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[Gryhm Greymalkin]

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The northwestern area of Ocllo is quiet. Islanders like to tend to gardens here or hunt local game for food. Many on the islanders consider it the “Forgotten Isle” since no one comes here anymore.

“Drop Anchor”
“Aye sir Droppin’ Anchor” the order given was followed.
Once the Condor came to a stop along the waters edge, the blank was lowered into place and Gryhm and Celebrakka touched ground for the first time in days.

“The air is clean here, fills the mind with peace” Celebrakka said as he knelt to feel the grass. “The land here seems to have not been touched since the gods placed it here.”

Gryhm smiled “Aye, as a boy I came here in the summer months and spent hours fishing from this very spot. My brother was always too busy to join our father and I, him and his damnable sorcerous ways” Gryhms smile departed as he thought of his brother. “Come, let us see if the house is still intact.

Coming through the foliage they came across a modest home. Small in size, but to Gryhm it was more. “This is it, it’s still here!”
The two men opened the door to the home and were immediately met with a foul stench of death and decay.

“By the gods!” Celebrakka covered his mouth and nose to protect himself the best he could. Gryhm on the other hand squinted as his eyes watered. From a dark corner a figured moved and Gryhm grabbed the hilt of his sword.

“Who is that! Who is there!” said the voice in the darkness. As the figure came closer, the two men noticed he was a frail man. Not much of a threat Gryhm deduced and let go of his weapon.

“Jonathan? Is that you?” the frail man asked as he came closer to Gryhm. “I thought I told you never to take more than the recommended doses of the serum. Now you look younger than you did before!”

Gryhm and Celebrakka gave each other a quick glance and returned gaze to the frail man.
“I see you Praetorians have changed uniforms too. That isn’t the same uniform I remember from the last time you dropped by here” the frail man pointed to Celebrakka, who was in his Dominion uniform.

“He thinks I’m Jonathan? Perhaps this is the man keeping my brother alive all these years” Gryhm thought to himself.

“Aye, its me Jonathan, how have you been old friend.”
“Old friend? Old Friend!? In all our years you have never once called old Ryjen a friend.” Ryjen waved the two men in “Well don’t stand there, come in. You have already spoiled my experiments for today anyway.
“Experiment? What are you working on” Celebrakka asked curiously
“The same damn thing I have for nearly a year boy. The Emperor here asked me to find a cure for the drug “Utopia” when a friend of his named Rufus was addicted to it. He’s better, for now, but it’s not permanent and my studies have shown it leads to insanity. Look at my test subjects, all dead from acute insanity” Ryjen pointed to the cages and cages with dead or near dead gorillas. It had certainly explained the stench.

“General, he is clearly mad” Celebrakka whispered into Gryhms ear
“I AM NOT MAD! I AM A SCIENTIST BEYOND MY YEARS I TELL YOU!” Ryjen screamed in anger and threw a tray of vials against a wall.

“Settle down Ryjen, he meant no harm” Gryhm tried his best to soothe the man.
“Who are you? You are not Jonathan?” Ryjen looked at the man suspiciously “You look like him, but your speech and mannerisms are not the same”

“No, I am not Jonathan. I am his brother, Gryhm Greymalkin. And you and I have much to discuss”

That night as the summer sun was setting, the three men began to eat venison from a deer Celebrakka had hunted.
“This… tea is very potent Ryjen, I think I’ll be awake for days” Gryhm chuckled as he took another sip.
“Aye, it’s a special blend of herbs grown by me. I’m an alchemist by trade, a bit of gardening and cross pollination can produce many exciting things.” Ryjen stirred his tea “So as far as you can tell, The old man trapped you in a magic necklace, and for over 300 years you have been trapped there?”

Gryhm nodded once “Aye, until a few months ago when I was freed. I don’t know how or by whom since those first hours were hazy.”

“And this little fellow that has been following you. It sounds much like that damn Halfling Burfoot. He comes by once a month. Calls me ‘Dr. Boom Pot’. I hate him.” Ryjen rubbed his temples

Gryhm and Celebrakka looked at each other, then back to Ryjen, and both began to laugh.


The next morning a delivery from town arrived. It was a guild stone. Gryhm etched his name to the top, Celebrakka next, and to both of their surprise, Ryjen followed with his name as well.

“You realize my brother will not be happy when he finds out about this” Gryhm looked at Ryjen with a bit of concern.
“I care not what he wants. I am tired of being used for my genius and not get proper credit. To hell with the Old Man!” Ryjen yelled defiantly.

Gryhm smiled as things were finally coming together.