Free Into the Heart of Evil by Joel Babbitt Page A

javelins
Jerrig had ever seen.  Goryon nodded to Kiria at the end of the line as he
stepped aside and waited.  As he walked from kobold to kobold, another elite
warrior came behind him and handed shields to the new warriors.  Their task
done, Goryon and the other four elite warriors from the Metal Smithies Warrior
Group returned to the rear of the chamber.  If the giving were a competition,
the Metal Smithies had certainly made quite a show of it.
    Khee-lar Shadow Hand, leader of the Deep Guard and
almost certainly complicit in the insurrection earlier that day, was the next
to stand.  “Well, apart from the two warriors I’m giving you,” he waved a hand
at Tohr and Kahn, “we’ve managed to put together some of our meager means to
come up with these…”  He turned his head to look at four elite warriors from
the Deep Guard who were entering with arms full of large boar-hide bags.  
    Standing next to Lord Karthan, Khazak Mail Fist’s
eyes narrowed as he saw the broadswords over their backs and long knives at
their sides.  He had no reason to trust Khee-lar Shadow Hand, and every reason
to distrust him—and that extended to his inner circle of elite warriors. 
Frowning, he put his hand on the hilt of his sword, just in case. 
    As the four elite warriors reached the front of
the chamber, each of them put their burdens down in front of the Lord’s stand. 
Though they didn’t notice, Khazak almost drew his sword when one of the four
seemed to go for the sword at his back.  He relaxed only a bit when it turned
out the warrior was only scratching an itch.
    As the first elite warrior opened his bag,
Khee-lar spoke again.  “Strength of arms is, of course, an important part of a
warrior’s life.  However, one’s skills can often be the difference between
success and failure.”  Khee-lar Shadow Hand scanned the assembled audience. 
“To that end, we will provide the adventuring group with the best tool kits
this gen can offer.  Bring out the kits!”
    At his command, the first Deep Guard elite warrior
brought out four small boar skin wraps.  Untying the first one, he carefully
unrolled it, revealing a fine set of lock, trap, and mechanical tools to the
assembled group.  He gave one each to Arbelk, Trallik, Ardan, and Arloch.
    “And to assist them in getting into and out of
places,” Khee-lar continued, “we will provide them this…”
    The next Deep Guard elite warrior pulled out
several lengths of the rough hemp rope this gen twisted, spikes, iron rings,
and small hammers, then, placing them all back in, he placed the long kit bag
next to the new warriors’ line.
    “Finally, that they may eat, our farmers and
animal keepers have prepared much food stuffs for them.  Enough to last the
fourteen of you some time, I should think.”
    The last two Deep Guard elite warriors held up
bags full of mushrooms, dried meats, and packed fungus.  Finally, at the end,
they brought out several boar stomach waterskins.
    “Lord Karthan, that is our contribution,” Khee-lar
Shadow Hand concluded, then sat down as the four elite warriors returned to
their places.
    One by one, the remaining warrior group leaders
rose and presented their presents to the new warrior group.  From the Trade
Warrior Group, they received four packdogs.  They were large and well muscled,
with intelligent eyes and thick fur of a deep golden color.  Their narrow
flanks, tight stomachs, and shiny white teeth attested to their youth and
conditioning.  On the backs of each was a packsaddle, complete with hooks for
equipment.  All tack was provided, as was a bag each of dried meat and
marrow-rich bones for their feed.
    Following the presentation of the packdogs, two
elite warriors from the Trade Warrior Group came in bringing bows and quivers
of arrows.  There was one bow for each of the warriors, both new and old. 
Additionally, they gave each of the warriors a quiver full of straight,
steel-tipped arrows.
    From the Patrol Guard