Boojockoes
Book III
Chapter 1
The Crown on His Head
Corey had been a retard and he was wearing the crown. He had no idea where he was. The Demon Knights could see him and were quickly approaching. Their glowing red eyes glooming in their dark hoods. Corey was terrified. He gripped Foe Fighter Wreckage tightly. The Demon Knights moaned lowly and all drew black swords.
"Take off the crown!" a voice yelled.
It was Sam. Corey did as Sam instructed. Corey looked around to see that he was back to Mount Roushmour. The two were alone.
"Sam where are everyone else?" Corey asked.
"I followed you," Sam said, "The rest don't know where we are."
"Looks like we'll have to destroy it ourselves," Corey said brushing a tangled blood red lock of hair from his face.
The two started up the mountain not knowing what lie ahead. Soon they were startled when a small gray creature jumped out at them. He had large eyes, no hair, a hunched back, and was very skinny. His only clothes were old rags.
"Mollem angry! You have Mollem's special hat! Mollem's funny hat!" the creature yelled insanely.
"What hat?" Corey asked.
"My precious!" the creature howled.
"This," Corey said, holding out the Crown of Dankar.
"My hat! My precious! My precious! My preciousssss!!!!!!!!!" Mollem shouted.
"It's Mollem! My dear ol' dad told me about him! He's a murder and thief!" Sam said.
"Mollem not a thief that was my Christmas present!" Mollem angrily responded.
"Mollem you wouldn't hurt the master of the crown would you?" Corey asked.
"No. You hold the precious. You hold Mollem. Mollem will help. He knows the secret way." Mollem shouted.
"Good Mollem you shall help us," Corey said.
"We sleeps now," Mollem said, "Tomorrows we shows the travelers the ways. The secret way into the fires."
Sam took some food out of his pack and the three sat down to eat. They then slept. Corey wondered about Mollem's loyalty as he drifted off to sleep.
"He must be loyal," Corey thought, "No one would help someone they were going to betray."
With that Corey fell asleep.
Chapter 2
The Golden Wood
The crew had escaped from Ponadog.
"Alas! I fear we can't stay here any longer," said Pobad. He looked towards the mountains and held up his hammer. "Farewell Ponadog! Farewell brave Kilcorhunte!" he cried. "Did I not say to you: if you pass the doors of Ponadog, beware? Alas that I spoke true! What hope do we have without you?"
He turned to the company. "We must do without hope," he said. "At least we may yet be avenged. Let us gird ourselves and weep no more! Come! We have a long road, and much to do."
They rose and looked about them. Northward the dale ran up into a glen of shadows between two great arms of the mountains, above which three peaks were showing: Dugo, Rambet, and Daehoidar, the mountains of Ponadog. At the head of the glen a torrent flowed like a white lace over and endless ladder of short falls, and a mist of foam hung in the air about the mountain's feet.
"We must get the Golden Woods, for the elves there have magic which can easily get us to Mount Roushmour," Steve said.
"I have heard of such magic," Barlo said.
The crew walked into the Golden Wood. Soon a sound not unlike that of singing filled the air. A smell similar to that of fresh baked goods was everywhere.
Soon a tall man with pointed ears who was wearing all white jumped from the brush and shouted, "Barlo!"
"Gidor my lad!" Barlo shouted as the two embraced.
"Eww! Guys hugging!" Steve shouted loudly.
The elf looked at Steve, "I am Gidor, son of Gildor, grandson of Bildor, half cousin of Walter the big hairy elf." Gidor was clad in traditional elf garb, all his clothes had green.
"I have traveled with Walter the big hairy elf! He would be of great assistance on our quest!" Steve said.
"He shall help, not unlike myself," Gidor said, "But first we party!"
"When?" Steve asked, "We don't have much time for a party."
"We party tonite!" Gidor said.
That night they drank barrels of fine elven wine and dwarven brandy. They ate lots and lots of exotic foods, such as crackers and cheese, rare elf bread, and hot pig on a stick, as well as something that resembled and was similar to and had the taste not unlike that of hot food. The next morning they set off to adventure.
"Oro ta Gutte?" Walter asked.
