig retorts. “I do think I’ve an axe and hammer. If we could chop those trees out there I could build the planks.”

“I’m listening” Nora indulges. 

“Well you see there sommoner fair child I’ve actually an acuity for these things. My maker makes me pop up and replace things.” He explains.

“Who is your maker?” She inquires.

“Why the king of course. He owns all these lands. Even these ones filled with goblins and scalivants. All of it is his and this bridge too.” He snorts. 

“You mean to say you’re of the old world Moria.” She exclaims.

“Yes child, and I do have a name it’s Lester.” Lester replies. He’s can-tinkering things now trying to hide what he’s doing. 

“Well my name is Nora.” She replies. 

“Ah Nora, you do have eyes. Let me see them.” He reacts instantly. Almost robotically. As if something else has taken control of him.

“Step back. Something is a miss.” Nora hisses. 

“Yeah duh.” Locke kisses. 

“Chk.” Tye affirms

“Little worm.” Corin ends.

“I want you to see all my parts. I am a work of art. For my king wishes to see your eyeballs.” The pig creature explodes into a mechanical creation twice the size it was before. With raw iron bolted into skin. And daggers on every end.

“And I do not travel alone.”

Around them they can see coming out of the foliage similar creatures. With goblins hanging from crosses. Weeping. Tied bound by rope. Soap in their mouths so they can speak.

“I was trying to clean up the place. I’m so happy that you’ve dropped in.” He states. 

“Oh my god!” Nora screams. Shaken almost broken. 

“Collect yourself.” Locke demands. She’s obviously really pissed. She begins to move in a way. Swaying.

“No” Nora states and Locke is strolled away. 

“Build me my bridge and release the Stonefire Tribe from their confinement or I will smite you off the face of this dimension!” Nora declares and summons goblin fire in her hands. Small it is but intense. Tye’s little flame friend hides from the sight of them.

“Finally” Tye clicks his blue eyes have a fire in them. 

“Wait wait wait!” The pig cries out. “I’ve an offer for you from his majesty.”

“For me?” Nora replies.

“Give me Tye’s eyes and I’ll send my army to defeat this demon.” It states. “Farelis’ gardens is my backyard and I wish not to harm it. I will disarm it and leave you in charge.” The pig finishes. 

“No.”  Nora replies. In an instant.  

“Then to your demise. I’ll pluck them out myself and bring your head to put on a shelf. We’ll desiccate that marble wall and in the end farelis will fall!” The pig screams as it moves aggressively towards Nora.

Jack be nimble Jack be quick. But Brent can pick up a really big stick. Ripped from the ground and pulled down onto the pig.  An entire tree lie on what must be dead. 

A resounding thud and the rest of them scurry away in fear.

“Ive magic you kretin.” Nora affirms. She turns to giant Goliath. “Please build us a bridge.”

And with that Brent nods his head and rips trees from their bed and lays them down across the canyon. Locke, Corin, Nora and Tye all climb along the divide. Going across the log gap. The enemy is in remission. As Brent throws trees at their positions. When they’ve crossed she bows her head and then Brent is beside her again. 

“I am a summoner. You are my Summons. We are on a mission and nothing is going to stop us.” She states. 

Obstacle 39. Voices