The Wrath of Soth
By Josh Miller
Part 1

In another land, another time, and another world there was a world called Krynn. On this world was a continent called Ansalon. And on this continent was a town called Solace, and that's where we begin our story.

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A bearded figure stepped through the door to the Inn of Last Home. His name was Aidan and he was a half-elf. He was wearing a black cape and chain mail armor. At his waist was a short sword and on his back was a long bow. He scanned the room looking for his friends. Inside the inn it was warm and friendly. There were men from all over gathered here. It was said to be the best inn for miles. It had once been high in the tree tops of the great Vallenwood trees but, the Dragon Armies brought it to the ground in the War of the Lance. Aidan and his companions had been called by the Knights of Solomnia to go on a rescue mission. One of the Dragonlances had been stolen by the Dragonarmies. Aidan came and sat by a round table near the fireplace. To his right was his wife Alie, who was an elf. To his left was Xavier, a black mage, next to him was Pickpocket. Pickpocket was a kender. Kenders are the biggest kleptomaniacs in the world. To call them thieves was an insult. They were also known to show no fear.

"Let me see your map," said Aidan to Pickpocket.

"What map? Oh, the map to Throtl. It's in here somewhere," said Pickpocket digging through one of his pouches spilling the contents everywhere. He passed over a knife that looked like Aidan's and made a note to ask about it. Then he found what he wanted. It was a map case. He opened the end and pulled out at least 30 maps all rolled in one bundle. He flipped through and pulled one out. My uncle made that map the time he fought off 20, or was it 30, goblins in one shot of his hoopack. Did I ever tell the story to you?"

"I'm sure you have," said Aidan hoping the kender wouldn't start one of his exaggerated stories. He unrolled the map and traced the route with his finger. "We should leave now if we want to cross New Sea tomorrow."

They left the inn and started north towards New Sea. Right after they had left the Inn of Last Home there had been a lot of commotion over some large drunk between one of the waitresses, a half elf, and a barbarian. When they finally arrived the went to a bar called the Burning Barrel. Inside it was cold and dark. Near the door were some gnomes talking about some crazy new invention. Near the bar were some Ogres glowering at them. Aidan started towards the bar when he was tripped by one of the ogres. They all started laughing.

"What was that for?" cried the half elf.

"What do you mean it was an accident," the ogre said as he and his companions burst out laughing at the joke.

"I'll give you an accident," yelled the Aidan reaching for his dagger that he found wasn't there. Instantly he grabbed his sword and in one quick motion lobbed of the ogres' head. He was surprised to see the body slump to the floor and change shape to a Sivak draconian (like a lizard man that can change shape). "Assassins!" yelled Aidan to the others who had already readied their weapons. The other 6 Sivaks turned to their normal shape. Aidan knocked an arrow and let it fly only to land in one draconians chest and it crumpled to the floor. Alie was fighting off one with a dagger Pickpocket had given her (and which happened to be Aidan's). The puny dagger was no match for the razor sharp scimitar of the Sivak. As it was about to strike down it's prey when Pickpocket stabbed it in the back with sharp end of his hoopack. Aidan called for them to leave as Xavier cast a fireball at the back wall. The Burning Barrel burned to the ground. They came to a warehouse and went in a side door. The gnomes were waiting for them.

"I've asked them to fly us," said Aidan.

"Fly us? In what??" asked Pickpocket.

"Inourhydroaerodynamicflyingairshipwithduelwingsandpropellersthatislevita....." said one of the gnomes in their fast speech before he was cut off by Aidan.

"What's the short name?"

"The Cloudmaster Mark II," said the first gnome proudly. "the first Cloudmaster accidentally went to the moon. This time there's no mistakes.

"We want to go to Throtl in Solomnia,not the moon," said Aidan.

"That's great we're going north anyway oh, by the way my name is Wingover," said the first gnome. He motioned for every one to get on board. They all sat in a cramped room obviously made for the short gnomes. The gnomes left and soon they all felt the ship rise. One of the gnomes came and told them they could go to the upper deck. Everyone enjoyed flying along in the wind. Later that day though a fierce storm came. Rain was stinging their faces. Gnomes were running around because, of course, they forgot to make the ship storm resistant. Gnome inventions never seemed to work right because they always make little errors. Lightning hit the metal propellers and the ship went out of control. They did a barrel roll and Alie cried out as she saw Aidan fall off. Then they smashed into the earth.

*    *    *

Pickpocket woke up first. He looked around and saw all his friends still knocked unconscious. He didn't see Aidan though. As most kender would do, he figured it was his obligation to find Aidan. He left a map for the others and wandered off.

*    *    *

Opening his eyes Aidan saw he was in a tree. He had run out on deck to get the others, the ship had flipped, and he had blacked out. He didn't know where he was so he started digging in hid pockets for anything useful. He pulled out the map he had gotten from Pickpocket. He started north hoping to find some land marks that were on the map.

*    *    *

Alie was awaken by some hunters. They had already awaken every one else. The hunters took them to an outpost. It was the same outpost they were going to in the first place. They found out the Dragonlance was in Gargath Keep. An Aurak draconian named Myrantinia had stolen the Dragonlance and they had to get it back. Search parties were sent out to find Pickpocket and Aidan.

The companions were given a small force of elite knights, had made it to Gargath, and they started their attack. They started through the tower. There were few forces on the way up but on the sixth floor were swarms of draconians. Alie fought her way through and finally made it to the exit door that led up. After climbing up several flights of stairs she burst through at the top. Myrantinia was waiting dressed in full plate mail armor and armed with the Dragonlance.

"It would be fun to destroy you but I have to go," and he turned mounted his dragon and took off. He turned and was about to destroy Alie when Aidan came from the side on a silver dragon. The two dragons were locked in mortal combat as Aidan climbed on the Aurak's dragon and took him by surprise. Myrantinia screamed as he fell, Aidan's sword in his chest, dropping the lance.

*    *    *

A knight had been pushed in a small room. He couldn't get the door open again. Then as he turned around he saw the greatest horror. Even kender felt weird around the death knight Soth. With one word from the walking death the knight was dead. Soth then used his magic to teleport outside where he caught the falling lance and disappeared.

*    *    *

Aidan landed on the roof with his dragon and picked up Alie. The knights led by Xavier all headed back to the outpost. They received word of the Dragonlance a few weeks later and the companions set out again to retrieve it.