"What are you talking about," Poopy asked.
"Oh, Walter only speaks a tongue not unlike that of Brench, the elven language. Sorry for any inconvenience. By the way he asked where Gutte was," Gidor said.
"Oh, she has to big a hangover to fight anymore, besides I think that she married some elf last night when she was drunk," Steve said nonchalantly.
"Wosla," Gidor told Walter saying she was drunk.
"Well let's be off," Gidor said, "To the high elf's chamber."
The group walked through the forest.
"The Golden Woods get their name from these trees," Gidor said, "They look like wood on the outside, but inside is gold. We Wood Elves have no need for gold. In fact copper is more precious than gold is here."
"How did these trees get like this?" Steve asked.
"During the Creation, an elf name Parrack asked Amor, the high elf god, to make him the richest man in the world. Amor did as Parrack wished, but at a price. After Amor made all the trees gold he made Parrack share his wealth with all other elves who lived at the time. Gold was shipped from the Golden Woods to Ponadog, which was then inhabited by Rune Elves, and to Elfguard."
"He speaks the truth for an old Rune Elf legend tells a similar tale of the Wood Elves kindness," Barlo said, "Those were happier times."
The party walked into the High Elf's chamber. His throne room was built in the largest tree in the woods. The room inside the tree was golden and glistened like the sun.
The High Elf spoke, "You brave heroes must get to Mount Roushmour quickly," he said, "Hio por lano!"
To the party the room appeared to shake and then all things vanished. When things started to rematerialize they were at Mount Roushmour. The party stood face to face with Chief of Guards and his troops.
"You're back!" Tuck said.
"Yes, but where are Sam and Corey?" Pobad asked.
"They along with Dobo 9 are missing," Chief of Guards answered.
"Where are Gutte and Kilcorhunte?" Tuck asked.
"Gutte is in the Golden Wood. Kilcorhunte died at Ponadog," Steve son of Queve answered.
"We are stuck here until Cutter and Hurley return with some news of Sam and Corey," Chief of Guards said.
"Well here ends our great quest and the world as we know it!" Pobad said.
Chapter 3
Journey To the Top
The next morning Corey woke up. He dug into his pack looking for warm clothes. He found food and warm clothes. Corey placed the wool cap on his head and wrapped himself in the red cloak that was in his pack. Sam had the same idea and was now dressed in a brightly colored snow suit.
Corey, Mollem, and Sam journeyed up the side of Mount Roushmour. They had to destroy the crown. As the walked Corey could fell a growing weight in his chest. Darkness was all around them.
Mollem recited an old poem:
Human life be ending Soon!
Darkness shall Ride!
When all people die!
On the day the crown is found!
Towns'll burn to the ground!
Doom! Gloom! Doom!
Human life be ending Soon!
"Oh nice little hobbit not like that poem," Mollem sneered, "Hobbit and human will like this poems!"
Mollem than began another poem in a low whisper:
Shall never get his fill
When Mollem finds his special hat
The keeper he shall kill!
"No nice keeper of the precious," Mollem said, "Please don't hurt poor little Mollem!"
"Then behave! Where is this secret tunnel you spoke of?" Corey asked.
"Here!" Mollem shouted as he danced about on a large slab of rock.
"Past the rock?" Corey asked.
"Oh yes. Must move big rocks!" Mollem shouted as he danced about.
Using all their strength Corey, Sam, and Mollem pushed the rock aside revealing a long dark tunnel.
"No grundels there!" Mollem said.
The three crawled through the tunnel. The floor was wet and slimy. A chill went through Corey as he crawled through the small passage. The darkness was overpowering and the tunnel had a reek of must.
Soon the three climbed out of the tunnel and were right near the entrance to a cave.
"This is His cave!" Mollem said hiding behind Sam, "Mollem take crown and go now!"
"No you come in there with us!" Corey yelled.
"Mollem no like the cave, but will go!" Mollem cried.
Without warning a huge lorbo swooped down from the sky. Lorbos are a race that resembled grundels but wings not unlike that of a bat lay upon its back.
"Lorbo! Nasty icky Lorbo!" Mollem screeched.
Corey smashed Foe Fighter Wreckage down on the Lorbo. The spikes cleaved through the bat-like wing with ease. The Lorbo let out a terrible howl and swung at Corey with its clawed hand. Corey rolled out of the way, avoiding the blow.
Sam then rushed at the Lorbo chopping at it with his steel dagger. The blade slashed through the Lorbo's chest. Blood erupted from the Lorbo's wounds and splashed onto the dry earth bellow him.
Mollem then attacked the creature. He jumped on the Lorbo's back and jabbed a small dagger, which he had concealed in his tattered rags, into the Lorbo's throat. The dying beast let out a terrible yell and then collapsed dead on the ground.
"Looks like we won!" Corey said. He then kicked the Lorbo off the cliff they were standing on. "Oh we're on a cliff," he said, "Well let's go."
With that the three walked into the cave.
Chapter 4
The Dwarves at Cerlon Keep
Bragga had taken the dwarves and Murfs on the three day march to Cerlon Keep. They passed the carnage from the battle Pobad and his crew had fought on the way to Ponadog. There they stopped.
"Sir Bragga," a dwarf said, "Much of these weapons and armors are still useable. We should take what we can, for Cerlon Keep has not been used in some time and we know not what its weapon situation is."
"You are right," Bragga said, "Take what weapons and armor you can!"
The army walked around the carnage looking at the dead one's gear. Bragga acquired a suit of beautiful fashioned plate mail from a dead elf, and a huge battle ax from a grundel.
When the group had reassembled an hour later they looked like a real army. The Murfs in their Stifee Silver mail, and the dwarves in their plate and chain mail. They all had weapons other then shovels now as well.
"Tomorrow we march to Cerlon Keep!" Bragga said that night while the army ate dinner.
A cheer rose from the crowd.
The next morning the army marched into Cerlon Keep and set up. The Keep had been fairly well preserved and it still was fairly well stocked with bows and arrows. Bragga spent most of the afternoon arranging a group of archers.
That evening after dinner a dwarf knocked on Bragga's door.
"Come in," Bragga said.
The dwarf walked in and said, "Sir there's something in the cellar you might want to see."
"What is it?" Bragga asked.
"I don't know," the dwarf said.
Bragga walked into the basement to see a mouse but he had a height not unlike that of a warrow or hobbit. The mouse slashed at three dwarves with a rapier.
"Die foul fiends!" the mouse shouted, "Face the wrath of Marty McMouse. The toughest mouse there ever was or ever will be!" With that, the carnage began.
Marty stabbed the three dwarves at once, and they fell to the ground with blood exploding from their wounds. Eight more dwarves were going to rush him, but were stopped by Bragga.
Bragga shouted, "Stop!!!!!!!! This mouse could be helpful. Hello, I am Bragga son of Broggo grandson of Brock the Candy Creator. We are restoring Cerlon Keep to make a stand against grundel ones."
Marty said, "Grundels!!! There just green ones. How I'd like to rip em' up. OK, I'll help you, Most people think of me as a rogue. However, I'm tough."
"Good! We can use your toughness against the grundels!" Bragga said.
As he said those words a Murf rushed into the room yelling. "The grundels are upon us! They're here! They're here!"
"To battle!" Bragga shouted.
Marty drew his rapier and he along with Bragga and the other dwarves and Murfs rushed out of the basement. When they got upstairs the carnage had already begun. Grundel arrows flew over the fort's wall, piercing the dwarves who stood upon the walls.
The dwarven archers loosed many quarrels into the mass of grundel. The grundels fired back, slaying many a dwarven hero.
Bragga looked out over the field of combat and said to Marty, "We need some severe reinforcements! But where would we find some?"
"The Ants of Toothtusk Forest would help," Marty said, "Their leader Arnie is a good friend of mine."
"Ants? How can bugs help us?" Bragga asked.
"Not that kind," Marty said, "Ants, the plant-men of Toothtusk Forest. They are the most powerful of all mortal beings."
"Then make like the wind and try and get reinforcements!" Bragga shouted.
Marty dashed out of the castle through a secret tunnel and came up in Toothtusk Forest. An Ant stood before him.
The towering ant spoke, "Broom! Ant-friend! Marty McMouse to what do we owe this visit?"
"Well Arnie," Marty said, "Since the world will be ending soon I ask you to pay up on that favor you owe me. There's some heavy fighting at Cerlon Keep, and we need some Ant Power."
"We're there," Arnie said. He then sounded the Ant-alarm, "BROOM! BROOM!"
The group then started back to Cerlon Keep. When they got there they got a big surprise. The dwarves and Murfs had been slaughtered, and they grundels had waited to finish off any reinforcements that had been called.
"Grundels! You didn't say anything about grundels!" Arnie boomed.
"Sorry, but now let's make grundel carnage!" Marty yelled.
Try as they might the Ants and the mouse were no match for the grundels, who simple chopped, and burnt the stalks of the huge flower-like Ants.
Marty was killed quickly when an Oblo grundel threw a boulder at his head. The group of grundels then marched on, to Mount Roushmour.
Chapter 5
The Destruction of The Crown
"We must destroy the crown," Sam said.
"No! Not my favorite present!" Mollem yelled as he threw himself to the ground.
Corey stopped Mollem's shouting (by threatening him with Foe Fighter Wreckage) and looked about the large room they were in. He found the remains of a long dead hero. Corey put on the chain coif and picked up the blue spear, the compound bow and quiver filled with red shafted arrows.
"These might come in handy," Corey thought.
All of a sudden a cowled, cloaked figure then moved silently forward out of the shadows of the cave. The figure carried a staff, and a wide-brimmed hat had been pulled down low over its face.
The figure then came towards Corey and then it suddenly flung the hat away and shrugged the cloak aside, to stand revealed as a human maid of breathtaking beauty.
Clad only in knee-high traveling boots and her long, flowing hair, the lady then glided forward.
"I've waited for you long indeed, heroes of the Fellowship." She then paused, her hands on her hips. She then looked challengingly around at the three.
"Hasn't Dobo 9 told you about me?," she asked huskily. "Or do I remain, as always, one of the Magic Council's closest secrets? Do all think of wizards as just so many bearded old men?"
"I haven't even heard of the Magic Council," Corey said, once more demonstrating his ignorance.
"Enough!" she shouted. Flames blazed from her eyes, and then raced up and down her shapely limbs. Her dark boots smoldered, but the flames flickering through her hair harm it not. She strolled unconcernedly closer, until Corey, Sam, and Mollem could feel the heat of the flames. Behind her, a rock had caught fire from her flaming body, and was melting. She spared not a glance for the rocks crackling, as she stared at the party, and said, "You are valiant fools---and some of you are handsome as well." she then turned her head towards Corey and Mollem and spoke once more, "Some of you are not handsome though! Come closer to me!"
"Bad lady! Bad Morria! You can't have my present!" Mollem yelled springing to action.
Mollem slashed her throat. The cold steel blade tore through Morria's throat. Blood was shot from her body forming a small puddle on the ground.
Morria collapsed on the ground and said, "I followed you since Krynn. You should have given me the crown when you had the chance. At least I would have been a beautiful tyrant! You are all doomed now, for Lanor dwells here." With that she died.
Suddenly Lanor, the Evil Lord himself, rose from the large pit of acid and fire.
Lanor chanted.
"Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?" Corey said, trying to sound medieval.
"What be you talking about?" Mollem screamed.
"I don't know," Corey said.
"Corey! It's Lanor! Take cover!" Sam shouted.
The words of old Barlo rang in his mind: "The arrows as strays might well er been throwed away."
Lanor's chanting stopped, and Corey knew he had to shoot now.
"Tuck guide my aim," fervently prayed Corey. "Red quarrel, red arrow fly true." And he loosed the shaft.
The arrow flew strait and true, hitting it's mark and burying itself deep in Lanor's throat.
Lanor laughed.
"He isn't dead yet!" Sam shouted, "Use the spear!"
"Spear of blue fly straight and true!" Corey yelled hurling the spear at Lanor.
It lodged itself in Lanor's ankle. Lanor got dead.
"I must destroy the crown or all was for nothing!" Corey shouted.
"No! Not my Christmas present!" Mollem howled.
Mollem leapt from were he sat and jumped onto Corey's back. Corey quickly put on the crown in attempt to vanish from Mollem, but the crown didn't work. Corey felt big pain swell up in him as Mollem bit down hard on his head. Mollem swallowed Corey's head, crown and all, whole. Mollem then collapsed on the ground with a tummy ache. Sam acted quickly and delivered a swift kick to the aching Mollem. Mollem went flying and landed in the pit.
They had destroyed the crown.
Sam walked over to Corey's body. Blood gushed from his headless neck. Corey was dead.
"Poor Corey. Poor old Corey!" Sam said.
Sam left the cave of Mount Roushmour and began his walk back down. After walking for awhile he meet up with the rest of the party.
"The crown is destroyed, as are Corey, Lanor, some woman, and Mollem," Sam said.
A cheer rose from the crowd as Dobo 9 and Christopher appeared over the ridge.
"Did I miss anything important?" Dobo 9 asked.
"The crown is destroyed, as are Corey, Lanor, some woman, and Mollem," Sam said.
"Good! Let's go back to my house and party!" Dobo 9 said.
The group walked home, happy and tired.
"What a quest!" Walter said.
"Hey I thought you couldn't talk," Pobad yelled.
"Bubbbuh," Walter mumbled.
The whole group laughed and walked into the sunset as Corey stood up in the cave. The chain coif must have been magical and protected him. Corey was thankful for being alive. Corey walked out of the cave and right off a cliff. He fell one hundred fifty three and a third feet to his death.
Chapter 6
The End of The Road
The party returned safely to their homes. After the Crown of Dankar was destroyed Barlo and Steve son of Queve became friends and went on many quests together.
Poopy Murf returned to the Murfs and became king. As king he formed strong alliances with the large folk. In his spare time he wrote a book clearing up some things about the Murfs entitled We Have Tails.
Walter and Gidor returned to the Golden Wood where they lived happily ever after.
Tuck died several days after getting back home of a massive arthritis attack.
Gutte lived in the Golden Wood with her husband. She retired from being a fighter to become a mother. Over her marriage she had seventy-two children.
Chief of Guards stayed Chief of Guards.
Cutter, Sam, and Hurley formed a band called Crownbears and were a big hit in Elfguard with such songs as: "Corey The Hunter", "Lanor is Corey", and "Mollem".
Dobo 9 adopted Christopher who became Dobo 10 when Dobo 9 died at the ripe old age of four hundred.
Finally there was Pobad. Pobad was really the son of a king, who was supposed to have been assassinated as a child. He escaped however and lived as a merchant. After the crown was destroyed he ruled his people and made peace with all other peaceful races.
Chapter 7
Pobad's Banquet
Thirty years later Pobad held a party. All the brave people who had traveled with him came, except for Tuck, Kilcorhunte, and Corey who had all died.
There was plenty of food and drink, and the weather was fine. There was pig on a stick, hot oatmeal, a macaroni salad which Gutte had made, horse chops, and pudding. The drinks ranged from water and fine elf wine to mead imported all the way from the home of the Beewolves and even harsher drinks.
The Crownbears were there to play a set.
"A song to remember what happened so many years ago!" Pobad said.
"WITH PLEASURE YOUR KINGSHIP!" Cutter yelled.
He then sang "Corey The Hunter":
Thought he was an evil gnoll
When he got his head bit off
He choked up blood and started to cough
They played several more songs including "Scorched Earth", "Lanor is Corey", and a song that began with Cutter screaming, "I GOT SOMETHIN' TA SAY!"
After they played all their songs, the band then smashed their gear. Sam broke his zither over Hurley's drums, and Cutter kicked the remains of the two instruments into the jumping, screaming crowd.
After the party was over several days latter, the crew went their own ways for the most part.
As the Crownbears walked home that cold, windy winter night Cutter sang "Mollem":
Wanted to bite off Corey's head too
Thought it was a great plan
How you went and killed that man
Mollem you are in a good way
Wish you didn't die that day
Mollem you are great
If you were alive I'd give you some cake!